2023 Black History Month Festival Will Celebrate The Theme of “Black Resistance in The Past, Present and Future”

2023 Black History Month Festival Will Celebrate The Theme of “Black Resistance in The Past, Present and Future”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2022
Media Contact: Zebulon Miletsky
marketing@asalh.org

Washington, D.C.—Join the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) for its Third Annual Black History Month Festival celebrating the 2023 Black History theme, “Black Resistance.” Black Resistance has taken many forms throughout history. As the late Congressman John Lewis advised, “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” 

During these uncertain times in which the very nature of the ways in which Black history can be legally taught are in peril, the festival provides an opportunity to explore various aspects of Black life and history. Festival programming will take place “in person” in Washington, D.C. as well as virtually on ASALH-TV (ASALH’s YouTube channel) throughout the month of February. The virtual programming will include panels, discussions, author book talks, a workshop, and the announcement of the winner of the 2023 ASALH Annual Book Prize. 

The festival will address “Black Resistance” in the arts, public history, African American music, the Black press, and the Black church, only to name a few. Highlights of the month include an opening discussion of the aspects of Black resistance on February 1st featuring Professors Martha Biondi and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, both of Northwestern University, and Charisse Burden-Stelly of Wayne State University. On the 7th, there will be a panel highlighting some of the contributors to the book Black Lives Matter & Music: Protest, Intervention, Reflectionwho will lead a vibrant discussion on the power of Black music in the struggle for freedom and liberation, including John Fleming, past President of ASALH, and Portia Maultsby, noted ethnomusicologist of Indiana University. 

The Carter G. Woodson House, owned originally by Dr. Woodson himself, will celebrate its reopening to the public this Black History Month and will feature a special presentation and virtual tour of Woodson’s home study and offices, which have been preserved. 

February 22nd will offer a virtual marquee event featuring a conversation with the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Lonnie G. Bunch, III, and acclaimed author of She Took Justice Gloria Browne-Marshall, currently in-residence at Harvard UniversityOn February 23rd there will be a panel on the “soldiers without swords”—the Black Press—who used the power of the pen to fight racial oppression. It will feature representatives of the many still existing media outlets that have been so vital, including The Washington InformerThe AFROAllAfrica.com, and The Amsterdam News, for a – MORE–

discussion on the unique role that the Black press has played in the ongoing historical process of Black Resistance. 

Lastly, on February 25th, the Association is honored to co-sponsor a very special in-person matinee featuring a new critically-praised play, “Campaign 72,” based on the life of Shirley Chisholm, who defied expectations when she became the first Black woman to run a major campaign for President in 1972. The play will take place at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), to be followed by a dynamic discussion panel on what planners are calling “The Chisholm Effect.” Campaign 72 is produced by the Multi-Media Training Institute, a DC-based non-profit training, and production company for young adults. 

ASALH welcomes opportunities for the media to interview its national president Marvin Dulaney and other nationally-known Black historians on the theme for 2023 and the origins of Black History Month. 

The schedule for the full month of programming is now available for public viewing. Registration and information for in-person, as well as virtual events is available at the following address: https://asalh.org/festival/

Source: Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®)

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