NCWN

Award-winning musicians, actors, filmmakers and writers will join dancers, re-enactors, craftspeople and other presenters to celebrate North Carolina’s diverse African American heritage and culture — in a big way. This statewide kickoff to Black History Month in February is one of the museum’s largest yearly events. The festival will have fun and educational activities for all ages. This year’s theme, Defining Freedom, honors the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was signed in 1863. Literary events include Zelda Lockhart, author and poet, who will lead a panel discussion with three members of the North Carolina Writers Network; authors Carol Kenney and Michele Bowen, engaging in a discussion about literature in African American churches; and storytellers from the NC Association of Black Storytellers. Sponsored in part by the North Carolina Writers' Network.