Thurgood Marshall, the first African American member of the U.S. Supreme Court, famously once addressed the value of celebrating equality.
"In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute,” Marshall shared.
By honoring our shared history, only then do we grow closer as a community, Marshall’s sentiments echoed. That is the spirit embodied in the 33rd Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival, with this year's festival theme "Celebrating Culture. Celebrating Heritage. Celebrating You."
The festival kicks off Feb. 1 to mark the beginning of Black History Month, and runs through Feb. 20 online. The festival's board of directors say they selected the theme to celebrate the myriad of contributions from African Americans in all aspects of our collective lives.
Credit: Photo provided
Credit: Photo provided
From story-telling and art displays, to cooking, and music and dance performances, the festival aims to tell the stories of the profound ways in which African American culture has shaped our society.
All of the performances and sessions will be presented on the festival's official YouTube channel, available for streaming safely by participants as the pandemic continues to be a challenge for many in-person events.
Some of the presentations will include art exhibits by Savannah State University, keynote addresses by noted authors, a virtual marketplace of goods by African-American artisans, virtual history tours, craft sessions, workout classes, and more.
The Savannah Black Heritage Festival is one of several cultural arts events made possible each year by the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Resources.
The purpose of the festival is to deliver performances, exhibits, and activities that resonate with a diverse range of Savannahians.
The very first Savannah Black Heritage Festival was held in 1988, launched by Westley W. Law and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, with support and funding from the City of Savannah.
Organizers say this year's festival is a celebration to inspire, ignite, and acknowledge the heritage and culture of African-Americans in a time that has been unlike any other.
The 33rd Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival kicks off Feb. 1 on the festival's YouTube channel.
For more information about the festival and a schedule of events, visit www.savannahblackheritagefestival.org
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 33rd annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival honors legacy of local African American impact
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