Author: Sharon Fletcher Jones
February 15, 2018
Black History Month celebrations in the City Beautiful are numerous and sundry. There are welcoming activities for children, adults, families and entire communities. Notably, the Wells’ Built Museum located at 511 West South Street celebrates Orlando’s black history every day of the week until 5:00 p.m. Contact the Museum at (407) 245-7535 for their schedule of Black History Month events.
Dr. Julian C. Chambliss will speak at Orlando City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 7th about an experiential learning project that is currently on display in the Rotunda, “Beyond the Color Line”. The project shines a spotlight on how the exploration of local African-American history connects to national concerns. Dr. Chambliss is a professor and chairman of the Department of History and coordinator of the Africa and African-American Studies Program at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. His research and teaching interests focus on urban popular culture and development in the United States. The Rotunda at Orlando City Hall is located at 400 S. Orange Avenue and the event will begin at 4 p.m.
Join the Central Florida Association of Black Journalists (CFABJ) on February 10th for a tour of The Bronze Kingdom (Museum and Art Gallery) that will include a special screening of the film Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges & Universities followed by a short discussion with the filmmaker and a reception. This event begins at 11:00 a.m. Continuing their celebration of Black History Month, CFABJ will host a preview of the long-awaited, widely-acclaimed movie Black Panther on Thursday, February 15th at the West Oaks AMC 14 Theatre at 7:30 p.m. This event will include a red carpet and reception beginning at 5:45 p.m. at Evelyn’s Creations and Art Expo in the mall. For details visit www.cfabj.org.
The Black History Committee of Orange County in Partnership with the Orange County Regional History Center will host its 10th Annual Networking Reception on Thursday, February 9th. The event includes an art unveiling, guided tour of art exhibits and networking reception at the Orange County Regional History Center. The reception includes a Black History Month Commemoration, Floetry, refreshments, and live entertainment. For additional information or to purchase your $10.00 ticket, contact Gloria Barber at 407-877-3508 or Cassandra Snell at 407-721-5054.
Come to the opening reception for “A Place for All People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture.” The reception, in conjunction with the City of Orlando Office of Community Affairs, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Rotunda at Orlando City Hall.
Experience our rich African culture and celebrate our proud heritage at the Restoring the Village Black History Celebration on Friday, February 16th at 7:00 pm. at Three Masks Event Center, 1023 West Colonial Drive, Orlando. The celebration will include Kuumba Dancers and Drummers from Tampa, Barefoot under the Baobab Tree with Book Beats from Columbia, South Carolina and cash prizes for African fashions! For more information, contact 321-430-3977.
The Black History Committee of Orange County, Incorporated will present “A Storytelling Hour” on February 21, 2018 from 10-11 a.m. for Head-start students at the John Bridges Community Center where each student will be given an educational ‘goodie bag’. Contact the John Bridges Community Center, Apopka, Florida for additional information
