(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – The African American Museum, Dallas will celebrate Black history throughout the year with exhibitions and educational events that honor the rich heritage and achievements of African Americans.
“The African American Museum is dedicated to celebrating Black history year-round, but February offers a special opportunity to reflect on the contributions and global impact of African Americans,” said Margie Reese, interim director of the museum. “Our hope is that these experiences will inspire connection, learning and a greater understanding of the stories that continue to shape our collective future.”
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From two new exhibitions teeming with thought-provoking art to a dynamic panel discussion, a youth history competition, an exhibit featuring artwork and designs from Disney’s The Lion King, and a family/community day read-in, each experience offers an opportunity to deepen understanding and appreciation of African American history and cultural expression. All events are free and open to the public, except for the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame events Feb. 28 and March 1.
Beginning Jan. 31, two new exhibitions will open, including the 28th biennial Carrol Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition, which spotlights a variety of compelling works by juried artists from around the country, including many from North Texas.
Additionally, the Clay, Grasses and Reeds exhibition will feature decorative and functional objects that focus on ancient traditions, techniques and functions of African pottery and basketry and their influence on contemporary culture.
Plus, the museum, in partnership with Broadway Dallas, will present From Africa to the Broadway Stage: Disney’s The Lion King. The showcase will explore how African artwork and designs have been reflected in one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage – Disney’s The Lion King.
Previous events include What Happens When a Dream Isn’t Deferred: A Conversation About Boys and Men, a powerful panel discussion, reading, poetry and Q&A, and Robert and Charmaine Price Know Your Heritage Bowl, a competition for local middle and high school students that seeks to encourage young scholars to appreciate and learn more about the rich history and culture of African Americans.
The museum is located at 3536 Grand Ave.
Upcoming events and exhibitions open to the public at the museum this month:
African American Read-In
The read-in presented by The Dock Bookshop in collaboration with the African American Museum, Dallas, will be held free Feb. 15 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn more at https://www.thedockbookshop.com.
Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Weekend
Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. – legends reception at the museum.
March 1, at 11:30 a.m. – induction luncheon at Renaissance Dallas Hotel, 2222 N. Stemmons Freeway. Tickets are available at http://www.aamdallas.org.
The incoming enshrinement of the 2025 Class of Inductees of the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame will mark 29 years of honoring and recognizing an iconic lineup of star-studded figures inside the Lone Star State’s sports arena. This year’s list will include a group of groundbreaking historical high achievers.
The inductees include Harvey Armstrong (football), Larry Brown (football), Michelle Carter (Olympics, track and field), Harold Cash (rodeo), Derrick James (boxing, trainer), Larry Johnson (basketball), Gladys Lee (golf), Eugene Lockhart, Jr. (football), Calvin Murray (baseball), Fritz Pollard (football, posthumously), LaDainian Tomlinson (football), Ken Washington (football) and Greg Williams (track and field). The hall of fame, housed at the museum, was established in 1996 to chronicle the sports history contributions made by African Americans.
The following free exhibitions that are open to the public on view include:
28th biennial Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition
Jan. 31-July 24
After receiving hundreds of entries from across the country, the top artists of the 28th biennial Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition have been selected and will be showcased at the museum. The history of this initiative began in 1976 when the museum initiated the Southwest Black Art Competition and Exhibition. The purpose of the juried competition and exhibition stemmed from the museum’s need to build a distinguished art collection and to provide Black artists in the region a venue to showcase their work. Over the years, the competition and exhibition attracted the attention of artists beyond its geographical boundaries. In 1999, the museum’s board renamed the competition in honor of Carroll Harris Simms’ outstanding contributions to art and art education.
From Africa to the Broadway Stage: Disney’s The Lion King Exhibition
Jan. 31-July 3, 2025
The African American Museum and Broadway Dallas will unveil a new exhibit, From Africa to the Broadway Stage: Disney’s The Lion King. It explores how icons of Africa are reflected in one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage – Disney’s The Lion King. The exhibit will feature five elements – four masks and one puppet – from the original Broadway production alongside a curated selection of African art and objects from the African American Museum’s permanent collection.
Clay, Grasses and Reeds Exhibition
Jan. 30-March 15
This exhibition features decorative and functional objects from the African American Museum’s permanent Carroll Harris Simms ceramic collection and the Sanford “Sandy” Michael and Diane Pettit Besser African Basketry collection. Additionally, the exhibition focuses on ancient traditions, techniques and functions of African pottery and basketry and their influence on contemporary culture.
The Souls of Black Folks – Imagination and Materiality: The Power of Memory and Storytelling in Black Art
An ongoing exhibit on the main level of the museum. Spotlighting folk and self-taught artists from Texas and beyond, the exhibition features works from the museum’s permanent folk art collection, which is one of the largest collections in the country. Featured pieces include an 1821 coverlet made and signed by a 16-year-old enslaved girl; 5 gallon jug made by the first enslaved potter, David “Dave the Potter” Drake, during the 18th century; an 1888 crazy quilt; a desk made by slaves in 1830; an 1864 silver spoon made by a slave; and a chair designed by Charles Harrison, a 30-year industrial designer at Sears.
Facing the Rising Sun: Freedman’s Cemetery
An ongoing exhibit. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Museum’s permanent exhibition, Facing the Rising Sun: Freedman’s Cemetery, which was initiated by Alan Govenar and Documentary Arts and curated by Phillip Collins in 1996. The exhibition contains photographs, found objects and historical documents that provide further insight into the area now known as Uptown. Interactive video kiosks allow visitors to see and hear from the people who knew Freedman’s Town first-hand.