Historic Columbus Black History Breakfast welcomes Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett
The 40th Annual Black History Month Observance Breakfast is a landmark event in Columbus and this year distinguished Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett was the honored guest and keynote speaker.
Over 1,300 attendees came to the sold-out gathering, hosted by local news personalities Jason Dennis and Rosalind Giles. The breakfast aims to celebrate Black history, honor community leaders and amplify distinguished voices.
The breakfast is a long-standing Columbus tradition
For the past 40 years, the annual breakfast has been a cornerstone of Columbus’s Black History Month celebrations for four decades. Created by the Black History Month Observance Committee, it is one of the most inspiring and popular events for the community and its leaders.
Georgia Congressman Sanford Bishop serves as the honorary chairperson and organizer of the event and has had a hand in its success from the beginning. The breakfast previously hosted many history makers such as former President Barack Obama, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, and the late U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings.
Proceeds from the event support numerous local organizations that provide charitable, cultural, social and educational services to the community.
Representative Crockett delivered an “empowering” speech
Crockett is an American politician currently serving as a U.S. representative from Texas’s 30th congressional who began her career as a public defender for Bowie County, Texas.
She is an advocate for voting rights, criminal justice reform, civil rights and has recently been selected as a ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight.
She offered encouragement to the crowd, saying, “I hope that the audience feels empowered right now,” urging the audience to stay educated and get involved. She went on to warn, “If you don’t know your history, you are doomed to repeat it.”
Crockett has a fierce sense of justice and went viral last year as a result of a confrontation with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. She spoke to that moment during her talk, declaring “Marjorie has no interest in the idea of unity. That’s just not who she is. She is one of the main architects of consistently sowing division.”
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she has special insight into the current changes happening under this administration. She warns, “Congress has the power of the purse. So, it’s up to us to decide. What I want people to do is not look at this and think that this is a partisan thing. This is about whether or not you believe in our Constitution.”
The celebration honors Columbus’ most outstanding leaders
The Legacy of Leadership Award
The Legacy of Leadership Award honors individuals who have shown consistent and long-term dedication to leadership and community service.
Dr. Robert Wright was the 2025 recipient. Dr. Wright is a prominent Columbus figure known for his contributions to business, politics and community service.
The Unsung Hero Award
This award highlights the special contributions and commitments to the success of multiple organizations, groups and individuals. Their commitment to volunteerism is clearly evident and widely recognized.
Dr. Asante Hilts of Valley Healthcare System is a health administrator with over 13 years of community health experience and mentors and trains students from several universities.
The Points of Light Award
This honor is given to an individual, group or organization who has made a distinct contribution that improves the lives of others.
Various community members were recognized for their impactful contributions:
Dee Armstrong
Kornisha McGill Brown
Edger Champagne
Pat Hugley Brown
Dr. William Harold Mayweather
Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims
Carolyn Gause Randolph
Natalie Naman Temegsen
Teresa Whitaker
Emerging Leaders
The breakfast also honored up-and-coming leader, Crystal Pendleton Shahid. She is the senior vice president at Truist Bank. Shahid has been recognized in Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” as a Girl Scout Woman of Achievement and with the Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Award.
The breakfast is a community staple and remains a platform for celebrating Black history, fostering unity and addressing ongoing challenges in the community.
Go to the official congressional website to identify your representatives and find their contact information.
Tell me about your experiences at the Black History Month Breakfast. Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
