Covington hosted its second annual Black History Month Celebration Saturday at the Historic Courthouse.

This year's celebration featured several local black female artists and entertainers in honor of the 2012 Black History Month theme of Black Women in American Culture and History. The theme is set every year by the Association for the Study of African America Life and History.

There were musical performances, interpretive dances and paintings by local artists, and event organizer Janet Goodman, a Covington councilwoman, was the special guest speaker.

The event was started last year by former Mayor Kim Carter and Goodman and is co-sponsored by the city of Covington and Main Street Covington.

Students from the various high schools and churches performed, including dance troupes from Mount Zion Baptist Church in Oxford and Grace United Methodist Church in Covington. Newton High School's JROTC group presented the colors.

"We're focusing on African-American women in Covington. Because we know that the youth are our future, we wanted to show off their talents in Covington. There are a lot of talented people that have never been seen," Goodman said before the event.