Black History Month Celebration at The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden on February 28 2017, by Elizabeth Figueroa
On Thursday, February 16, NYBG held celebrated Black History Month with workshops and presentations commemorating the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans.
This annual event invited school groups and visitors to attend facilitator-led workshops, including:
• Vickie Fremont: Students created African dolls while learning about the fabric, beads and shells as well as its significance in the African culture.
• Laura Gadson: Held a creative workshop making bandanas from quilted fabric to help students discover the African culture significance behind its colors.
• Pat Mabry: Presented a lively history on African Dance and Drum history
Afterwards, students filed into Ross Hall for a keynote address delivered by Senator Jamaal Bailey.
Storyteller Walter Rutledge captivated the audience with his narrative about Harriet Tubman and her journey with the Underground Railroad.
A special live presentation by Forces of Nature, was very well received by all in attendance. This African Dance and Drum group under the direction of Abdel Salaam was engaging and at the same time very entertaining and educational.
This community program is supported by the NYC Council’s A Greener NYC Initiative and Council members Andrew Cohen, Annabel Palma, and Ritchie Torres.
The Bronx Botanical Garden does an excellent job providing presentations for young children during the month of February in honor of African American history and culture. Many schools are invited and the children leave with knowledge they possible would not receive in their classrooms or at home.
These programs are extremely needed in our communities I want to thank Ms. Figueroa and the Bronx Botanical Gardens for inviting artists to participate and coordinating these programs.