Bucks County celebrates Black History Month. Here are the special events
Although Black History Month occurs during the shortest month of the year, there is no shortage of events in Bucks County that will be inspirational, educational and celebratory.
From distilling Bucks County's role in the Underground Railroad to celebrating Black culture through performances and storytelling sessions, here are Black History Month events in Bucks County.
Gather Place hosts Underground Railroad performance, touch on abolitionism
Many may not realize that Bucks County provided a vital link and sort of transportation hub for the Underground Railroad. Now, the historical Gather Place Museum in Yardley will highlight that vital connection through the one-woman "Journey Through Time: The Underground Railroad Revealed," performance.
Performer Shirley Lee Corsey's multimedia presentation explores Bucks County's role in the Underground Railroad, and will focus on Yardleyville, circa 1682, the precursor for present-day Yardley.
Corsey will also provide insight about Lower Makefield Township's Slate Cemetery and will commemorate the African American Civil War veterans buried there and emphasizing the ongoing legacy of resilience and their contributions to America's history.
"Journey Through Time: The Underground Railroad" is a free event and begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Yardley-Makefield Library, 1080 Edgewood Road in Yardley.
North Penn High school showcase, Aretha Franklin profile fill out Black History Month events in Bucks County
Here are the other Black History Month events in Bucks County to check out:
A Raisin in the Sun: Lorraine Hansberry's epic take of a Black family's existence and survival on the Southside of Chicago in the 1950s gets a 20-date run at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street. The play centers on five members of the Younger family are each looking for ways to improve their lot through education, business, real estate, and sheer self-determination. The arrival of a long-awaited life insurance check promises life changing opportunities, but also brings drama and strife. "A Raisin in the Sun" runs from Wednesday, Jan. 30 through Sunday, Feb. 18, and tickets start at $45.
Portrait of Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul gets a proper send up during jazz and Blues recording artist CeCe Teneal's run of three performances at the Bucks County Playhouse. Teneal will honor the late Franklin with renditions of many of Franklin's greatest works, including "Respect," "Freeway of Love," and "I Say a Little Prayer." Teneal has a 7:30 p.m. show on Friday, Feb. 2, and shows at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. Tickets are $55.
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Why We Sing: Zimbabwe native Shalom Mukamuri, known for his inspirational music, will explore the African American experience through tales of resilience, joy, and endurance. Mukamuri's performance begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at the Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine St., Doylestown. Tickets are $25.
Black History Showcase at North Penn High School: North Penn High School and the African American and Allies Club will hold a joint showcase to highlight the African American experience at North Penn, in the United States, and around the world. There will be various artistic performances, including step dances, spoken word pieces, and a skit performed by members of the AAAC. This showcase begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, inside the North Penn High School auditorium, 340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale.
Harriett Tubman Live: Shirley Lee Corsey will deliver another one-person presentation, this time focusing on the Tubman's entire lifespan. This performance will also touch on Tubman's childhood, escape from slavery, her role in the Civil War, and Tubman's efforts during the Woman's Suffrage era. Corsey's performance begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Gather Place Museum, 188 S. Canal Street in Yardley. Tickets are $15.
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In addition, Bristol activist Carla Reynolds is sponsoring a Black History Month art contest, in which the winning selections will be displayed in storefronts along Mill Street in Bristol.
The pieces should focus on Black history, self-expressionism and creativity.
The contest is open to all races and ages. Submissions must be paint on canvas, and need to be dropped of between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, Feb. 2 at 301 wood street in Bristol.
Interested artists can email Reynolds at Carlareynolds1@yahoo.com for more information and further details.
More: Bucks County's Black cemeteries honor history of those buried there
The DIY tour of the Underground Railroad in Bucks County
Visit Bucks County has an expansive list of Underground Railroad "stops" in Bucks County which can be visited at any time.
The one-tank, self-guided tour takes Underground Railroad trackers to the Wedgewood Inn, which featured an elaborate and literal underground network of tunnels, and to the African American Episcopal Church in Bensalem, where church leaders helped more than 9,000 slaves find freedom.
The self-guided tour also includes suggested stops at the private the Archambault House in Newtown, whose former owner, Joseph O. Archambault, helped escaped slaves obtain their freedom. Since this is a private residence, it is suggested that visitors admire the house from afar.
Other stops on the self-guided tour include the Buckingham Friends Meeting House, the Continental Tavern, and the Harriet Tubman Memorial Statue, all located in Bristol.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Black History Month: Events, performances and tours
