DMV events offer Afrocentric perspective on America’s 250th anniversary
By Dr. Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor The July 4 weekend is almost here, an occasion Frederick Douglas called “a sham” in his scathing address of July 5, 1842, in Rochester, N.Y. What then can residents of the Washington, D.C. ‐ Maryland – Virginia area do to speak their minds, gather with like-minded souls and experience […] The post DMV events offer Afrocentric perspective on America’s 250th anniversary appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
Black News 
By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
The July 4 weekend is almost here, an occasion Frederick Douglas called “a sham” in his scathing address of July 5, 1842, in Rochester, N.Y. What then can residents of the Washington, D.C. ‐ Maryland – Virginia area do to speak their minds, gather with like-minded souls and experience a sense of authenticity during the weekend of this 250th commemoration of the founding of the nation called America?
Good news. Reflective and thoughtful events and exhibitions throughout the area are waiting for interested persons to show up and participate in a perspective of America’s journey that won’t be found down at the nation’s political center. So, skip the metro ride downtown and instead, head to Anacostia, Prince George’s County and Annapolis for art, conversation and celebrations that reflect on the America Frederick Douglass spoke about.
“She Speaks – Black Women Artists and The Power of Historical Memory” Banneker-Douglas-Tubman Museum
Annapolis, Md.
“This exhibition centers the voices, visions, and histories of Black women who have shaped the United States of America. Often working without recognition and beyond the margins of official record, Black women have preserved knowledge, carried stories across generations, and left an indelible imprint on the nation’s history and imagination,” said Martina Dodd, art historian and Curator of Exhibitions at the museum.
Martina Dodd, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, invites the public to witness the varied exhibitions in “She Speaks.” The installation entitled “Pointing Towards Freedom” by Ada Pinkston will be on display. Martina Dodd, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, invites the public to witness the varied exhibitions in “She Speaks.” The installation entitled “Pointing Towards Freedom” by Ada Pinkston will be on display. Credit: Courtesy Photo
Seventeen artists, including 11 from the DMV area, are featured in what Dodd said are “deeply personal and politically charged works revealing Black women’s influence through both monumental acts and everyday practices.”
“As the nation collectively commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” Dodd continues, “this exhibition enters the conversation by expanding how American history is remembered and told.”
Visitors will need two hours to experience the entire exhibition. The museum is closed July 3-4 but open July 5 and Tuesday – Saturday throughout the summer from 10 a.m -4 p.m. 84 Franklin St., Annapolis, Md., 21401.
“Resistance, Resilience and Response”
Honfleur Gallery
Southeast Washington, D.C.
Credit: Courtesy Photo
Fifteen large scale paintings created by D.C. artist Rik Freeman are on display at this gallery, opened in the heart of Anacostia to foster local revitalization through the arts.
“I intentionally wanted the exhibit to overlap Juneteenth and the fourth of July,” said Freeman about the retrospective exhibit covering 30 years of the artist’s work through paintings such as “The Chitlin Circuit Review,” “Black Beaches During Segregation” and scores of others on display. “Persons who visit the beautiful Honfleur Gallery will see for themselves the journey through history represented by Black Americans and how relevant this historical subject matter is to our present day.”
The Honfleur Gallery, 1256 Marion Barry Ave. S.E. (formerly Good Hope Road). Hours: Thursday-Saturday 12 – 4 p.m.
A new tradition – celebrate the first annual Martyrs Day
Poets and Busboys
Hyattsville. Md.
Help establish a new tradition by attending the first national observance of Martyrs Day on July 5 at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville, Md. Shattered Ceilings is the advocacy and community-building organization behind the event. Legal scholar, constitutional law professor, filmmaker and activist Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, proposed the annual day of remembrance to honor activists, organizers and everyday Americans who lost their lives in the Civil Rights Movement and other movements for racial justice in America. Martyrs Day has now been proclaimed an official observance by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The event will feature music by Enkose’, civic engagement with historian C.R. Gibbs, historical education with poet Reuben Robinson and community conversation with Ayo Handy-Kendi, also known as the “Breath Sekou.”
Jennifer Martin, executive director of Shattered Ceilings, said once she heard about the purpose of Martyrs Day she had to get involved.
“ … it allows us to honor those who sacrificed for justice, equality, and human dignity.” – Jennifer Martin, Executive Director, Shattered Ceilings
“Martyrs Day is important because it allows us to honor those who sacrificed for justice, equality, and human dignity. By remembering them, we help hold the bridge between past and future generations and remind our youth of their power, value, and responsibility to their communities,” said Martin, who will also serve as host for the evening’s event.
Celebrate Martyrs Day at Busboys and Poets July 5 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. 5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104, Hyattsville, Md. Register if you can at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989431819125?aff=oddtdtcreator. But, Martin said, “If you can’t register, just come.”
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