2023 Citywide Black History Celebration

The Seventh Annual Citywide Black History Celebration is a series of events highlighting local Black history, culture, art, music, and theater. 

This year's events are presented by Biggs Museum of American Art, Delaware Historical & Cultural Affairs, Delaware State News, Delaware State University, Dover Art League, Dover Public Library, DonDel Productions, First State Heritage Park, Inner City Cultural League and the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center.

Current sponsors include Bayhealth, Chesapeake Utilities and Dover Federal Credit Union.

Additional event details are included below the photo album so be sure to scroll down.

Also, you can view the Citywide Black History publication presented by the Delaware State News at the LINK. It includes additional stories and details about the event.  

Inner City Cultural League

“Celebrating and Engaging Black Youth through the Churches”

Saturday, February 11, 2 – 3:30 p.m. 

Master of Ceremonies – Rev. Dr. John G. Moore Sr.

Produced by Dr. Don Blakey

Opening Performance

Sankofa Drummers and Dancers

Sankofa String Orchestra

History

African American Religious Movement

Influence of the Spirituals and Gospel Music

Liturgical Dancing – Youth Groups

Union Baptist Church • Solid Rock Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church • Centennial UM Church

Academy of Dover

Community Partner Service Exhibits

Solid Rock Baptist Church

Audience Participation Encouraged for Spiritual and Gospel Songs. Light Refreshments will be available after the event.

Saturday, February 18, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

“Our Story in Space”

This hands-on technology event will include coding, engineering, communications, cyber escape rooms, hazard/safe houses, space fitness, displays, trivia, prizes and more. All ages are welcome. You’ll leave amazed and inspired.

All Inner City Cultural League programs take place at the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center

39 S. West Street, Dover, Delaware | (302) 883-2180 | www.icclarts.org

Friday, February 17, 6 - 8 p.m.

Reception for Unveiling Creativity by Dr. Rosetta Roach

Dr. Roach has taught for over 35 years as a Visual Arts Educator in Florida and Delaware and has won numerous educational awards including the Delaware Art Educator of the Year from the National Arts Education Association.

As an artist, she works with different disciplines; drawing, sculpting, painting, ceramics, and creative writing. Her palette is very diverse. She also wrote, illustrated, and published a book called “I Am.”

Her artwork generally contains several meanings imbedded within the design. The artwork has a realistic component that grows into an abstract composition. Dr. Roach has a passion for bright colors and enjoys creating visual movement, and tends to use lines repetition.

She is a strong woman of faith and a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Select works are for sale. Light refreshments will be available.

An exhibit of her paintings will be on display at the Dover Art League through March 10. 

Regular Dover Art League hours are Wednesdays - Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Biggs Museum

Free Admission Days & Free Programs in February

Fridays, February 10, 17 and 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Guided Tour highlighting African American Artists of the Biggs. 1 hour.

406 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware | (302) 674-2111 | biggsmuseum.org

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Delaware Historical & Cultural Affairs

Struggles for Equality

Saturday February 11 - 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm

The Letter of the Law

Lead Historic Site Interpreter at the New Castle Court House Museum, Juliette Wurm will explore the bias and racism written in the laws of Delaware from the American Revolution to Reconstruction to explore the inequities written into these laws and how they were enforced.

Saturday February 18 - 1pm

An Uphill Battle, The Unfulfilled Promise of the Civil War 1860-1896

At the end of the Civil War, great change seemed promised with the first federal civil rights acts and amendments. Why instead did we descend into segregation? The program will explore the constitutional amendments, the first federal civil rights acts, Delaware’s political climate and reactions to federal legislation and end at the Plessy decision.

Saturday February 25 - 1pm

The Evolution of Black Recorded Music: “The Rock-n-Roll Soul” 

“The Rock-n-Roll Soul,” covers the establishment of the Soul and Rock and Roll genres, highlighting artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, James Brown, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The program also dives into how the Detroit based Motown created the foundations of the Rhythm and Blues genre that swept the nation. This multimedia presentation features biographies, musical recordings, and video clips from the 1940s through the 1960s.

All programs take place at the Old State House

25 The Green, Dover, Delaware | (302) 744-5054 | [email protected]

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 Dover Public Library

Saturday, February 4 - Tuesday, February 28

“The Life and Legacy of Bishop Richard Allen” - Sponsored by The Friend of Old Dover (The Historical Society of Dover)

This exhibit will showcase aspects of Bishop Allen’s life including his birth into slavery, his early life and marriage, his life as a minister, the formation of the AME Church, and his work on the Underground Railroad.

Bishop Allen, minister, writer and influential Black leader, was born a slave in Delaware until he was able to gain his own freedom. He was converted to the Methodist faith by Freeborn Garrettson.

A member of the Underground Railroad, Bishop Allen went on to establish the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is credited with being the first African American bishop in the United States.

The public is invited to visit this limited exhibit at the library and learn more about this incredible pioneer of abolition.

To find out more about this event or other events by the Friends of Old Dover, visit friendsofolddover.org or facebook.com/friendsofolddover.

Tuesday Movie Series, 1:30 p.m.

February 14 – “Satchmo Masters of American Music:

Louis Armstrong” Documentary

February 21 – “Black Panther”

February 28 – “The Woman King”

Thursday, February 16, 5 p.m.

Family Night: Civil Rights Movements with Hip Hop Fundamentals

Using dance, the “Civil Rights Movements” is an hour-long assembly focusing on student involvement in the American Civil Rights Movement, as seen through the eyes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Hip Hop Fundamentals group uses dance, audience participation and a variety of media to explore the social conditions that gave rise to the movement; the heroic work necessary to end segregation;

and the critical role that young people played in winning equal rights for millions of Americans.

Appropriate for ages 5 and up. Parents must stay with children at all times.

Tuesday, February 21, 6 p.m.

Lecture: Brown vs. Board of Education

Delaware historian Syl Woolford looks at the legal fight that took place in Brown v. Board of Education and the major changes it made to our society.

Thursday Teen Programs

February 9, 4 p.m.

Creative Camp: Creating Diverse Stories

To celebrate Black History Month, Creative Camp will be having a workshop on the importance of diverse stories, specifically black literature and art, and how to create diverse art. This program is for teens and tweens.

February 16, 4 p.m.

Creative Camp: Writer’s Workshop

To celebrate Black History Month, Creative Camp will be having a workshop on the various resources for aspiring minority creatives. This program is for teens and tweens.

February 23, 4 p.m.

Creative Camp: Film Analysis

Embrace your inner film critic! In celebration of Black History Month, teens will get the opportunity to watch short films from award-winning, black independent artists of Delaware and use media literacy to develop their own film critical analysis.

35 E. Loockerman Street, Dover, Delaware | (302) 736-7030 | https://dover.lib.de.us/

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Delaware State University

For a list of the Black History Month programs being presented by Delaware State University, please visit their website: desu.edu/events.