This month is African-American history month and there is a lot that we can learn from history. Your recent excellent article about pre-Civil War Elizabeth City was followed up on Monday with a heartwarming photo of the Community Angels. Even Bud Wright was quite correct on the impact of the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Another movie — more recently — making a huge impression is “Red Tails.” The courageous story of the Tuskegee Airmen should inspire everyone. These brave Americans took on evil Nazi Socialism as well as racial prejudice. Sadly, many hard earned lessons from history have been forgotten and lost when they should of been remembered and honored. I do believe it was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” How true that is. We all still have much to learn from history or we will tragically repeat mistakes. As we observe African-American history month we cannot help but benefit from the many contributions made. We must remember the lessons and teach the history. Our children and future generations will thank us for it.

RAY CLARKE SR.

Elizabeth City