Black History Committee awards scholarships
By Delanda S. Johnson
Each year, the Henderson County Black History Committee honors high school seniors who will graduate from all of the seven Henderson County High Schools. Each student will receive payment for the fall and spring semester of college. This is why your support for their annual Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, set for Saturday, June 13, at the Malakoff Junior High School, is so important. All funds from this event go to the scholarship recipients.
If you need more information contact Delanda Johnson at 903-489-2329 or Marcus Hornbuckle at 903-802-4486 or if you would like to make a donation please mail payable to: Henderson County Black History Committee P. O. Box 5 Athens, Texas 75751 The following are thoughts from the scholarship recipients essays with the theme“ A Century of Black History Commendation” with a sub-theme“ Fat America; Your Brother Is Hungry”:
D’ Marcus Davis— Athens
The phrase“ Fat America Your Brother is Hungry” isn’ t directly in Matthew 14:13-21; but it’ s a modern critical interpretation of the story where Jesus feeds the 5,000; urging followers( like Fat America) to share their abundant resources( bread and fish) with hungry brothers( the needy). Fat America is the landscape of profound contradictory hunger. It is a nation that struggles with a massive obesity epidemic where over one third of Americans are considered obese. Ultimately,“ Fat America” is a story of unequal access to healthcare. It is a society that needs to look beyond the surface of a fattening epidemic. The true challenge is the nation’ s need to address the hunger that exists both in the belly and in the soul of the nation.
Regan Head— Athens: In the Gospel of Matthew 14:13- 21; a large crowd followed Jesus into a deserted place and when the people became hungry, the disciples suggested sending them away. Jesus replied,“ They need not depart; you give them something to eat.” This reveals a powerful lesson about leadership and responsibility: true leadership does not ignore suffering, but confronts it directly. African Americans have embodied this same principle— meeting the needs of their communities even when society failed to do so. It is more important than ever that we continue to use our voices and empower one another, just as Black communities did during times of despair in the past. Today, America is deeply divided by politics, race, and social class; yet; history has taught and continues to remind us that division only weakens a nation. We are all our brother’ s keeper and America is strongest when no one is left hungry.
Brayden Pinson— LaPoynor
America is often described as the land of abundance. However, the contradiction of Fat America, a nation full; yet, starving at the same time. When I say“ Your Brother Is Hungry” I’ m not speaking about someone far away or unfamiliar. I’ m talking about classmates, neighbors and families who live quietly among us. While some people argue that hunger is a result of poor choices, that belief ignores the systems and circumstances that place people at a disadvantage before they are able to choose. We accept waste as unavoidable and hunger as unfortunate, but distant. The phrase“ Your Brother Is Hungry” challenges that mindset. It reminds us that hunger is not someone else’ s problem; it is our problem. When we ignore it, we become part of a system that allows excess to exist alongside need. If America truly wants to call itself great, it must ensure that no one is left starving in the shadow of plenty.
14 | Greater Athens Magazine | May 2026