2023 Citywide Black History Celebration
Dover, Dover, DE
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, look for the Citywide Black History publication in the Delaware State News on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
We are pleased to have the Dover Art League join us this year as a partner of the Citywide Black History Celebration! We are still working with them to finalize the featured exhibit at their studio in Downtown Dover. Please check back throughout the month of February for updated information.
21 W. Loockerman Street, Dover, Delaware | (302) 747-7169 | thedoverartleague.com● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Biggs Museum
Free Admission Days & Free Programs in February
Fridays, February 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Guided Tour highlighting African American Artists of the Biggs. 1 hour.
Saturday, February 4
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Community Art Making - Drop in, learn about and create an African-inspired mask.
2 p.m. - Guided Tour highlighting African American Artists of the Biggs. 40 min.
3 p.m. - Workshop: Exploring Identity with Melissa Sutherland Moss. 3 hours. For teens and adults. Pre-registration required at biggsmuseum.org or (302) 674-2111.
Sunday, February 5, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Drop in for Spanish Language Family Programming and Art Making.
406 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware | (302) 674-2111 | biggsmuseum.org
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Delaware Historical & Cultural Affairs
Struggles for Equality
Saturday February 4 - 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm
Ending Erasure: The African Burial Ground
This program is an opportunity to learn about the complex history of the African Burial Ground at the John Dickinson Plantation. The African Burial Ground is believed to be the final resting place for enslaved and free Black men, women and children who died on the plantation. Archaeological research led to the identification of that burial ground in March of 2021. The program shares the historical context and archaeological research surrounding this significant piece of Delaware's African American history.
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 | OSHmuseum@delaware.gov
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First State Heritage Park
First Saturday at the First State Heritage Park
Saturday, February 4 - Drop in, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“Edward Loper and the WPA”
Edward Loper Sr. is counted among Delaware’s most celebrated artistic talents of the 20th century.
Join a park interpreter at the John Bell House Interpretive Center during public hours to explore the Federal Works Projects Administration experience of Edward Loper Sr. The program will be a walkup talk. All visitors will have the opportunity to discuss and learn about Loper’s works, life and legacy.
Hourly 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Hidden Lives: Slavery, Freedom, and The Green” walking tours
Take a walking tour of the historic neighborhood with “Hidden Lives: Slavery, Freedom, and The Green.” People of color have been an integral part of Dover’s centuries-old history, but through much of that time were treated as second-class citizens at best (and often worse). Their experiences have been too rarely included in the Dover story as they deserve. The Park offers this downtown walking tour, sharing deeply human stories of love, loss, hard work, painful setbacks and triumphs against adversity, based on ongoing research.
Both the Edward Loper Sr. program and the walking tours take place at the John Bell House Interpretive Center
43 The Green, Dover, Delaware | (302) 739-9194
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Dover Public Library
Sunday, February 5, 2 p.m.
In Harmony Concert Series: Pape Demba Samb
Master hand drummer, Pape Demba "Paco" Samb, is an internationally known musician born 1976 in Dakar, Senegal. He is a griot who comes from the Samb family that has been the keepers of the ancestral history, stories, and music of his native Wolof peoples in Senegal for hundreds of years. He performs both traditional and contemporary Senegalese music.
Tuesday Movie Series, 1:30 p.m.
February 7 – “Just Mercy”
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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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
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
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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.
All items are non-refundable, all sales are final.
All items are non-refundable under any circumstances.
Dover, DE
