Name: 2022 Citywide Black History Celebration
Start: 2022-01-30 08:00:00
End: 2022-02-28 20:00:00
Location: Dover

Our Citywide Black History Celebration kicks-off on Sunday, January 30 and continues through the month of February in different locations throughout Dover. The 2022 Citywide Black History Celebration is brought to you in partnership by the Biggs Museum of American Art, Delaware State News, Delaware State University, DonDel Productions, Dover Public Library, First State Heritage Park, Inner City Cultural League and Sankofa Cultural Arts Center. The programs are sponsored in part by Chesapeake Utilities and Dover Federal Credit Union, and virtual events sponsor Bayhealth.

For more information on these and other events happening during Black History Month, please check out our special publication for the Citywide Black History Celebration available online from the Delaware State News at this link.

Local African American Voices

This year’s celebration begins on an inspirational high note with a virtual performance from 2019 of the familiar gospel song Great is Thy Faithfulness by the Delaware State University Choir Chamber singers under the direction of Dr. Derrick L. Thompson.

In addition, we are sharing two videos from the 2019 Citywide Black History Celebration of the Delaware Poets Laureate Twin Poets Representative Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha and Albert Mills. These videos are impromptu recordings made during an inspirational performance by the poets at Delaware State University. So, the quality isn't the best, and we apologize for that. But we think you will enjoy viewing them and hopefully they will encourage you to catch one of their future performances.

You can view all of these videos at the top of the page just below the photo album preview of this year's Celebration.

The Biggs Museum of American Art

406 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901

www.BiggsMuseum.org

Friday, February 4 – May 21, 2022

Biggs Museum of American Art

Visions & Voices: A juried exhibition of Mid-Atlantic African American Artists

After years of successfully hosting juried art competitions for photographers, landscape artists, and figural artists of the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Biggs Museum is proud to introduce a new juried exhibition highlighting the work of regional African American artists. This exhibition will present art from all visual art media including, but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, craft, fiber, and video. The physical exhibition will be accompanied by an opening reception, artist talks, public programming, and gallery sales of the accepted works.

Friday, Feb. 4, 5-8 p.m.

Biggs Museum of American Art

Visions & Voices Opening Reception

Join the Biggs Museum for an opening reception for the Visions & Voices on Friday, February 4, 5 pm - 8 pm. The reception for this juried exhibition featuring local African American Artists will be held as a complimentary community event in conjunction with Dover’s Citywide Black History Month Celebration. Masks are required to be worn inside the Museum; light refreshments will be served.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Register online or call 302-674-2111 ext. 0.

This opening is Free for all visitors.

Drink tickets can be purchased on-site for $3 each or $5 for two. One drink ticket = one beer or glass of wine. All other refreshments are complimentary

Saturday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Biggs Museum of American Art

First Saturday & Biggs Kids

The Biggs extends free admission to the public on the First Saturday each month. On February 5th, the public is invited to explore the new exhibition Visions & Voices, as well as the other exhibitions on display, Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray and Unmasking Culture: An Examination of the Ritual Masks of Mexico which will come to a close on February 12. During First Saturday, the museum hosts its monthly free Biggs Kids Workshop. February’s workshop is inspired by Visions & Voices. Biggs Kids will create artwork using tips on how to channel their artistic voices to create a vision that is uniquely their own.

For more information on the Biggs Museum, please check their website at www.biggsmuseum.org.

Delaware Black Women Leaders: Past, Present & Future

Saturday, February 12, 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, 39 S. West Street, Dover, Delaware 19901

Free Admission.

This Citywide Black History Celebration event will include a static exhibit in addition to in-person presentations by local black women leaders.

Exhibits and presentations will include the following women: Dr. Anthea Aikins, Linda Arrey, Denise Hicks Barnes, Troy Farmer, Dr. Eunice Gwanmesia, Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, Maxine Lewis, Charlotte Miller-Lacy, Dr. Wilma Mishoe and Kim Warfield.

In addition, the youth of the Sankofa Drummers and Dancers will perform throughout both afternoon performances.

Complimentary carry-out refreshments will be available for all event attendees while supplies last.

This is a free, non-ticketed program open to all. Admission to the venue will be limited based on the current COVID guidelines on the day of the event. All event attendees will be required to wear masks.

Citywide Black History Celebration Events at the Dover Public Library

Dover Public Library, 35 E. Loockerman Street, Dover, Delaware 19901

All library guests are required to wear masks.

Friday, February 11 at 6 p.m.

Dover Public Library

Sankofa Drums and Dancers

The talented youth from the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center will perform African drumming and dancing in traditional costumes.

Tuesday, February 15 at 6 p.m.

Dover Public Library

Black Women Leaders in the Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century women, both Black and white, were organizing and protesting to get the right to vote. Black women were also joining the fight with Black men to end lynching in America and for access to quality education. Ida B. Wells Barnett, Mary Church Terrell and Margaret Washington were three of the women that played a leadership role in organizing Black women to take on these fights.

Led by Syl Woolford, the presentation describes the obstacles which these women faced in fighting for their human rights and the progress they made in battles that are still being fought today.

Friday, February 18 at 6 p.m.

Dover Public Library

Women in Jazz

Women have been involved in jazz since the early 1920s, not just as vocalists, but as instrumentalists, composers, and arrangers. An understanding of jazz would not be complete without highlighting the influence and contributions of women, such as Bessie Smith, Valaida Snow, Mildred Bailey, Mary Lou Williams, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughn.

Learn about these women and their ability to create, perform, and survive in a time when jazz was considered, "a man's world" in this program that includes a live music performance via Zoom. Please register at https://delawarelibraries.libcal.com/calendar/dover/ to receive the Zoom link.

Thursday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Dover Public Library

“The Other Side of the Tracks” Film & Discussion

This program features the short documentary film The Other Side of the Tracks. Focusing on the formative years of Dr. Reba Hollingsworth in Milford, Delaware, the film examines segregation in southern Delaware during the early to mid-20th century. In the documentary, Dr. Hollingsworth talks about the challenges and triumphs that she experienced growing up in Milford. Following the film, there will be a question and answer period with Dr. Reba Hollingsworth and the film's creator, Tom Summers.

First State Heritage Park

Hidden Lives: Slavery, Freedom & The Green

People of color have been an integral part of the Dover community across more than 300 years of history, but through much of that time were treated as second-class citizens at best...and often worse. Although their lives were tightly woven into the fabric of Dover's everyday and their contributions meaningfully shaped this city, their experiences have only too rarely been included in the Dover story as they deserve to be. In this pilot of a NEW walking tour from First State Heritage Park, they invite members of our community to join as they reveal glimpses of these hidden lives unveiled by their ongoing research, sharing deeply human stories of love and loss, hard work, painful setbacks, and triumphs against adversity. If you attend, please consider leaving feedback on this tour! Your input is a vital part of the process, doing full justice to the rich stories of Dover's past.

After your tour, head just steps away to the Friends of Old Dover/Dover Historical Society to see exhibits on Dover's history as well as a display on the life of famous Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman!

Meet an FSHP interpreter at the John Bell House (43 The Green) for this FREE 45-minute pilot walking tour:

• Friday, February 4, 2 p.m.

• Saturday, February 5, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Thursday, February 17, 10 a.m.

• Friday, February 18, 2 p.m.

Reservations are encouraged! Reservations and inquiries may be directed to the FSHP office at 302-739-9194 or emailed to TourFSHP@delaware.gov. Facial coverings are required of all participants aged kindergarten and up.

There is always something new to discover! To keep up with all FSHP's history happenings, follow them online at facebook.com/FirstStateHeritagePark.

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Admission to any of the in-person events may be limited based on the current COVID restrictions on the day of the event. Cloth face masks are required for all attendees and event staff.

Please refer back to this site or the event Facebook page the day of the event to check for any changes to the schedules or COVID requirements.

In addition, stories highlighting members of our local black community will be featured in the People section of the Sunday Delaware State News beginning January 30 through February 20. You can receive all of these special features with a subscription to the paper. Order it at BaytoBayNews.com/DSNsubscribe.