The Camp Lemonnier Multicultural Heritage Committee (MHC) kicked off its final event for Black History Month two days early with an exhibit highlighting African-American contributions February 24, 2010.

Don Dodson, Camp Lemonnier Information Tickets and Travel Systems, owns the collection, which made its fourth public appearance on Camp Lemonnier. The exhibit displayed hundreds of magazines such as Jet, Ebony, Ebony Jr, and Tan, various comic books, stamps, coins, and newspaper article clippings.

"Every piece in the collection shows the positive sharing of culture and its many aspects throughout America's history," Dodson said.

The items are mostly documents published in the United States, but a growing portion of the collection includes publications from countries throughout Africa and Europe.

The collection includes newspaper articles, the oldest published in 1772. It detailed the need for a school dedicated to educating African-American children.

While the collection includes information on many well-known African-Americans, it also includes articles about lesser-known, everyday citizens who made a big difference in world events or in their local communities, according to Dodson.

"Educating everyone on camp is one of the missions of the MHC," said Petty Officer 1st Class Crystal Campos, who is the current MHC president.

Additional MHC community activities to celebrate Black History Month will take place February 26, including a "unity walk" held conjointly with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany.