Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans throughout U.S. history. It began as "Negro History Week" in 1926, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, and has since evolved into a month-long celebration recognized by every U.S. president since 1976.

History is made every day through the contributions of remarkable individuals like Anthony Thames of Moss Point, MS. He and wife, Sharon are proud of the life they have built over the past 33 years. When he isn’t spending time with his grandkids, you can find him giving back to his community and educating. 

Anthony is a powerhouse, juggling over 10 disaster-based roles with grace. For Anthony, Black History Month is deeply personal. "Black History for me has much to do with having a place in time, a moment and movement in time, and ancestors in time that I can always look back to and appreciate for myself the sacrifices that were made," he shares. He reflects on the moments and movements in history that have allowed him to live freely and pursue his dreams. Black History is not just a celebration; it's a time to focus on the resilience and strength of those who came before him.

Anthony actively contributes to his community by mentoring youth in drug interdiction, community events and several educational programs. He often shares his personal experiences and the importance of recognizing Black history with younger generations, inspiring them to appreciate their heritage and strive for excellence.

Anthony's inspiration to join the Red Cross came in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc on his small community. "It was the Red Cross that came to our aid, handing out water, food, etc. I became a Red Crosser because of how well they treated me, my family, and my community after that storm," he recalls. He finally became one in  November 2018 thanks to a friendly call from volunteer recruitment specialist Martha Duvall. Since then, Anthony has been dedicated to giving back and helping others recover from disasters, just as the Red Cross helped him.

Anthony has faced many challenges, but his faith has been his guiding light. "The most mind-boggling memorable event in my life is seeing the love of God’s work in my life on a daily basis. It's more than amazing to know that Jesus would, will, have, and is forgiving me when I know I don’t deserve to be forgiven," he says. He believes in the power of community and the importance of giving back, no matter the obstacles.

Anthony is proud to wear the vest because of the Red Cross's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. "The Red Cross is one of the few organizations that actually promotes DEI while many others are shying away," he notes. He has seen how the organization values the talents and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, ensuring they play key roles in decision-making processes.

Anthony's advice for making a positive impact in the community is simple yet powerful: "The only way to make a positive impact anywhere, especially in this opportunity we call volunteering, is to allow God’s love to shine through you and thereby remove the darkness from some downtrodden soul."

Volunteers constitute about 90% of our workforce. Volunteers make it possible to respond to an average of 65,000 disasters every year, most of them home and apartment fires. Find out how you can make a difference by searching volunteer opportunities today at redcross.org/volunteer.