Black Iowa mayor: 'Seize this unique moment' to make Black history

🙌🏾Celebrating Black History Month: Black Iowa News invited Black Iowans to share their feelings about the importance of teaching Black history, voting rights and more — in their own words. 🟫Here's the next installment from Quentin Hart, the first African American mayor of Waterloo, who was recently reelected to a fourth term. Before becoming mayor, Hart served for eight years as a councilman in Ward 4. He was also the first African American appointed as mayor pro tem. Hart is a doctoral candidate at Iowa State University in educational leadership and policy studies.

📣Check back tomorrow for the next installment. Black History Month isn't over yet. There is still time to share your point of view. Learn more below.

Black History is world history. It is not only about what happened in the past, it explains our present and shapes our future. It permeates our everyday lives, the foods we eat, the songs we sing, the clothes we wear. Today, we have more resources, more access to information, and more ability to disseminate information than ever before.

We see a growing audience receptive to hear, open to learn and hoping to see what has been hiding in plain sight.

Thank you for subscribing to Black Iowa News🙌🏾. Your support helps Black Iowa News cover important issues concerning Black Iowans. Learn more about the mission of Black Iowa News. ⬛Subscribe for exclusive content. 🟥Follow Black Iowa News on Facebook and Instagram.

To celebrate Black History Month, Black Iowa News will publish short 💥original quotes💥 from Black Iowans on the topics of Black history and voting rights. Email your quote, city, short bio and photo to Dana James, founder of Black Iowa News: dana@blackiowanews.com.

Banner: Black History Month art by Christopher Harrison, of Harrison Art Studio.

Learn about Carter G. Woodson and the origins of Black History Month.