Canton, Ohio, Gets First-Ever African American Fire Chief
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Kwameshallahu Akbar Bennett became Canton, OH s first African American fire chief.
(Image: Facebook- Canton City Fire Department)
April 26, 2021 marked a historical day in Canton, Ohio, as Kwameshallahu Akbar Bennett became the first African American Fire Chief in the nearly 200-year history of the Canton City Fire Department. During the swearing in ceremony, Bennett thanked a host of colleagues and family members.
“Today’s a celebration. It’s a celebration of what’s possible when you work hard, believe, and have people that support you and love you,” Bennett, 50, said.
Elizabeth Bennett, Bennett’s late mother, gave him confidence and encouragement. Akbar said that he could not fail without a mother like her.
CANTON – Kwameshallahu Akbar Bennett is poised to become the city s first Black fire chief.
The historic event happens one year shy of the department s bicentennial. The fire department was established in 1822, the same year Canton was incorporated as a village, according to the Canton Professional Firefighters Association.
Bennett, 50, will be promoted from division chief and sworn in at 10 a.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall.
Bennett has served as interim fire chief since Chief Thomas Garra retired March 2 after 29 years on the force.
His retirement left Bennett and three battalion chiefs vying for the chief s post. Battalion Chief Steven Henderson will be sworn in Monday as the department s new division chief.
Canton Fire Department to swear in 1st African American chief
K. Akbar Bennett says he never set out to make history. The department has only had white chiefs in its first 200 years of existence. Author: January Keaton Updated: 12:03 AM EDT April 24, 2021
CANTON, Ohio The Canton Fire Department has reached a major milestone, ushering in its first African American fire chief. I cannot dismiss the historical context of it, current Division Chief K. Akbar Bennett told 3News. My goal was never to be the first African American fire chief; my goal was always not to be the last.
Bennett will be sworn in next week as the first African American fire chief in the almost-200-year history of the department. The 50-year-old father of two and grandfather of one says his new position wasn t appointed; it was earned.
Canton Repository staff report
CANTON City firefighters are receiving the coronavirus vaccine.
The Canton Fire Department on Tuesday released photos and a video of Canton Public Health administering the vaccine at Station 4. Our medics expose themselves to a lot of COVID patients and we re looking forward to this vaccine being a real answer to curing this deadly disease, Fire Chief Thomas Garra said in the video as he received the vaccine.