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Feb. 1. Official Greetings for the 35th Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival-Van R. Johnson, II, Mayor, City of Savannah & Cynthia Robinson Alexander, President, Savannah State University. View at www.savannahblackheritagefestival.org

Feb. 1. 12pm. 82nd National Freedom Day Observance at Savannah State University (3219 College Street) commemorating President Abraham Lincoln’s signing a resolution for the 13th Constitutional Amendment to outlaw Slavery.The observance was initiated by Richard R. Wright, a former slave and 1st President of Savannah State University. The wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Richard R. Wright bust at Alexis Circle at 12pm. The discussion will be at 6:30 pm at King Frazier and will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Melva Sampson. Presented by Savannah State University’s Honors Program and The Wright Choice Initiative Mentoring Program. Contact: Dr. Carolyn Jordan at 912-358-3147 or jordanca@savannahstate.edu.

Feb. 2. 11am-5pm. “The Language of Fabrics: Textile Traditions Across Africa” Exhibition launches at the Savannah African Art Museum (201 E 37th St,). Museum hours are 11am to 5pm, Wed.-Sat. Presented by the Savannah African Art Museum. Contact: 912-721-7745 

Feb. 2. 5-6:30pm “The Language of Fabrics: Textile Traditions Across Africa” Evening Exhibit Viewing at the Savannah African Art Museum (201 E 37th St,). Museum hours are 11am to 5pm, Wed-Sat. Presented by the Savannah African Art Museum. Contact: 912-721-7745 

Feb. 3. 10:00 AM. Down by the Riverside: A Call to Remember

The Sankofa Bird Adinkra symbol reminds us that we must always look back to move forward. As we stand gathered to lay the memorial wreaths at the African American Monument on River Street, we will look back to remember, and pour a sacred libation to pay homage to our ancestors. This sacred ceremony will be somber yet celebratory and will mark the beginning of the 35th Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival. Location: at the African American Monument on Riverside.

Feb. 3. 12pm-4pm. The Savannah Cultural Arts Center Presents: The 2nd Annual Savannah Black Art Expo highlighting various local black artists and art organizations. The expo will feature art on display and for sale with performances by local talent. Free and Open to the public. Located at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center (201 Montgomery Street). Presented by the Savannah Cultural Arts Center

Feb. 6. Bright Star Touring Theatre Performances (Private Showings) of “George Washington Carver & Friends” and “Struggle for Freedom: The Life of Dr. King.” This event is closed to the public but there is an open performance on February 7th.

Feb. 6. 6pm-7:30pm. Who’s Reading Banned Books…And Why? Books have been banned for centuries, and U.S. states and school systems have recently stepped up the mandate to remove books from libraries and school curricula. Local personalities share their reasons for choosing a banned book and read excerpts from some of their favorites at The Learning Center (3025 Bull Street; use Jasper Street entrance). Presented by The Learning Center and the Savannah Yamacraw Branch of the Association for the Study of African American History (ASALH). For more information visit https://seniorcitizensinc.org/the-learning-center

Feb. 7. 7:30pm. Bright Star Touring Theatre Performances of “Black History Heroes, Soldiers, and Spies.” Location The Savannah Children's Theatre (2160 E Victory Drive). This event is open to the public. Presented in part by the Savannah Children’s Theatre.

Feb 8.  6:00-8:00pm. Ringshouting Class. Master Ring Shout Class at Georgia Southern University coming soon by one of the nation's leading instructors on the ancestral Ring Shout, Griffin Lotson, of the Geechee Gullah Ringshouters. Participants will learn the fundamental Ring Shout principles, step by step, along with movement, dance, song, rhythm and musical beat. They will also learn the principles of connecting footsteps, body movements, and emotional connections to align with the true spirit of the Ring Shout. Additionally, participants will learn the real heart and soul of the ring shout, along with the rich history from its beginning in Africa to the enslaved plantations in America to now the 21st Century. Participation in this class will allow participants to take the Ring Shout to the larger world and keep the Ring Shout alive for the next generation. Location: The Georgia Southern Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center, 13040 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419 (across from McDonalds). Please call 912-344-2522 to register. Space is limited for this free class.  All interested persons must register.

Feb. 10. 11am. Taylor Square Dedication. Join the Susie King Taylor Center for Jubilee for festive music, educational activities, and more in celebration of the newly named “Taylor Square” at Abercorn Street at East Wayne Street.

Feb 12. 6pm-7:30pm. A Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center Experience. Visitors have the opportunity to tour the Center, participate in an interactive lecture about Gullah Geechee Culture, and listen to archived oral stories from local Gullah Geechee elders and others in the community. No late entry; Participants must arrive by 6pm Location: Georgia Southern University Armstrong Center (13040 Abercorn Street, across from McDonalds) For additional information cal 912-478-1248 or email mlbryant@georgiasouthern.edu

Feb. 13. 6pm. Annual Future of Jazz Concert featuring local and regional young jazz vocalists and instrumentalists under the direction Teddy Adams at the Jewish Educational Alliance (5111 Abercorn Street). Presented in part by the Jewish Educational Alliance.

Feb. 15. 5:30pm. SSU FAHW & FAAA Exhibition Opening Reception at Savannah State University in the Kennedy Fine Arts Building Gallery. The exhibit will be open from February 6th to March 31st with the gallery hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday. An Artist Talk will be on February 29th. Presented by Savannah State University Department of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Wellness in partnership with Telfair Museums’ Friends of African American Arts. Contact: 912-358-3335.

Feb. 17. GRAND FESTIVAL DAY EVENT LOCATIONS: Savannah Civic Center; Second Floor Mezzanine & Ballrooms; Third Floor Ballroom; and Johnny Mercer Theater 

1pm–7pm. GRAND FESTIVAL DAY at the Savannah Civic Center (301 West Oglethorpe Ave). An array of family-oriented activities ends with a concert.

• 11am-12:30pm - Health Talks (Health Talks (Life Saving, Diabetes, Prevention) Bryan East

• 12pm-2pm - Local Authors Corner. Second Floor - O’Connor West

• 12:30pm-1:30pm - A Courageous Conversation “Social Media: Reflective, Representative, Refined, REIMAGiNED: Turning the Pages” Delta Nu Alumni Delta Nu Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

• 1pm - Vendor Marketplace Opens

• 1pm - Grand Festival Day Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with opening Libation Ceremony “Lest We Forget: A Call to Remembrance,” conducted by Master Storyteller Lillian Grant-Baptiste.

• 4:30pm - Johnny Mercer Theater; Youth Talent Showcase. Featuring Local Youth Talent 

• 6pm - Live Concert; Closing of Marketplace

• 7:30pm - Theater Closed and the crowd exits 

All attendees must adhere to the Savannah Civic Center's clear bag policy.

Feb. 19. 11am-3pm. Hometown Treasures Expo The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will host Hometown Treasures to assist area residents in preserving their family heirlooms.  The expo aims to help community members identify and preserve items of familial, historical, and cultural significance that may be tucked away in the attics, closets, and basements of their homes.  Another important goal of the Hometown Treasures program is to generate awareness about the richness of local cultural organizations and resources through a community Expo. Location: Social Sciences Building at Savannah State University (3219 College Street). Presented in part by the Smithsonian and the Savannah African Art Museum 

• 1pm-1:45pm Preserving Family Papers and Photographs
• 2pm-2:45pm Preserving Your Textile

Feb. 19. 11:00am-1:00pm Lunch & Learn: Exploring Museum Careers Join professionals from the National Museum of African American History & Culture to explore exciting careers in the museum field.  Explore the roles, education, and training of the individuals who provide valuable services to include managing the collections of museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, and other cultural heritage institutions.  Lunch will be provided. Register at https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/lunch-and-learn-exploring-museum-careers-0. Location: Social Sciences Building at Savannah State University (3219 College Street).  Presented in part by the Smithsonian and the Savannah African Art Museum

Feb. 19. 6pm. The W.W. Law Lecture Series I: “Shadows of Immortality” Alfred Lacks Carter Jr., author and founder and president of the Henrietta Lacks’ House of Healing shares the legacy of his grandmother, Henrietta Lacks, and his journey of reformation through his book entitled Shadows of Immortality: Untold Struggles of Henrietta Lacks’ Grandson. Overcoming drug addiction, crime, and a 30-year prison sentence, Alfred Lacks Carter, Jr. defied the odds, emerged, determined to reclaim his life as the living legacy of his world-renowned grandmother. Henrietta Lacks immortal HeLa cells have saved over 10 million lives, contributing to countless medical breakthroughs and he is now revolutionizing the Lacks' legacy to impact and inspire even more lives. Located at St. Phillip AME Church (613 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd).

Feb. 20. 6pm. The W.W. Law Lecture Series II: “Digital Treasures: Daufuskie Island and Beyond!” documentary screening at Jepson Center for the Arts (207 W York Street) followed by a discussion and Q & A, a discussion led by Gullah Geechee native and chef Bridget Frazier featuring Gullah Geechee Historian, Storyteller, and Historian, Dr. Griffin Lotson and 6th Generation Daufuskie Island Native and Historian, Sallie Ann Robinson. Presented in part by the Smithsonian, the Savannah African Art Museum and Telfair Museums.

Feb. 21. 5pm. 23rd New Beginning Exhibition. Location: Savannah Cultural Arts Center (201 Montgomery Street).  Presented by the Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Feb. 21. 6pm. The W.W. Law Lecture Series III: Author Talk and Book Signing featuring Anita Gail Jones, author of "The Peach Seed." Location: Savannah State University (3219 College Street) COBA Auditorium. 

Feb. 22. 5:30pm. Lecture: “The Only School Ever Founded by an Organization of Negro Women”  At the dawn of the 20th century, less than 50 years after emancipation and with Jim Crow laws in place across much of the country, Black girls and women faced a harsh career landscape. Nannie Helen Burroughs, an African American educator, broke barriers by establishing the National Training School for Women and Girls in 1909. Join us in welcoming special guest Dr. Danielle Phillips-Cunningham for her lecture, "The Only School Ever Founded by an Organization of Negro Women," where she delves into her forthcoming book, A Tower of Strength. This talk highlights Burroughs' influential role in Progressive Era education and labor leadership, showcasing the vital role of Black women's schools in U.S. labor movements. Location Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum (10 East Ogelthorpe Ave.) Presented by the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (Girl Scouts of America).

To register, visit www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/nannie

Feb. 23. 5:30pm. Carver State Bank: A Bank on a Mission. Savannah’s Carver State Bank is one of the only 22 Black owned banks in America. Learn more about how Carver’s mission to provide the building blocks to financial freedom impacts our community, and then join bank leaders for refreshments to celebrate the bank’s 97th anniversary. Location: Carver State Bank, Savannah Branch (7110 Skidaway Road).

Feb. 24. Laying of Memorial Wreaths. Memorial wreaths presented at the seven African-American Historic Monuments, World War II; Vietnam Memorials. Presented by local Savannah Youth and Devoted Dance Theatre Company.  For access to the presentation visit www.savannahblackheritagefestival.org.

Feb. 24. 11am-1:00pm. “Tracing Your Roots – Tips & Resources Workshop,” at the Bull Street Library - Kaye Kole Genealogy & Local History Room (2002 Bull Street). Visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org to register. Presented by the Savannah African Art Museum and Live Oak Public Library. Contact: 912-721-7745.

Feb. 25. 3:00pm. "I Shall Not be Moved: The Power of Our History" Master Storyteller, Lillian Grant-Baptiste will portray how storytelling, music, and folklore have been used as tools of resistance, reform, and reconciliation throughout African American history. Location: Beach Institute (502 E. Harris Street)

Feb. 25. 5:00pm. Gospel Explosion Concert Join us for a gospel explosion featuring ChurChicago and LaSha Knox. Opening performances will be by Savannah State University's Wesleyan Choir and American Idol contestant Gazzie White. Location: Overcoming By Faith Ministries (9700 Middleground Road). Presented in part by Lifelink of Georgia.

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MARKETING PARTNER EVENTS

Feb. 5. 5:30pm-6:30pm (reception at 5:00 pm).Sapelo Island: A Living Legacy | Josiah Watts

Skidaway Island Community Church, 50 Diamond Causeway, Savannah. $15 members | $20 non-members Josiah “Jazz” Watts, a direct descendant of enslaved Africans brought to Sapelo Island, channels his ancestors’ travails, resistance, and resilience. Ten years ago, Watts created The Sapelo Project, a theater piece integrating music, drama, and cinema to distill the stories of Sapelo and the creation of the Saltwater Geechee language. This presentation further tells that story. 

Feb. 7. Noon-1pm. The Golden Age of the Negro Jockeys | Johnathan Winbush. The Learning Center, 3025 Bull Street, Savannah. $10 members | $15 non-members. Horse Racing is the oldest organized sport in North America. Since the British Colonial era, Negroes were tacitly acknowledged as expert 22 equestrians, yet their contributions have been minimized. These “Kings of the Sport of Kings” dominated the turf for decades and became America’s first athlete superstars! Beach Institute director Johnathan Winbush explores their stories in a photo-rich presentation. 

Feb. 27-28. 7pm. ANNE & EMMETT. A One-Act Play by Janet Langhart Cohen: An imaginary conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till examining the parallels in the lives of two teenage victims of institutionalized hatred. Location: Jewish Educational Alliance (5111 Abercorn Street). Presented by the Jewish Education Alliance. Additional performances will take place February 27-March 2. For more information email: AnneandEmmettProduction@gmail.com.

Feb 29.  10:00-11:30am.  Weeping Time Commemoration
Be a part of remembering a significant,historical and memorable event that happened in Savannah - The Weeping Time. Hosted by the Georgia Southern Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center and the Weeping Time Commemoration Committee. Lecture and demonstration provided by Dr. Kwesi DeGraft-Hanson. Location:  The Georgia Southern Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center, 13040 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419 (across from McDonalds). 

This event will be rescheduled for a later date in March. The Power of the Pen Film. Documentary and Book written and produced by Carl W. Scott Gilliard. Location: Savannah Cultural Arts Center (201 Montgomery Street) RSVP for this free event at 912-436-5325 or visit www.gilliardforgeorgia.org.