February is just around the corner, which means so is Black History Month – an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. There are a variety of ways to honor the commemorative month. Locally, there are several ways to celebrate.
Special Events:
The Flint Public Library will host its 17th Annual Black History Month Brunch at the Genesys Banquet and Conference Center. The event honors individuals and community organizations that make a difference in the community and will feature entertainment by Linkin’ Bridge, runners-up on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. For more information and to purchase, visit www.thegdl.org.
Theater:
The New McCree Theatre presents two one-act plays by acclaimed American playwright Douglas Turner Ward, Happy Ending and Day of Absence. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.thenewmccreetheatre.com.
Flint Youth Theatre presents Akeelah and the Bee. This powerful story focuses on a young girl with a passion for words who is overwhelmed by the challenge of daily life in a tough, Chicago neighborhood. But after earning a spot in the National Spelling Bee, Akeelah inspires the people in her neighborhood with her courage and tenacity. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.thefyt.org.
The Whiting presents Freedom Riders, a new play, featuring original songs and music, that explores the valiant and courageous personalities behind the critical chapters in the history of the Civil Rights movement. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.thewhiting.com.
Films:
At the Flint Institute of Arts, FOMA Films presents For Ahkeem, a part documentary, part coming-of-age story that illuminates the challenges faced by many African American youths. The African American Film Series hosted by Communities First presents STEP, a movie that documents the senior year of a girls’ high-school step dance team against the background of inner-city Baltimore. For more information on both of the films, visit www.flintarts.org.
The New McCree Theatre presents a marathon of the four-part documentary series Hidden Colors. The series directed by Tariq Nasheed aims to explain and describe the marginalizing of African Americans in America and the world. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.thenewmccreetheatre.com.
Exhibits:
The Sloan Museum’s newest exhibit An Equal Opportunity Lie, named after the statement Flint Mayor Floyd McCree stated when he resigned from his appointed position in protest. The exhibit features objects and images from Sloan Museum’s collection and examines the housing segregation that characterized Flint’s residential development. For more information, visit www.sloanlongway.org.
The Flint Institute of Arts’ newest exhibit, Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence features a new form of textile art known as ndwango, developed by women living in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. For more information, visit www.flintarts.org.
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