By Chelsea Vance | The Selma Times-Journal

Councilwoman Angela Benjamin will host the eighth annual Black History Celebration: Black Man Heal and Expressions on Feb. 15 and 16. Each year, the program is geared toward helping African-American men throughout the community be better men.

“This is designed to address the whole African-American male,” Benjamin said. “We’re talking about physical, emotional, psychological and financial.”

The guest speaker this year will be Cincinnati Bengals defensive end and Selma Michael Johnson. He will talk about how imperative it is to stay physically healthy and develop a relationship with a good physician.

Johnson will share the floor with guest panelists Ralph Coquemar, David Perry, Effell Williams, Mark Peterson and John Grayson.

Discussion will include spirituality, finance and economics, health and wellness, goal setting and healing.

The two-day program will take place at the Performing Arts Center located at 1000 Selma Ave. Both events are free and open to the public.

On Feb. 15, refreshments will be served at the lunchtime symposium, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Singers, mimes, dancers, poets and artists from Cedar Park Elementary School, Clark Elementary School, Concordia College Selma and R.B. Hudson Middle School will perform starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16.