Black History Month
Summary
Each February, the City of Fairfax formally recognizes Black History Month through a mayoral proclamation presented at a City Council meeting. On January 28, 2025, Mayor Read presented the proclamation to Reverend Jeffery O. Johnson, Sr., Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. On February 10, 2026, Mayor Read again presented the proclamation — this time to Dr. Michael Nickens (Doc Nix) and Stacey Yvonne Claytor, a Fairfax City business owner and lifelong resident. The 2026 proclamation was notably substantive in content, acknowledging systemic racism, generational trauma, and measurable inequities alongside Black Americans' contributions, and highlighted the 2026 theme "A Century of Black History Commemorations," marking 100 years since Negro History Week began in 1926. The recognition is accompanied by ancillary community events, including a Black History Month reception held prior to the February 10, 2026 council meeting. A February 25, 2025 transcript excerpt also references an unattributed acknowledgment of the close of Black History Month at that meeting.
What members have said
Mayor Read presented both the 2025 and 2026 Black History Month proclamations. In 2026, she read the proclamation text aloud, explicitly encouraging all residents to commit to learning the broader and deeper history of the country through the lens of Black Americans' accomplishments and achievements.
At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Hardy Chandler expressed appreciation for those who organized the Black History Month reception held earlier that evening, lamented that it was not more attended, and reflected personally on the meaning of the month, quoting Tom Ross: 'A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,' and saying Black History Month gives her the opportunity to sit in the shade of ancestors who worked hard for her to be there.
At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Bates wished everyone a happy Black History Month.
At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Peterson wished everyone a happy Valentine's Day rather than specifically commenting on Black History Month, though a later March 10, 2026 excerpt attributes to an unidentified speaker a book recommendation bridging Black History Month and Women's History Month (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), with a reference to Peterson's style of going 'offbeat.'
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[4a] A proclamation was presented acknowledging February as Black History Month in the City of Fairfax.
[3a] City of Fairfax recognized February as Black History Month via proclamation at this meeting.