Exhibit put on by Burlington Elementary librarian

BURLINGTON — Every February, Harriet Ramsey, the librarian at Burlington Elementary, puts together a special exhibit for Black History Month to greet visitors at the school’s entrance.

This year’s exhibit features a collection of dolls, portraying figures such as the Tuskegee Airmen, famous dancers, athletes and others.

Ramsey said the items came from the collection of Suzanne Howard, a local resident who graduated from South Point schools.

“She does this every year,” Ramsey said. “It’s a passion of hers.”

Ramsey said, to help teachers during the month, she loaned out a book, “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History,” by Vashti Harrison, which highlighted the accomplishments of figures such as mathematician Katherine Johnson of NASA (who turns 100 this year), poet Maya Angelou, “Star Trek” actress Nichelle Nichols and track star Florence Griffith Joyner.

While the students learn about well-known leaders, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ramsey said she hopes to increase their interest by also introducing them to people of whom they may not have been aware.

She said black history is important for students to learn about.

“And, one day, hopefully, it will be interwoven with everything,” she said of the history curriculum.