MANSFIELD — Latricia Chatman took the long, thin handle of a black comb and pulled it up slowly towards her, separating a section of the wig’s hair. She took it in one hand, coaching a younger girl standing beside her to do the same.
“First, you’re going to divide it into three sections,” she said.
The braiding station was just one activity available at Saturday’s Black History Celebration at the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library’s (MRCPL) main branch.
Kim-Marie Mincieli, a cosmetology instructor at Mansfield Senior High and Madison Comprehensive High School, taught visitors to braid and cornrow.
Mincieli said people from around the globe have been braiding hair for thousands of years, but intricate styles have long held cultural meaning for Africans and Black Americans.
“In Africa, it was used to show your hierarchy, your title,” she said. “Then African Americans, when we came over, we used it as codes and messages and maps.”
Mincieli said she requires her students to learn how to work with a variety of different hair textures — something she didn’t learn in cosmetology school.
“When I went to school, all I had to learn was one type of hair. It was very frustrating,” she said.
“I had to go to different classes after I graduated to learn how to do my own type of hair. So I make sure that all my students know how to do all types of hair because you do not want to lose money or have someone out of your chair because you don’t know how to do their hair.”
Local organizations like the North End Community Improvement Collaborative and Princess Endowment handed out coloring sheets of famous Black aviators, inventors, historians and activists.
Yolanda Allen stood at the Mansfield NAACP chapter table, creating a bracelet with red, yellow, green and black beads.
The colors are often used in connection with Black History Month because of their presence in the Pan-African flag (black, red and green) and the Ethiopian flag (green, gold and red). Ethiopia is one of the few African countries that was never colonized.
Allen said the colors represent the Black skin and blood that unites all members of the African diaspora as well as the sun and Africa’s rich vegetation.
“Black history is a part of American history,” she said. “America was founded on many of our ancestor’s contributions to this country and they should never be forgotten. They should be kept in the forefront.”
Saturday’s event also included performances by the Mansfield Singers, Jesus Jewels Dance Team, Jody Odom Jr. and parishioners from The River Church of Mansfield.
MRCPL endorses Peace on My Block initiative
Saturday’s celebration also included the presentation of a Peace on My Block banner to the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library.
Peace on My Block was first conceived by Brigitte Coles and Angel Singleton of We ACT. Coles and Singleton pitched the concept to Renda Cline, then-president of the Mansfield City Schools board of education, in 2023.
Mansfield City Schools has since implemented Peace on My Block districtwide.
Banners hang at each building. Students are encouraged to take a pledge to live peacefully. Teachers wear red shirts every Wednesday and have classroom discussions on nonviolent conflict resolution and tips for building peace.
Cline said the initiative is designed to inspire students to take ownership of the peace-building process by resolving to think, speak and live peacefully in their homes, classrooms and neighborhoods in the wake of recent gun violence.
“Our children have been impacted by all of that trauma, whether it was directly or indirectly,” Cline said. “We felt as a district that we need to give our students and community more resources in how to work together.”
MRCPL director Chris May said supporting the initiative aligns perfectly with the library’s mission to be a welcoming place for all.
Other organizations and businesses that have endorsed the effort include Mansfield City Council, Mansfield Police, the NAACP’s Mansfield chapter, the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, We ACT, Richland County Children’s Services, Community Action for Capable Youth, Richland Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio State University at Mansfield, the Richland County Democratic Party, North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Mansfield UMADAOP and Mind Body Align.
Coles, Singleton and Cline say they hope it spreads even further.
“Wherever you live, you want to take ownership of where you’re at,” Coles added.
“Wherever your block is, anywhere throughout Mansfield or Richland County, you can have peace on that block. It doesn’t matter what race you are, it doesn’t matter your political affiliation. Everybody wants peace.”
Cline said the district will have Peace on My Block banners and other merchandise available for purchase soon online. Read the full Peace on My Block pledge below.
Peace on My Block pledge
I _______________________ pledge to be a powerful peace builder.
I reject violence, bullying, and discrimination.
I will treat everyone as a friend, even if we have different views, cultures, faiths, and traditions.
I will be a better listener.
I will work to find and to use nonviolent resolutions to solve any problems or misunderstandings.
I commit to building peace in my school, in my community, in my city, and my world.
I pledge to use my thoughts, my words, and my actions to build Peace on My Block.
