Family Guide to Black History Month in Sacramento
By Laura O'Brien
Fenix Drum and Dance
Deane Dance Center
3385 Lanatt Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 205-3970
http://www.fenixdrumanddance.com
Fenix Drum and Dance offers lessons and performs year round. Enjoy the artistry of this talented group at one of several performances at Sacramento Library branches in February. Below is a partial listing. Check the Sacramento Library's website for more Fenix performance dates as well as additional Black History Month activities: www.saclib.org.
"Drum Call to Freedom"
Feb. 5, 4 p.m. – Central Library
Feb. 9, 4 p.m. – North Highlands-Antelope Library
Feb. 11, 2 p.m. – Sylvan Oaks Library
Feb. 23, 3:30 p.m. – Del Paso Heights Library
Feb. 25, 1 p.m. – McKinley Library
"Black Scrap Music"
Feb. 7, 4 p.m. - Fair Oaks Library
"Africa to the Americas"
Feb. 16, 4 p.m. – Franklin Library
Sweet Potato Festival
Samuel Pannell Meadowview Community Center
2450 Meadowview Road
Sacramento, CA 95832
(916) 491-6850
Hours: Sat, Feb. 11 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/recreation/c_meadowview.htm
Buy fresh sweet potato pies at the 23rd annual Sweet Potato Festival, the primary fundraising event for the National Council of Negro Women Sacramento Valley Section. Or, enter your own pie in the festival's sweet potato pie contest for an entry fee of $5. Festivities include entertainment by local youth. The event is rain or shine.
1719 25th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 979-9706
http://www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com/
Check out the poetry readings at Sacramento Poetry Center on Feb. 13 in honor of Black History Month. Past poets have included NSAA, Terry Moore, Terry O'Neal, VS Chochezi and Indigo Moor. Emmanuel Sigauke, English professor at Cosumnes River College and Sacramento Poetry Center board member, hosts the event.
Crocker Art Museum
216 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-7000
http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/
On Feb. 9, Art Mix, a Thursdays 'Til 9 program, will include celebrations of Black History Month as well as Valentine's Day. Performances include Tina B. and the Sacramento Soul Line Dancers and spoken-word artists in the "Jazz N' Love Lounge," presented by Sol Collective. Make African-art-inspired accessories with Betty Davis and enjoy art talks by African American artists in the galleries. On Feb. 12, soprano Marlynn Smith performs African-American spirituals at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $6 for museum members, $8 for students and $12 for non-members.
Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum
2251 Florin Road, Suite 126
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 320-9573
Hours: Feb. 4 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
http://sojoarts.net
In honor of Black History Month, Sacramento African-American Art Collective will host its "First Saturdays" art tour at Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum. The first Saturday in February also is Sacramento Museum Day, so admission to the Multicultural Art Museum is free.
