City of Gainesville celebrates Black History Month
Press release from City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The City of Gainesville observes Black History Month with a showcase of performances and remembrances at several City venues. Events are free and open to the public.
Perspectives in the Parks: Turning Pine into Turpentine and other Miraculous Histories of Black Farmers in Alachua County with Porshè Chiles
- Noon-1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4
- Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Center, 1500 NW 45th Ave.
The monthly program features experts in science, nature, history, and art.
Mobilizing Communities with Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons
- 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15
- A. Quinn Jones Museum & Cultural Center, 1013 NW 7th Ave.
Dr. Simmons, University of Florida professor emerita, will share her experience as a young student in 1968 working to advance the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and as a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign poster exhibition is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services; the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and the City of Gainesville.
Black Space Art Exhibition
- 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16
- The Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave.
In partnership with Moisturizer Gallery, the exhibit features printmaking, painting, oils, and ceramics by Black artists. Curator: Lexus Giles
The Florida Invitational Step Show, “FISSNIK: The Stroll”
- 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17
- Depot Park, 874 SE 4th St.
In partnership with the UF Black Student Union and The Florida Invitational Step Show Committee, “FISSNIK: The Stroll” will feature local and regional sororities and fraternities in a step show/stroll competition. Student organizations from the University of Florida, Bethune Cookman University, Florida International University, and more will perform.
FISSNIK: The Stroll will begin with a march in by the Richard E. Parker Alumni Band of Eastside High School, dance and step performances with Smooth Flava, Chi Rho Phi Youth Sorority and the Infamous Diamonds youth dancers, dance party with DJ Jazzy Jeff, and student and alumni chapters sharing the HBCU/Divine 9 pride. Student organization, local vendors and food trucks will be on-site.
Evergreen Cemetery Self-guided Tour
- 401 SE 21st Ave.
All month long, the City honors honor the lives, achievements and contributions of the Black residents buried at Evergreen Cemetery by sharing stories on its Facebook page. On-site honorary signage will indicate these gravesites for neighbors wishing to take a self-guided tour of the City’s only municipal cemetery, established in 1856. In addition, the city will expand the recognition with additional signage at neighboring Pine Grove Cemetery, in partnership with the private cemetery.
So when do we celebrate White History Month???
@ Real Johnny. Yeah, I wonder why it’s even considered a big no no to even suggest such a thing.
As I write three racists have already down voted you. We have Latino month and black month but if we dare to mention White History month people go nuts. When in fact White people founded this country and deserve to be honored with a month to recall everything White people have contributed to America and the world.
Here’s a few perspectives from a couple Black Actors.
In a rare new interview while promoting his performance in Zach Braff’s “A Good Person,” Morgan Freeman told The Sunday Times that he’s insulted by Black History Month and the term “African American.”
“Two things I can say publicly that I do not like,” Freeman said. “Black History Month is an insult. You’re going to relegate my history to a month?”
“Also, ‘African American’ is an insult,” he added. “I don’t subscribe to that title. Black people have had different titles all the way back to the n-word and I do not know how these things get such a grip, but everyone uses ‘African American’. What does it really mean? Most Black people in this part of the world are mongrels. And you say Africa as if it’s a country when it’s a continent, like Europe.”
When The Sunday Times reporter evoked Denzel Washington, who once said, “I’m very proud to be Black, but Black is not all I am,” Freeman added: “Yes, exactly. I’m in total agreement. You can’t define me that way.”
Freeman’s quotes recall recent ones made by Idris Elba, who stirred up social media in February after revealing he does not refer to himself as “Black actor” because it puts limitations on his career.
“As humans, we are obsessed with race,” Elba told Esquire U.K. “And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.”
~ Variety.com by Zack Sharf
Easy to understand why many in the Black Community don’t care for these three. Also easy to see why they were able to overcome obstacles others have chosen not to.
Gee, I always like to hear what millionaires have to say about their life experiences.
I like Chris Rocks comment on this.
“There ain’t a white man in this room who would change places with me. And I’m Rich!
That’s how good it is to be white.”
NSFW but very funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJmvfbDdhFg
He didn’t start rich though did he? Another liberal trying to make excuses.
What’s your excuse for that goo on your chin. Oh wait! Don’t need an excuse when we know the reason.
Better yet just give White people a single day to celebrate our history. We are not asking for 28 days (that would be asking FAR too much), just a single lonesome day where we can all come together and uplift ancient pillars of the White community- names like Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci and Winston Churchill. Who knows, maybe it would even make White children growing up today realize that it’s a good thing to be White, not a bad thing which is what they are being told far too often.
As long as we can remind them about the thousands upon thousands of humans they trafficked from Africa for slave labor. Also the formation of the KKK, creation of Jim Crowe laws, segregation and oh don’t forget the three-fifths clause in the constitution. Also remind them that they’re ancestors before them taught that solely because of a persons skin color they should be treated like livestock… Let’s not forget that right Johnny? I mean after all history is history and it’s great to be white, black, hispanic, asian, and anywhere in between!
You forgot to mention that a lot of the people selling slaves were selling people of their own skin color. Also that the Democratic Party was the biggest proponent for slavery and racism. The Republican Party bears much of the credit for ending slavery.Your comment is indicative of your ignorance.
Oh righty oh. You seem to have left out the part about Africans being the ones who sold other Africans that they had defeated in tribal war.
Whose “ancestors” taught them because of a person’s skin color they should be treated like livestock? My parents on both sides are from the South as far back as we can go and my ancestors never treated anybody like livestock and never owned anybody. Most people in the South did not own anyone there are also records of free blacks owning other blacks so you’re a little sanctimonious there Skippy.
What about the Irish who had their land stolen from them so they survived a hellish ride on cargo ships to get to America. Only to be treated like low class scum and barred from entering public places. They were given the worst of jobs but they endured and eventually prospered.
Get out of your negativity and prosper and stop being a victim.
I’m so sorry! I didn’t know the Irish were forced into separate schools, not allowed to vote, own land, let’s just stop and hop off your ignorant blathering
Check your history. Mid 1600s, mid 1800s. Most of what occurred was over religion. Bible riots of 1844. There were a lot of protestant Irish that were vilified as criminals and undesirable. They were forced into low pay jobs that were dangerous and menial. They were more or less enslaved into working the textile mill. At the time most Americans viewed Irish as someone stealing their jobs and livelihood there were plenty of newspaper classififued ads and illustrations tell the public “No Irish need apply” Thomas Nash who was an illustrator at the time depicted the Irish as looking Ape like, as well other prejudice drawings. Even Abraham Lincoln in 1855 was so disturbed by the treatment of Irish people. But as time and history went on the bigotry towards the Irish and other foreigners as well as the black population. So yes American History is riddled with good and bad. As Americans you do not have to like the history but you can’t change it.
Ah yes, the victimhood races who’s the biggest victim? Actually you’re pretty ignorant the Irish, the Italians, the Chinese everyone went through being in “separate schools, not allowed to vote or own land” yet they all prospered and became successful. Only the former slaves did not and have not.;
Sad what Dems have done to them for 200 years so far. Nothing changes 🥺
The GOP lost their well earned loyalty from black voters in the 1920’s when the party shifted to helping the rich and white and was locally infiltrated by the newly popular KKK.
Neither party is what it was in the 19th century.
Look it up
This is a good time to talk about the “gun violence and shootings crisis” we are having in GNV…
To honor Black History Month, the City of Gainesville will celebrate by putting 10 unemployed black residents onto the city payroll each day at a starting salary of $130,000 per year.
ROFLMAO!
What exactly are they celebrating? The dramatic rise in their communities crime rate? The high graduation rate with academic excellence? DEI? CRT? Or….how bout the receipt of their so called…..”Earned” income credit tax refund check?
Give me a break.