Black History Month starts this Sunday, and in Alexandria, it will be celebrated with the city’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition.
More than 130 student posters inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. will go on display at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street), starting Sunday during an awards ceremony from 1-3 p.m. The event has showcased posters by students in grades 2-5 at Alexandria City Public Schools for over 30 years.
This year’s exhibition theme is “Dreaming Together: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future.” The event is sponsored by the Alexandria Black History Museum and Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA).
Illustrating with crayons, markers, watercolors and more, students harnessed their creativity and shared their worldviews in this year’s posters. The collection of works condemns racism while celebrating themes of unity, hope and racial justice.
“Make the world fair and better,” wrote a 4th grader at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy.
“Understand how others are feeling,” wrote a 4th grader at James K. Polk Elementary School. “Do not leave people out.”
City officials issued a proclamation for Black History Month during a legislative meeting on Tuesday, where OHA African American History Director Audrey Davis and Alexandria Library Director Rose Dawson gave an update on local events planned throughout the month.
A free concert, book signings and community conversations are being coordinated through OHA, while Alexandria Library branches will host a variety of educational and creative events, as well as storytimes with Black authors and illustrators.
“We’d like our citizens to remember that Black history is American history and celebrated 365 days of the year,” Davis said, inviting residents to visit the Freedom House Museum, Alexandria Black History Museum and African American Heritage Trails.
The Alexandria Library plans to unveil an exhibit on Feb. 21 featuring the work of Elrich Murphy, a Black photographer whose work captured African American life in the city and region from the 1940s through the 1960s, Dawson said. It will be led by Murphy’s daughter, Rita Harris, and Char McCargo Bah, an author, historian and genealogist.
Dawson thanked city leaders for issuing the proclamation.
“We do not take for granted this proclamation, given the times in which we live,” Dawson told City Council. “It is amazing and impressive that this council recognizes and still honors the celebration of Black history in this way, and so we thank you.”
Students’ posters will be up at the Charles Houston Recreation Center from Sunday through March 1.
Photo via City of Alexandria/Facebook.
