Black History And Culture Showcase Kicks Off Friday
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Thousands are expected to attend the 2013 Black History and Culture Showcase. The free event kicks off Friday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The 9th Annual Black History and Culture Show includes dozens of exhibits that illustrate the talent and accomplishments of African Americans past and present.
"By it being in March, with Women's History Month- we are putting a special focus on women," says Everett Staten, event founder and organizer. "We have an exhibit that has never been seen before and it celebrates 20 sisters who fought for change like Shirley Chisholm, Sonia Sanchez."
Staten says living legends like the Tuskeegee Airmen and Herb Douglas- the oldest living African American Olympic Medalist will be available for questions from attendees. There will also be historical collections from a wide range of organizations.
"The Philadelphia Black Doll Museum will be there, we have a Negro League baseball exhibit, we have the Black Women in Sports Foundation -- they'll be there," he says.
And this year, the event will begin on Friday with a poetry showcase hosted by Philadelphia Poet Laureate Sonia Sanchez. There will be other performances throughout the three-day event.
"On Saturday we're having a theatrical reading of Davis Smyrl who is an eight-time Emmy-award winning writer for the Cosby show," says Staten. "On Sunday, we are going to have a 90 minute performance by the Universal African Dance Ensemble."
The showcase runs Easter weekend. For more info, go to BlackHistoryShowcase.org.
