Black History Month began Monday in Springfield, Massachusetts with an annual flag-raising at City Hall.
A large audience that included children from a city elementary school and a Head Start classroom were urged by keynote speaker, Dr. Alonzo Sheffield, 95, a retired physician to learn their history.
" I think it will help them in their studies and appreciate what the situation is today," said Sheffield.
Sheffield is part of local black history, he was one of the first African Americans to practice medicine in Springfield when he began a general practice in 1947.
This was the 30th annual Black American Heritage flag-raising in Springfield.
