By Karen Bloom
This February, spend some time discovering the accomplishments of African-Americans. Overcoming enormous obstacles, many outstanding individuals made remarkable contributions to our everyday world. The many activities throughout the area-at universities, museums, galleries and theaters-offer a variety of perspectives on the African-American experience. Here are some highlights:
An Evening of Song
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy Award-winning South African a cappella group gives a performance that transcends cultural boundaries, when they visit Tilles Center, Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. They first came to international attention for the vocals they contributed to Paul Simon's Graceland album, and have since gone on to a stellar performing and recording career.Garbed in brilliant red, yellow and gold dashikis, Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs soothing harmonies - sung mostly in Zulu - punctuated with choreographed dance movements.Founded and led by Joseph Shabalala, the group fuses isicathamiya, the traditional Zulu music born in South Africa's mines, with American gospel styling.The concert is held at Tilles Center's North Fork Hall, C.W. Post Campus, Rte. 25A, Brookville. For tickets, contact TillesCharge at (516) 299-3100 or www.tillescenter.org.
African-American Museum
The museum's featured exhibit, "Remembering Professor Kenneth Clark: Race, Representation and Identity, is built around the Judith Krownin African American Dolls Collection. It includes dolls from the 18th century to the present. In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum offers a series of workshops examining the influence of dolls on children's perception of race, culture and identity.Also on display are photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., taken by the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Moneta Sleet, Jr., as well as letters and documents relating to the to civil rights leader's life.For further information, contact (516) 572-07230. The museum is located 110 N. Franklin St., Hempstead.
Long Island Children's Museum
In what has become an annual tradition, Long Island Children's Museum offers an exploration of the human heart, with medical students from the Black and Latino Student Association of Stony Brook University Hospital. The programming, on Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 26, honors the work of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first physician - and one of only four African-American physicians of his day - to successfully operate on a heart in 1893. At the "Women in Science" workshop, female medical students lead budding scientists in an investigation of the inner workings of this vital organ, using two donated human heart specimens. The second program, "Inside the Human Heart," enables participants to experience a close-up observation of heart dissection. It is a re-enactment of Dr. Williams groundbreaking surgery in 1893. For tickets, information and reservations, contact (516) 224-5800 or www.licm.org. LICM is located at 11 Davis Ave., Garden City.
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College holds "The Seventeenth Annual National African-American Read-In," in which the community is invited to participate in a read-in of works by African-American authors and poets. It takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Denyse Hicks-Ray, a clinical psychologist and author of "The Pain Didn't Start Here: Trauma and Violence in the African American Community," is the featured speaker. Dr. Hicks-Ray is noted for her work to improve the mental health of women and their children, especially minority and underserved families. The event is held in Nassau Community College's College Center Building, 1 Education Way, Garden City. For more information, contact Dr. Harold Bellinger at (516) 572-7121.
Farmingdale State University
The music of Africa comes alive when Bakithi Kumalo and the South African Star Band visit Farmingdale State University, Tuesday Feb. 14, for two performances, 11 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Kumalo is perhaps best known for his work as a bassist on Paul Simon's Graceland album. It takes place at Farmingdale State's Roosevelt Hall Little Theatre, 2350 Broadhollow Rd., Farmingdale. For more information, contact (631) 420-2400.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum
The museum honors those valiant Tuskegee Airmen, on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., with its special presentation, "On The Wings of Glory." Lt. Bill Wheeler talks about the formation and stunning combat record of the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the nearly 1,000 men who graduated from pilot training at Tuskegee, and discusses how these men had to fight battles at home as well as overseas.Reservations are required for this event. For further information, contact (516) 572-4111. The museum is at Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City.
The History Of Black History
We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson (1875-1950), noted scholar and historian, and a son of former slaves, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, which was later renamed the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH). He initiated Nego History Week on Feb. 12, 1926 to bring national attention to the contributions of African-Americans to American history.
Woodson chose this date to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln - two men who had greatly impacted the black population. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, Negro History Week evolved and expanded into the Black History Month that we know today - a four-week-long celebration of African American History that is now celebrated all over North America.
