The Community Cultural Center in Harker Heights is a dynamic gathering place for African Americans to network and partner with other likeminded organizations and individuals in the Killeen-Harker Heights area once a month.
Sunday marked the fourth such gathering, bringing together individuals from the black community and others to engage in discussions that encourage change, address issues and celebrate the unique differences among the region’s residents.
The meetings are held once a month, and the celebrations began three months ago. The first meeting was held in honor of Malcom X, the second in honor of Elijah Mohammed, the third in honor of Harriet Tubman, and Sunday’s celebration was in honor of Rosa Parks.
Sistah Wize, who organizes these events, believes in promoting black American culture through all available means.
“The black community in this area has no place to gather,” Sistah Wize said Sunday. “No place to come together and talk about issues that are relevant to black Americans.”
She claims that the problems include juvenile delinquency, education, incarceration and black community cohesion, among others.
On Sunday, Rosa Parks was celebrated, the black woman who said “no” when a white man insisted that she ride in the back of the bus.
Rosa Parks, the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” revived the fight for racial equality in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Many believe it was she who initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott by 17,000 black citizens.
At Sunday’s meeting, Wize used Parks’ situation to give the gathering a shared meaning.
“We would love to hear about the progress the Pink Resolutions have made for black citizens thanks to this great civil rights pioneer,” Wize said.
During the afternoon activities, visitors were treated to lunch as well as speakers, soloists, drumming, storytelling and the spoken word.
The final activity was designed to get people thinking and discussing issues relevant to the black community this fall as everyone flocks to the polls.
Under the title “Community Conversation,” local leader Rhonda Brown listed the topics for discussion.
The more than 30 participants of the event began by brainstorming and discussing their individual opinions on each topic.
1) Voting: To vote or not to vote; is it a right to vote or a choice?
2) Political parties: There are Democrats, Republicans, independents and those who are not involved. Describe each of these parties. Who are they? What are their interests?
3) Political agendas: Project 2025 or Freedom/No turning back.
4) Candidates: Harris/Walz; Trump/Vance; Biden passes the baton; the assassination
5) What do we want?: Identify the “we”: Black, Black person of color, American, person of color. What do we deserve?
As discussions began in the room, one could hear very clear descriptions of problems and solutions, as well as talking points that addressed some of the questions.
In the end, Brown summed it up well.
“We don’t all agree,” Brown said. “The topic of Rosa Parks was a good one tonight. She broke a generational curse when she decided she was ‘not playing the game anymore.'”
