Dmae features the first ever Black History Festival NW with festival director Shalanda Sims about this extension of her Black History Month play Who I Am Celebrating Me Black History play (Feb. 11 & 12 at 7:30pm)which will have its 12th performance this year. With her will be Alonzo Chadwick, Ivy Keller and Kyra Orr to talk about youth activities and outreach for this month long festival running Feb. 1-28. And in the last part of the show, we’ll hear a short “Riff on Writing” piece with famed author and beloved community member Ursula K. Le Guin who passed away Jan. 22, 2018.  Hear Dmae’s documentary special on Ursula at: http://stagenstudio.com/2010/10/ursula-k-le-guin-out-here/

(Aired 11am 1/30/18 on KBOO 90.7 FM or always on stagenstudio.com and always on  iTunes)

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Dmae, Shalanda Sims, Kyra Orr, Alonzo Chadwick & Ivy Keller

More about the festival:

The Black History Festival NW is an extension of World Stage Theatre’s consistent work around educating diverse communities about Black History. The festival a region-wide event taking place during the month of February in different locations spanning as far east as Troutdale and west to Beaverton, south to Eugene and north to Vancouver Wa. Each weekend an event highlighting and celebrating th
e African-American experience is presented by African-American organizations, artists, small businesses, and leaders. The kickoff begins with a youth curated museum at various Multnomah County Libraries and a city-wide scavenger hunt that runs the entire month.

 Standing at The Forefront of Change, the theme for this inaugural festival is an extension of this year’s national theme, African Americans In Times of War. Through arts, education and advocacy 365 days a year, Black History Festival NW is committed to creating spaces to celebrate and showcase Black excellence, bridge gaps, amplify truth, unity and hope in the Pacific NW. Spaces to be inspired, affirmed, uplifted, amongst people who simply get it without having to explain Black Girl Magic, Black Boy Joy, Black Excellence or why Black Lives Matter.

The second week honors when Black History Week was first celebrated back in 1926 by founder Carter G. Woodson and includes  two live performances of the 12th Annual Who I Am Celebrating Me Black History play performed downtown at the World Trade Center auditorium. Black Parent Initiative will host their book fair at Clackamas Barnes and Noble showcasing African American authors.

Week three is fun, film, and games. Black Panther Movie Night (location TBD) and How Well Do You Know Your Black History Game Show held at Jefferson high school and played by local fraternities, sororities and Black leaders is sure to be quite an entertaining weekend.

Finally, to close out the festival, Black History Festival NW will host the Unity Gala at Self Enhancement Inc where the keynote speaker will be ESPN’s Sports Center 6 co-host of Michael and Jemele, Jemele Hill. In addition, our market place will display works and products of local artists in photography, film, fashion, literature, food, tech and more.

And at the end of the show we’ll hear a  Ursula K. Le Guin‘s “Riff On Writing” set to music by Clark Salisbury. Hear Dmae’s documentary special on Ursula at: http://stagenstudio.com/2010/10/ursula-k-le-guin-out-here/

Ursula K. Le Guin