Local news- Press Release
Wilmington Delaware - The City of Wilmington Celebrates Black History Month in February 07 February 2024 ( news )
Wilmington , state Delaware ( By Press Release office)
Feb 07,2024
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Mayor Purzycki signs a Proclamation on former Wilmington resident Bob Marley’s birthday; FREE
family events at the City’s UAE is one of the month’s highlights
Mayor Mike Purzycki and Chief of Staff Tanya Washington join in proclaiming February as Black History Month in Wilmington .
Mayor Mike Purzycki has signed a Proclamation declaring February as Black History Month in Wilmington . The Mayor’s Proclamation , which was issued Tuesday , on the birthday of reggae music pioneer and global icon – and onetime Wilmington resident – Bob Marley , can be viewed online
here
. The text of the document is also included with this release . The Mayor encourages Wilmingtonians “to honor and embrace the richness of African American history and culture , which make our City such a unique and prosperous place . ”
Mayor Purzycki stressed that Black history is American history and recognizing the achievements of African Americans who have contributed so much to our City , nation and world should be a year - round effort . “We owe it to each other – no matter our background or skin color – to talk about and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of African Americans whenever we have the chance , and this proclaiming Black History Month in Wilmington is one small way to call attention to the those many contributions . ”
“This year’s theme – ‘African Americans and the Arts’ – is particularly well suited to our City with its long , vibrant history of prominent African American artists in all fields that continues up to the present , ” the Mayor continued . “Local luminaries such as Clifford Brown , Edward Loper , Percy Ricks , Bette Roché , Wilby Fletcher , Alice Dunbar Nelson , Cab Calloway and countess others led the way for the many gifted individuals who comprise Wilmington’s thriving arts scene today . ”
The Mayor and Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz today invited residents and visitors to celebrate Black History Month throughout the remainder of February at the
Urban Artist Exchange
, 1509 Clifford Brown Walk , where each Saturday – February 10 , February 17 , and February 24 – from 12:00 to 3:00 p . m . FREE family events will be held . Each Saturday will feature Black history stories , drumming , crafts , music , performances , and a variety of vendors . The events will take place rain or shine .
Mayor Purzycki and Director Betz also invited music lovers of all ages to a
FREE Community Concert
by the
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
on Wednesday , February 14 , at the
Christina Cultural Arts Center
, 705 North Market Street . The concert , which starts at 5:30 p . m . , will feature Music of the African Diaspora from the Caribbean , South America , and the United States . Genres include blues , jazz , spirituals , calypso , habanera , and more .
This Saturday , February 10 , the public is invited to join the
Wilmington Children’s Chorusfor a special
Black History Month concert – “A Joyful Noise”– with special guests the Choir School of Delaware & Delaware Choral Arts . The concert , honoring the legacy of Delaware musician Daniel L . Ridout Jr . ( 1929 - 2013 ) , will be held at 3:00 p . m . at
the Episcopal Church of Sts . Andrew and Matthew
.
The
Wilmington Public Library’s Black History Month Speaker Series “Still I Rise”continues tonight , February 7 , when comedian , actress , writer , and producer
Amanda Sealestakes the stage at 6:00 p . m . in Downtown Wilmington to talk about her life , career , and today’s hot topics . The event is FREE . No registration or tickets are required , and seating is on a first come , first served basis . Once seating has reached capacity , doors will close . The Wilmington Library is located at 10 East 10
thStreet , across from Rodney Square . Other speakers in the series include
Sonia Sanchez & Talib Kweli ( February 8 ) ,
Ben Crump ( February 12 ) ,
Misty Copeland ( February 13 ) , and
Courtney B . Vance & Dr . Robin Smith ( February 18 ) .
Other Black History Month events in and around Wilmington include:
Black History Month Celebration: Building a Community , Leaving a Legacyat the Route 9 Library , 3022 New Castle Avenue in New Castle , on Saturday , February 10 , from 11:00 a . m . to 3:00 p . m . , and
Black History Month Trivia Night at The Chancery
, 1313 North Market Street , on Wednesday , February 21 , from 6 p . m . to 8 p . m .
WHEREAS , Black History Month affords all Wilmingtonians the opportunity to celebrate the many contributions African Americans have made to our City’s economic , cultural , spiritual , scientific , and political development for centuries; and
WHEREAS , this uniquely American celebration , rooted in Dr . Carter Woodson’s Negro History Week established in 1926 , was expanded in 1976 to encompass the entire month of February – a month that includes the birthday of civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass; and
WHEREAS , the observance of Black History Month calls attention to the ongoing need to confront racism and bigotry in all forms while building a more just society that lives up to its democratic ideals – both here in Wilmington and in our nation as a whole; and
WHEREAS
,
the theme of Black History Month 2024 , “African Americans and the Arts , ” is well suited to our City with its long , vibrant history of prominent African American artists in all fields that continues up to the present , with Clifford Brown , Edward Loper , Percy Ricks , Bette Roché , Wilby Fletcher , Alice Dunbar Nelson , Cab Calloway and countess others leading the way for the many gifted individuals who comprise Wilmington’s thriving arts scene today; and
WHEREAS
,
it is extremely fitting to sign this Proclamation today , the birthday of reggae music pioneer and global icon – and onetime Wilmington resident – Bob Marley .
Be it hereby known to all that I ,
Michael S . Purzycki , Mayor of the
City of Wilmington ,
proclaim the month of February 2024 as
Black History Month
in Wilmington and encourage everyone to honor and embrace the richness of African American history and culture , which make our City such a unique and prosperous place .
Paul Ford Jr .
Director of Communications
City of Wilmington , Office of the Mayor
Mobile: ( 302 ) 530 - 2171
Email:
plford@WilmingtonDE . gov
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