After celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., a group of Whidbey churches plans to wrap up Black History Month with a celebration featuring live music, dancing, poetry and worship.

The event is hosted by Unity Fellowship and will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Mission Ministry Faith Center, located at 1751 Goldie Road in Oak Harbor.

Juliet Dei owns the Whidbey African Store, a business that devotes part of its proceeds to businesses and organizations in Africa that are focused on uplifting women and girls.

A native of Ghana, Dei grew up seeing the ruins of European colonialism and the slave trade, as well as the scars they have left on African history. This month, she is remembering those who have suffered while also celebrating the resilience of many Black people who survived through it all.

Mercedez Dillon, a devotee at Mission Ministries, said she grew up feeling like she didn’t fit in any community as she was bullied for being a light skinned Black and Asian girl.

Sunday, while singing gospel songs, she will be celebrating all of the shades of Black culture as well as all of the colors that have come together in unity and through ancestry, no matter how many generations ago.

“It’s very important to me to (teach) my children to accept who they are, be proud of where we came from and never forget where we came from,” she said. “And that goes for all races.”

Rober Porter, who will be playing the piano this Sunday, recommends people join the celebration no matter their color, religious or political beliefs.

“We have to just come together and put our disagreements aside,” he said. “It doesn’t matter the color, the age, the (religious) background, as long as we have the same vision and goal to want to do better in our community and support our community in this growth.”

On top of honoring her ancestors and her culture, Wismine D’Avilar will celebrate Pastor Fannie Dean, whom she sees as a spiritual and moral role model for herself and the community. Despite experiencing multiple attacks and intimidations for the color of her skin, Dean remains forgiving and altruistic.

Coincidentally, the yearly Sunday celebration falls on her birthday this year.