African American History in North Carolina involves a range of rich experiences and you can enjoy some of them during Black History Month from the comfort of home. Several museums and programs of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will offer online programs during February for children and adults. All are free. Sit back and enjoy any or all of them from anywhere in the state.
East
Feb. 3. Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City. History for Lunch at Home. The Honorable Janice McKenzie Cole shares her story of civil service to the region. She was the first African American attorney in Perquimans County, the first elected female and African American district court judge in the First District and was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District by President Clinton. She now practices immigration law. Noon. Register for the online program at our Facebook page or website.
Feb. 17. Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City. History for Lunch at Home. Caroline Stephenson of Hertford County and Cultivator Bookstore and Marvin Jones, director of Chowan Discovery, tell of the story of Katie M. Hart’s work to start a small library for people of color in 1931. By 1938, Ms. Hart had a bookmobile in service and also opened a library building in Winton, N.C., to serve residents of Hertford and Gates counties. Noon. Register for the online program at our Facebook page or website.
Piedmont
Feb. 1-28. N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. Virtual Exhibit. African American Life and Culture in North Carolina. Museum Educator Sally Bloom, Curator of African American History Earl Ijames, and Michelle Lanier, director of the Division of State Historic Sites and Properties lead an interactive class from the exhibit, “The Story of North Carolina.”
Feb. 3. Museum of History, Raleigh. Virtual Interactive Program. Ruth and the Green Book. For ages five and up. Parents should join with children during the fun program. Travel along with Ruth and her parents as they drive south to visit family in the 1950s. Learn how they steer around people who are unfriendly to Black travelers and where they find friends along the way. See a copy of the real Green Book at the museum or get ready with your own copy of “Ruth and the Green Book,” by Calvin A. Ramsey, available at the museum shop or online. 1 p.m. Register at ncmuseumofhistory.org/tar-heel-tales/ruth-and-green-book.
Feb. 3-26. African American Heritage Commission, Raleigh. Hear from Black authors at the fourth annual Black History Month Read-In, in partnership with the State Capitol, State Library of North Carolina, Richard B. Harrison Library and N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Each week a video will highlight a North Carolina children’s author.
Feb. 3. Carole Boston Weatherford reading “Before John was a Jazz Giant.”
Feb. 10. Judy Allen Dodson reading “Escape From…Hurricane Katrina.”
Feb. 17. Tameka Fryer Brown reading from “My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood.”
Feb. 24. Eleanora E. Tate reading “A Blessing in Disguise.”
Feb. 26. Kelly Starling Lyons reading from “Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon.
View the videos on demand anytime by visiting the African American Heritage Commission Youtube Channel.
Feb. 10. Museum of History, Raleigh. Charlotte Hawkins Brown – Dreamer – Doer – Teacher – Leader. For ages six through nine; parents are invited to participate with children. Math and manners as weapons? Take a lesson from Dr. Brown, who started a school and taught her students ways to change a segregated society. Guest co-teacher Sonya Laney, education coordinator, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. 1 p.m. Register at ncmuseumofhistory.org/history-corner/charlotte-hawkins-brown.
Feb. 11. Museum of Art, Raleigh. Virtual Lunchtime Lecture, “African Arts at the NCMA: Challenging Canon, Growing the Collection. With the hiring the first full time African art curator the collection has experienced unprecedented growth. Curator Amanda Maples will highlight exciting changes to the African Art gallery and challenging preconceptions. Hear how she is engaging with that community and how to add your voice. Noon. Register at https://visit.ncartmuseum.org/1807/3111.
Feb. 17. Museum of History, Raleigh. History Hunters: North Carolina and the Green Book. Interactive program for ages 10-13. Come along on our trip through a history of the Green Book, a guide that helped African Americans forge ways around segregation. If you can make it, view a copy of the Green Book—at the museum all this month! Guest teacher: Angela Thorpe, director, NC African American Heritage Commission. 1 p.m. Register at ncmuseumofhistory.org/history-hunters/nc-and-green-book.
Feb. 20 and 27. Museum of Art, Raleigh. Virtual Studio Workshop with Alun Be. Explore the difference between mainstream and narrative photography or how to go from idea to a series of photographs that facilitate vivid interpretations in this two-part workshop with French-Senegalese artist Alun Be. In the end you will have created an artistic method that helps release the visual quality of your ideas and tell stories in a photographic series. 10:30 a.m. Register at https://visit.ncartmuseum.org/1807/3104.
West
Feb. 22 and 23. N.C. Transportation Museum, Salisbury. The Negro Motorist Green Book. In cooperation with Livingstone College, two free community programs will examine travel in the segregated South. Join a virtual screening on the Smithsonian Channel of the documentary “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom” Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Join a discussion among community leaders Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. with African Heritage Commission Director Angela Thorpe, Dr. Stanley Alexander, vice president of Communications and Public Relations at Livingstone College, and others. Register at www.nctrans.org/greenbook.