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Connecting with the past
[Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Department of Public Affairs]
Audience members were invited to join in during an African dance workshop at last year’s celebration. |
By EILEEN SCHULTE
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001
The Florida African-American Heritage Celebration is in part an effort to fill in the gaps in local history.
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The Florida African-American Heritage Celebration was born when a group hoping to start a local black heritage museum realized how scarce historical information was.
The county's archives, covering 125 years, held just 57 black-and-white photographs concerning black history. Beyond that, almost no records were kept concerning early black citizens.
The discovery resulted in the celebration, a free event designed to showcase the diversity of African-American culture, recognize blacks' contributions to society and attract people who have more photos of their ancestors making a mark on Pinellas County and Florida.
Those with historical photos are encouraged to bring them to the festival.
"I think this has filled a void," said Zaneta Hubbard, one of the organizers, who works for Pinellas County in the department of public affairs. "Last year we heard comments like, "Wow, why doesn't the county do this more often?' "
The second annual event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday on the three campuses at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo: Heritage Village, Florida Botanical Gardens and Gulf Coast Museum of Art.
Organizers have gathered an influential and talented roster of performers, artists and speakers, including NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson, Florida Highwaymen artist James Gibson, Tuskegee Airman Yenwith Whitney and storyteller/poet Kwabena Dinizulu.
Local jazz vocalist Fred Johnson, reggae band Impulse, the On Que Players, a jazz rhythm and blues group and Abasi Ote, a traditional African musician, will perform. So will nine gospel choirs from around the Tampa Bay area.
Also on the line-up are step teams, exhibits, workshops and historical presentations including artist Gibson, the Rev. Jimmy Keel talking about the Buffalo Soldiers and author/historian Robert Saunders discussing the civil rights movement in Florida.
Hubbard hopes the festival will attract at least 5,000 people.
Last year, she said, she watched the Imani African dance troupe perform its routines. After the dancers finished, they invited people in the audience to come up on stage and learn the dances. Several people accepted the invitation, climbed up and tried a few steps.
"That really sent it home to me that this was really wanted and needed," Hubbard said.
Preview
The second annual Florida African-American Heritage Celebration, featuring ethnic music, dance, storytelling, food, exhibits, workshops, gospel choirs, step teams and more, is from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Pinewood Cultural Park, off Walsingham Road on 125th Street N, Largo. The family event is free. Shuttle buses will transport visitors to the park from remote parking lots.
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