The COACH Foundation of Tampa, founded by Rev. Willie Dixon, in partnership with Historic Bethel AME Church— the oldest African American church in St. Petersburg—will host a special commemorative and celebratory Sunday service marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Historic Bethel AME Church, 912 3rd Ave N, St. Petersburg.
The service honors the centennial of Negro History Week, established in February 1926 by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson, which later evolved into Black History Month. The occasion will feature a guest message from DeMark Liggins, national president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)—the civil rights organization founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The theme is “A Century of Sacred Resistance: Faith, Freedom & the Future.’’
Held within the historic sanctuary of Bethel AME Church, the program will reflect on a century of Black history rooted in faith, resilience, and collective action, while also offering a call forward for continued civic engagement and moral leadership.
“Black History Month was born in the Black church— as an act of truth-telling and self-determination,” said Dixon. “This gathering honors that sacred legacy while challenging us to carry the work forward with clarity, courage, and conviction.”
Founded more than a century ago, Historic Bethel AME Church has served as a spiritual and cultural cornerstone for Black life in St. Petersburg, bearing witness to generations of struggle, progress, and community leadership.
As the current steward of Dr. King’s organizational legacy, Liggins brings a national perspective to this historic moment, connecting the origins of Black History Month to the unfinished work of justice and equality today.