DETROIT — On Sunday, Feb. 24, Detroit's Tangent Gallery is presenting its first annual Hug Detroit Day Black History Family Festival. Organizers of the event said that this day will be a celebration of Black History Month and a special way of honoring "cultural trailblazers of the past" as they explore the impact they've had on the present.
"Detroit leaders such as comedian Mike Bonner will host and perform at our festival. Also: speaker and activist Henrietta Ivey; Co-founder of Hug Detroit Day and Everette's Natural Hair School President Sheila Hale; Motivational Speaker Brenda Pedleton; Co-Director of Detroit's Trinity International film Festival Film Producer Lazar Favors; jazz vocalist Sky Covington; State Rep. Isaac Robinson; and Co-Founder and Partner at Conscious Community Cooperative ThinkTank – C3 B Anthony, will hope to inspire and encourage audiences through their accomplishments," organizers said.
Since the theme for Black History Month 2019 is black migrations, organizers said that much of the content will adhere to information about those movements across the world. "Tracking the continuous movement of blacks from the American South to the industrialized North and beyond," organizers said. "Beginning in the early 20th century, a growing number of black industrial leaders and black entrepreneurs emerged as families relocated from farms to cities, and from the South to the more industrialized Northeast and Midwest."
The festival will also address the emergence of new music genres from those moves — like ragtime, blues and jazz — as well as the impacts this had on Detroit. Additionally, there will be discussions of these topics and more.
Tickets can be found onlien at eventbrite.com and doors opens at 5 p.m. The Festival lasts until 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 but are fee for children. For more information contact Nicole Freeman at 248-445-1277. Group rates are also available.
Itinerary for Feb. 24:
5 to 5:15 p.m.
Greeting ( Community Prayer)
Prayer for the betterment of our People led by Minister Nen Bailey
Words from State Rep Isaac Robinson
5:15 to 5:30 p.m.
Speaker: Public speaker, Organizer, and Political Figure at SEIU Healthcare Michigan
Henrietta Ivey and Singalong "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
5:45 to 6:15 p.m.
Lazar Favors
Co-Director of Detroit's Trinity International film Festival Film Producer Lazar Favor
Short Film about Black Bottom and Paradise Valley
Co-Director's Trinity International Film Festival
6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
Storytime
"Only Twice I Dreamed for Heaven" by Dawn Turner Trice
"The Bulging Bag" by Unoma N. Azuah
"Rail Under my Back" by Jeffery Renard Allen
From the book "Gumbo: An Anthology of African-American Writing"
6:45 to 7 p.m.
Hair Show by Hairstylist Makyha Womble
7 p.m.
Motivational Speaker Brenda Pedleton
7:15
Poet Deep Water
7 p.m.
Artist Talk
Ifoma Stubbs & Monique Simon
7:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Co-Founder and Partner at Conscious Community Cooperative ThinkTank – C3 B Anthony
7:45 to 8 p.m.
Sky Covington speaks on "Service"
8 to 8:30 p.m.
Comedian Mike Bonner
8:30 to 9 p.m.
Poet JE McGee performs
Activist and Poet Nikki Giovanni
Mike Bonner Introduces Tim Ellerbe
Recording of an interview with Nat King Cole
9 to 9:30 p.m.
Tim Ellerbe performs Jazz Legend Nat King Cole
9:40 to 11 p.m.
FINALE Nina Simone
JE McGee introduces Sky Covington performing Nina Simone
