Mount Vernon held a Black History Month celebration Thursday inside City Hall.

There were words of inspiration and music as people gathered to reflect on black history and its rich heritage in the city.

Students from Amani Public Charter School created artwork that will be on display for the month. The young artists say they learned a lot while creating the pieces depicting Martin Luther King Jr. and the Harlem Renaissance.

Democratic state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who represents part of Mount Vernon, was the keynote speaker for the event. He's the youngest senator currently serving in Albany.