Black History
From performances to history lessons to festivals, there are plenty of exciting M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation events and activities planned throughout Prince George’s County as we commemorate Black History Month.
Black History Month 2024 Exhibition
Taking Center Stage: Black Musicians and Prince George’s County Music Venues from the Chitlin’ Circuit to the Present
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, January 27 – Sunday, March 31, 2024
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 4, 2024, 2 – 5 PM (RSVP at blackhistory@pgparks.com)
All ages, FREE
Harmony Hall Arts Center
During the era of Jim Crow in the United States, black musicians were regularly excluded from performance venues that catered to white audiences. Thus, the “chitlin’ circuit” was born: a network of urban and rural performance venues of various types and sizes, including some owned and operated by African Americans, that provided a critical space for black musicians and other performers to share and hone their talents. With the breakdown of racial barriers and ascendancy of black popular musicians in the 1960s, the number of musical venues open to black musicians expanded. Taking Center Stage explores the history of these musical venues in Prince George’s County, detailing the changing musical landscape for black musicians in the county from the twentieth to twenty-first centuries.
This exhibition is curated by the M-NCPPC Black History Program. For additional information, email blackhistory@pgparks.com or call 240-264-3415.
To RSVP for the opening reception, email blackhistory@pgparks.com.
Black History is more than just the month of February! The M-NCPPC Black History Program promotes and preserves black history throughout the year with a variety of programs and initiatives. For more information and to join our listserv, email blackhistory@pgparks.com.
Save the date!
Saturday, June 15, 2024
12pm – 5pm
Watkins Regional Park
Stay tuned for more information!