Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill

Wisdom Captured At African American Cultural Celebration

by Synclaire Cruel | Jan 31, 2024 11:45 am

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Posted to: Visual Art

23rd Annual African American Cultural Celebration
North Carolina Museum of Natural History
Raleigh, N.C.
Jan. 27, 2024

Excitement filled the air at the North Carolina Museum of Natural History in downtown Raleigh as people bounced from presentations to booths, and to information tables and displays on all three floors. Some were hurrying to a presentation while others stopped and admired handwoven baskets, and the custom-made jewelry, quilts, and kitchenware.

The occasion was the annual African American Cultural Celebration, which brings together the lives of African Americans from the past to the present.

The festival serves as the statewide kickoff to Black History Month. It featured stories of strength, perseverance, and determination in the face of slavery, racism, social and economic injustice.

For some the event is a reminder of the power that resides in our heartbreaking history. For others, the event was a chance to see all the hidden contributions revealed. And, at times, it was a moment of collected and shared experiences. 

There were scavenger hunts designed just for children, chances to stitch a quilt, mat or hat, an interactive photo booth, and a voter registration table. Food trucks and food vendors also lined the Bicentennial Plaza. 

People were drawn to culinary demonstrations, engaging storytelling performances, war reenactments, and thought-provoking presentations. From politics and war to medicine and health, to music and dance, each speaker took guests on a journey through time. Many presentations were led by notable authors, archivists, historians, doulas, professors, who focused specifically on the lives of Black people in the south.

Archivist Milaun Brown spoke on the plight of Black women domestic workers and their contributions to society. They enabled economic productivity within their neighborhoods by providing essential household services. They played a key role in the exchange of traditions, languages, and culinary skills. Black women domestic workers even helped deconstruct the
​“mammie” image thrust upon them. 

Many of them participated in civil rights movements, labor strikes, and other advocacy efforts. The Atlanta Women’s Water Strike of 1881 was highlighted as one example. Those workers went on strike and would send the clothes back wet until they were paid better wages. This garnered notable giggles and gags at how they showed their employers that they, and their work, were worth more. 

Black women domestic workers created sewing clubs and groups like the Harlem Rent Club. The meetings were held under the guise of social gatherings, but they served as a chance for the women to organize, share stories, figure out how they could work together and improve financially. ​“They created a space and a sense of belonging that extended beyond the worklist,” the speaker said. 

By banning together, they created communities to cope with the challenges of racism and discrimination. They established organizations like the Domestic Servants Union, Women Wage Earners Association, and the National Domestic Workers Union of America. They advocated for legislation that would protect their rights, and got themselves and sharecroppers added to the Fair Labor standards of 1938, after being initially excluded. 

This particular talk highlighted how mistreatment intertwined so many lives and how many families share parts of the same story. One attendee even recalled her own great grandmother’s experience as a domestic worker in the south. Their determination and commitment to creating a better future and financial stability, stretched and still stretches across generations. It makes attendees think about where they would be without the sacrifice of one woman in their family. It also a reminder of the strength that resides in your own family history. 

Storyteller Carolyn Evans (an actress, dancer, and educator currently doing a series called ​“My Spirit Sings Women Who Could’ve Sung the Blues) described the atmosphere perfectly: ​“Rise up and capture your wisdom.” The African American Cultural Festival breathed new life into previously unknown or unrecognized stories. Everyone who attends will walk away knowing a new story, fact, or deeper appreciation of our story. The annual festival is free to attend, and tickets are not required.