Local children had the opportunity to learn about African-American history through the arts to conclude Black History Month on Friday, March 1 at the Crossroads Cultural Arts Center in Clarksdale.
Black History Month is in February.
A large group from Spring Initiative attended the presentation with Chandra Williams, who is the director of Crossroads Cultural Arts Center, and Guelel Kumba, who recently moved to Clarksdale and is from West Africa.
“I was in Oxford,” said Kumba on when he met Williams.
Williams is originally from Chicago, but she and Kumba lived in Oxford at the same time.
Williams and Kumba played instruments including the guitar and drums.
Kumba sang several songs including “Ngoppe Kam” and “Chulululu.”
Williams explained that even though she was from Chicago, she was also African because grandparents from several generations ago came from Africa.
She told the children many of them were likely African for the same reason.
“We celebrate African-American history and culture through the arts in lots of different ways,” Williams said.
Williams took the opportunity during the March 1 presentation to reflect on Black History Month.
“It’s important for us to celebrate where we come from, feel good about where we come from and learn about where we come from,” she said.
