Solomon Northup at Albany Institute of History and Art Feb. 12

Clifford Oliver will portray Solomon Northup, an upstate New York free man who was kidnapped into slavery and spent 12 years of his life enslaved. His narrative, 12 Years a Slave, was the basis for a Fox Searchlight movie by the same name. Learn about Solomon Northup, a man of great courage who faced tremendous adversity and lived to write his narrative.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 12 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Albany Institute of History and Art - 125 Washington Avenue, Albany 12210.

A family friendly event.

Visit the AIHA website for details.

Capital Region calendar for Black History Month

Where can you see artwork by Gordon Parks and Faith Ringgold, hear civil rights attorney Lani Guinier, join in discussions on the Maafa of the 21st Century, experience a masquerade ball, see live theater, hear gospel choirs, sample foods from area restaurants, watch student step teams, honor students who won a creative expression contest, learn about the role of spirituals, take part in a business networking event, find out about Black Shakers, attend a pre-screening of a film that honors women who make a difference, watch films made in Africa, share in activities that honor our ancestors, receive spa services at nominal rates, learn why Texas got word of the Emancipation Proclamation so late, hear about some history of Blacks in Schenectady and more? Right here in the Capital Region during the month of February.

See this Capital Region calendar for Black History Month for a listing of events that highlight themes and celebrate the lives of people of African descent during Black History Month.



Jacqui C. Williams, Founding Director

Filling in the Gaps in American History (FIGAH)

www.figah.us

Underground Railroad History Conference

The 9th Annual UGR History Conference: Gender, Class, Race and Ethnicity in Abolitionism, on the Underground Railroad, and in the Struggle Since will take place February 26, 27, 28, 2010
Organized by Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc.
Hosted by Russell Sage College, Troy, New York
In Collaboration with Rensselaer County Historical Society

February 26
“The Not So Underground Underground Railroad” Teacher Workshop
Rhonda Y. Williams, Ph.D. – evening guest speaker
“Railroads, Streets and Bridges – Black Women and Freedom Journeys”
February 27
Rosemary Sadlier–Mary Ann Shadd: Publisher, Editor, Teacher, Lawyer,
Suffragette
Workshops, cultural performance, vendors, poster displays

Join with scholars, artists, historians, preservationists, educators,
students, community members and others to explore how the forces of gender,
class, race and ethnicity have influenced the UGR and movements for freedom
that have arisen in its wake.

February 28
2-hour tour of Troy’s UGR and African American heritage sites

A complete listing of pre-conference activities, workshops, speakers,
accommodations, sponsors and directions is available

REGISTER at www.ugrworkshop.com or 518-432-4432

Previous conferences:
2009 The Underground Railroad, Its Legacies, and Our Communities
2008 The Underground Railroad - How It Worked: Two Centuries of Escape,
Resistance, and the UGR Across the Continent".
2007 Underground Railroad: Uncovering the Voices of Women
2006 The Underground Railroad: Connecting Pathways to Liberty
2005 The Underground Railroad: Discoveries and Emerging stories
2004 The Underground Railroad: Quests for Freedom
2003 The Underground Railroad: Movement And Context
2002 Telling the Untold Story: The Underground Railroad In Albany and the
Surrounding Region

I mention this every year for only three reasons:

1. I've gone to these events in the past and they are always very worthwhuile attending.
2. The subject matter, I believe, is important.
3. Mary Liz and Paul Stewart, the organizers of the event, and indeed the co-founders of the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, are good friends of mine.

I have a fourth reason this year: I'm doing one of the workshops on Saturday afternoon. So sign up already!

African American Newspapers: Catalysts for Social Change

Thursday,February 25th, 12:15 - 1:15 PM
Location: Librarians Room, 7th floor, Cultural Education Center, Madison Avenue, Albany (New York State Library)
Register Online

African American newspapers provided vital information to the African American community by reporting stories from a perspective often ignored by their counterparts. During the Great Migration era, many subscribers in the south depended on news reports from northern publications for an accurate picture of northern life and opportunities for African Americans. In this presentation, Cordell Reaves, Historic Preservation Program Analyst at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will explore the impact of some of these publications and how they shaped African American life primarily during the early to mid-1900s. Bring your lunch.

ACHA Black History Month Program

The Albany County Historical Association (ACHA) announces a special program in celebration of Black History Month. ACHA is pleased to host Sherrill D.
Wilson, Ph. D., Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 pm, at Ten Broeck Mansion, 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany. This Speakers in the Humanities event is free and open to the public, and made possible through the support of the New York Council
for the Humanities’ Speakers in the Humanities program. Dr. Wilson’s
topic is “Celebrating Freedom”.

For questions or information call 436-9826 during regular business hours.

Black History Month in Downtown Albany

Look no further than these scheduled events as you celebrate Black History Month!

Black History Month Films

Mark your calendar for the Tuesdays in February (17 and 24) at 6PM. During the month of February, the Nation celebrates Black History Month and APL will be celebrating with a movie series.
The February 17th film is Cornbread, Earl and Me which is about a high school basketball star who is mistaken for a murderer. On February 24th, the film is Cabin in the Sky, based on some of the finest entertainers Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne.

Call the Main Library for additional information at 427-4300.

The City Of Albany's Gospel Gala

On Friday, February 6, 2009 the City of Albany will once again host the celebration of African American History through gospel music at the historic Palace Theatre. This free event will officially kick-off African-American History Month in the City and will include performances by many local gospel choirs and liturgical dance groups. Click here for details.

Readin' and Rappin' at Howe Library

On Wednesday, February 27th at 4PM, The kids can read a book related to Black History Month and then turn it into a rap song that will be recorded!

Black History Month Rocks On: Black Soldiers

Join a discussion with Jacqui Williams at the Howe branch on Monday, February 18th at 6PM for Black Soldiers of the American Revolution: Rejection, Recruitment and Resettlement.