The 8th Annual African American Cultural Celebration

The African American Cultural Celebration at the Museum of History in Raleigh is one of many events honoring and acknowledging African American contributions to the arts in our state. The 8th annual celebration, held in late January, kicked off Black History Month with a celebration of African American music, dance, spoken word, craft and traditional games. Join the Artful Traveler for a taste of this inspiring and educational family event in this video. Learn more about the featured artists below.

The Gospel Jubilators

A capella musical artists Daniel Massenburg, Talbert Myers, James Shipman, Robert Sherrill, Rudolph Floyd, and Harry Leak are the latest incarnation of the Gospel Jubilators, formed in 1972 and continuing a style of jubilant gospel music popular in the 1940s. The group is featured in an exciting new North Carolina Symphony production entitled Blue Skies and Golden Sands at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh March 27-29, 2009.  This is a program of early American gospel, rhythm and blues and beach music along coastal North Carolina. In addition to The Gospel Jubilators, the concert will also highlight Kinston rhythm and blues mainstays The Monitors, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2008, and The Legends of Beach.

Darrell Stover

North Carolina Humanities Council Program Associate Darrell Stover, of Greensboro, has been a tireless champion of arts projects highlighting African American heritage. He performed music and spoken word with his son Darius and longtime associate Morton Brooks during the celebration.

Marilyn Griffin

Durham native Marilyn Griffin is a self-taught doll maker who works in clay and vintage fabrics. Her works are one-of-a-kind and can be seen at her web site, Kanike Artiste Doll Company.

Frank Barrow

Shelby native Frank Barrow carves wood taken from trees on his land in western North Carolina. Known for his canes, he can invest a hundred hours creating stunning detail out of one piece of wood. 

Boo Hanks

James Arthur "Boo" Hanks is an acoustic blues guitarist with roots in Piedmont string band and blues traditions. His delicate finger-style guitar carries on the classic Piedmont Blues made famous by Blind Boy Fuller. Learn more about him at the Music Maker Relief Foundation Web site.

Neal Thomas

White oak basket maker Neal Thomas lives in Wendell and carries on a traditional craft he learned from a friend 40 years ago. He uses an axe, draw knife and butcher knife to cut his own trees and pull and shape strips of wood for his baskets.

African American Quilt Circle

The African American Quilt Circle uses quilting to unite people, promote community service and encourage artistic and cultural expression. Made up of approximately 60 women and men from across North Carolina, the group holds its monthly meeting at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham. In the video, member Marjorie Freeman describes the benefits of quilting for people of all ages.

Ron Baxter Ensemble

Raleigh native and saxophonist Ron Baxter made his international debut at the 2007 Jazz Festival in Lima, Peru, and toured Europe in 2008. An advocate for jazz education, his master class, "Hip-Hop to Bebop; A Relevant Approach for the Jazz Student" has been taught at the UNC Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture, the NC Museum of History and various community centers.

Mangum and Company Shout Band

Popular in the 1940s and 50s, shout bands are similar in sound to Southern brass bands but trade partying for making a joyful noise for worship. The Mangum and Company Shout Band features Charlotte’s Cedric Mangum Sr. and his two sons, Cedric, Jr. and Roderick.