By Beth David, Editor
February is Black History Month, and organizations around the country will be holding events to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans.
This year’s theme is African Amerians and Labor.
On its website, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month, write: “The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people. Indeed, work is at the very center of much of Black history and culture. Be it the traditional agricultural labor of enslaved Africans that fed Low Country colonies, debates among Black educators on the importance of vocational training, self-help strategies and entrepreneurship in Black communities, or organized labor’s role in fighting both economic and social injustice, Black people’s work has been transformational throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora. The 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” sets out to highlight and celebrate the potent impact of this work.”
Visit https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/ to learn more about Black History Month.
Also visit https://blackhistorymonth.gov/ for programs for teachers and biographical information on notable Black Americans.
Here are some local events in honor of Black History Month.
SAVE THE DATE
Friends of the Millicent
To celebrate Black History Month, the Friends of the Millicent Library will sponsor a discussion of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Percival Everett’s James. We will meet in the auditorium of the Millicent Library, 45 Center Street (Walnut Street entrance) at 6:30 on Monday, 2/24.
In 1884, Twain published the story of Huck Finn, his friend Tom Sawyer, and the fugitive slave Jim as they dodged danger and death on the Mississippi River. The book has remained popular, though controversial, ever since.
In 2024, Percival Everett retold their adventures from the point of view of James — as the fugitive slave prefers to be called. This prize-winning novel is as difficult to put down as the original.
You are welcome whether you’ve read one book, both books — or are just curious.
Also at the Millicent
Pumphrey Brothers Storytime
Wed., 2/19 from 10:30–11:30 AM
Celebrate Black History Month with a special storytime honoring award-winning author-illustrator brothers Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey! We’ll read their books and create our own stamp art inspired by their illustration style. All ages are welcome! Younger children may need adult assistance with the craft.
TriTown Against Racism
Visit https://www.tritownagainst racism.org/events for more Black History Month events sponsored or highlighted by TriTown Against Racism in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester.
Story Walk
Now through Feb 28 at 4 p.m. at Munro Preserve, 1 Main St., Mattapoisett.
We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Mattapoisett Land Trust for the third Black History Month Story Walk™ at Dunseith Gardens located at the corner of Rt. 6 and North St. The walk will be up for the entire month of February. To learn more about this trail and the Mattapoisett Land Trust visit https:// mattlandtrust. org
This year we will feature “There Was a Party for Langston” (Caldecott Honor & Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor) by Jason Reynolds.
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds’s debut picture book is a snappy, joyous ode to Word King, literary genius, and glass-ceiling smasher Langston Hughes and the luminaries he inspired.
Back in the day, there was a heckuva party, a jam, for a word-making man. The King of Letters. Langston Hughes. His ABCs became drums, bumping jumping thumping like a heart the size of the whole country. They sent some people…
Story Walk/Accessible Trail
Now through Feb 28 at 4:00 p.m. at Osprey Marsh, Marion, 354 Point Rd, Marion.
We are excited to collaborate with Sippican Lands Trust for the third Black History Month Story Walk™. This year we are featuring “The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just” by Mélina Mangal (Author), Luisa Uribe (Illustrator). This trail is handicapped accessible, to learn more about it visit https://sippicanlandstrust.org
Ernest Everett Just was not like other scientists of his time. He saw the whole, where others saw only parts. He noticed details others failed to see. He persisted in his research despite the discrimination and limitations imposed on him as an African American. His keen observations of sea creatures revealed new insights about egg cells and the origins of life.
Through stunning illustrations and lyrical prose, this picture book presents the life and accomplishments of this long overlooked scientific pioneer.
A marsh exploration activity will be announced soon. This story walk will be up for the entire month, so you have plenty of time to visit.
Story Time with The Excellent Family
Feb 08, 11:00 a.m. to noon, Marion Music Hall, 164 Front St, Marion.
Join the Excellent Family: John, Kate, and Owen for a Black History Month Story Time and activity.
They will be reading:
• All Because You Matter, by Tami Charles, and illustrated by Bryan Collier
• Beautiful Blackbird, by Ashley Bryan
• The Year We Learned to Fly, by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
Creative Contest Reception
Black History Month Creative Expressions Contest. 2025 Theme: African Americans and Labor. Feb 08, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Mattapoisett Free Public Library, 7 Barstow St, Mattapoisett, MA
Join us for a reception and unveiling of this year’s Black History Month Creative Expressions Contest entries in the Community Room at the Mattapoisett Public Library. Winners will be announced at 3:00 PM.
Light refreshments will be served. RSVP encouraged: https://tinyurl. com/ bdfv8w3s
For more events by TriTown Against Racism, visit https://www. tritownagainstracism.org/events
At the NB Whale Park
Join the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park commemorating Black History Month, at our visitor’s center, 33 William Street, New Bedford. New Bedford is known for its rich culture and historical artistic significance, and we celebrate today’s artists of the African diaspora who come from every corner of the globe.
Sat., 2/10 at 1 p.m.: Join Eden Soares of trigrfx pronounced / tri,grafiks/ as he shares his work through murals and other arts. As a local artist, he weaves a story that resonates with the local community and visitors alike. In the past years, he has captured the essence of New Bedford’s culture and history in colorful and captivating murals. Some of his works include the artistic painting of Booker T. Washington, and the mural honoring Cesaria Evora on the wall of the Cape Verdean Cultural Center, the former Strand Theater on Acushnet Avenue.
Sat., 2/17 at 1:00 PM: Join the 1850 Ladies, aka Ruth and Abby, as they explore both Boston and New Bedford anti-slavery societies on how they used crafting to raise money to support the abolitionist cause. What kinds of hand crafts or quilts were on display for sale? Do they have stories? Do they preserve history the community memories as well as for empowerment? The Ladies will display some of the arts and crafts sold and how New Bedford contributed to the cause. They will also tell stories of New Bedford’s women, who held abolitionist fairs in the city.
Visit https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/news/black-history-month-2024.htm
Saturday, February 24th at 1:00 PM: Join us for the screening and discussion of the movie 12 Years A Slave – an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom directed by Steve McQueen. It is 1841 and Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Stripped of his identity and deprived of all dignity, Northup is purchased by ruthless plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and must find the strength within to survive. In his twelfth year in captivity, a chance encounter with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life.
Visit https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/news/black-history-month-2024.htm
•••
Click here to download the 2/6/25 issue: 02-06-25 GnomeTrees
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
