Ferndale to Fly Pan African Flag for Month of February
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 29, 2021)
Ferndale, MI – For the month of February, Black History Month, the City of Ferndale will be waiving the red, black, and green of the Pan-African flag in front of City Hall as part of their commitment to anti-racism. The flag was unanimously approved at the Jan. 25 city council meeting.
“I am very proud about this flag going up for the month of February,” said Mayor Pro Tem Raylon Leaks May. “This flag portrays a powerful visual that affirms the city’s commitment towards inclusion and the importance of diversity and the richness that it can add to a community.
“The Pan African/Afro -American flag symbolizes strength, determination and invaluable contributions made by black and brown people over the course of history. Last year, the City of Ferndale adopted an Anti-Racism Declaration, as well as chose to recognize Juneteenth as holiday here in the City of Ferndale. The raising of the Pan African/Afro-American flag is another step towards anti-racism as evidenced by the actions that the city has taken previously and will continue to take subsequently.”
Leaks-May introduced the resolution, but credits Graduate Management Assistant Danicea Woods-McSwain, for her work in crafting it. The resolution “…recognizes and celebrates February 2021 as Black History Month in the City of Ferndale and pledges to encourage the celebration of Black History Month to provide a continuing opportunity for all people to learn about the discrimination and inequality that has faced, and continues to face, the African American community.”
Woods-McSwain said that as a young black woman, she feels proud to work for a City that recognizes the struggles and triumphs of her community.
“I’m truly honored to contribute to this initiative and to be able to celebrate black lives and black history within the City of Ferndale,” Woods-McSwain said in a press release.
“The Pan-African flag was created in 1920 to represent people of the African Diaspora and black liberation in the United States,” the release also stated. “The tri-color flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of red, black, and green: red, symbolizing the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation; black, symbolizing black people whose existence as a nation (though not a nation-state) is affirmed by the existence of the flag; and green, symbolizing the abundant natural wealth of Africa.”
Beyond statements like the flag and the proclamation, the City is putting in the work to make sure policies and trainings set expectations for a welcoming environment.
Human Resources Director Dan Jacey told Oakland County Times, “In our recruitment open houses, we talk about our culture which includes ‘inclusiveness’ and we specifically spend time on our anti-racism initiative. We want to make sure that candidates know who we are so they can assure they align with our values.”
The City has made several other efforts around inclusion.
The Ferndale Police Department went through an accreditation process that focused on all aspects of police work, including use of violence, officer accountability etc.
The police and the city have been involved in the Ferndale Inclusion Network. Mayor Melanie Piana has been involved in the Department of Civil Rights Equity and Inclusion for Government and Education Council. The City has also added anti-racism verbiage in open-house presentations for potential new-hires and orientation to help ensure new employees embrace the City’s commitment to anti-racism.
A small flag-raising ceremony will be streamed on the City’s Facebook Page Monday morning. Learn more about the City of Ferndale at www.ferndalemi.gov.
For more Ferndale stories visit the Oakland County Times Ferndale News Page.
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