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Celebrate Black History MonthBlack history and culture is major a part of the American fabric -- and the school curriculum -- that it's difficult to imagine a time when that wasn't so. Established as Negro History Week in the 1920s by Carter G. Woodson, February was chosen for the celebration because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born in this month. Black History month was extended to a month-long celebration in 1976. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history. During the month of February, 89.1 WEMU will feature programs and activities to commemorate, celebrate, and take opportunity to emphasize the history and achievements of African Americans.

Art & Soul - The Visual Arts: Black History Month Celebrations

Lisa Barry

This week, Art and Soul is about the vibrant visual arts scene in Washtenaw County.

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry and Omari Rush, the Executive Director of CultureSourceand Chairman of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, are joined by several guests focusing on the arts and local Black History Month celebrations.

Lisa and Omari talk to Emily Tuesday, the Executive Director of the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti, about her organization’s plans for the next year.

They also talk to the Art Center’s Programing Director Trevor Stone and one of the Art Center’s Board Members, local art teacher and Black History Month committee member Lynn Settles, about their plans for Black History Month.

The center has programming planned every Friday, including jazz performances and a dance performance depicting African-American history.

They also have local historians coming in to provide background on a variety of subjects.

Omari and Lisa also talk about what other organizations are doing this month, including ArtsX UMMA Presents: Undefined by the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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