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Honoring Black History at St. John’s Church in Havre de Grace

 

            Over two weekends in February—February 15–16 and 22–23—St. John’s will host three compelling events. These include a quilt exhibit showcasing a series of anti-racism message quilts created in response to the tragic and unjust killings of Black men and women, a lecture by Quilter and Priest Mother Carol Burnside, and a Live History performance featuring Frederick Douglass portrayed by Nathan Richardson. The program also includes spoken word performances by various artists and live music featuring Christopher Calloway Brooks, grandson of Cab Calloway. All events are free to the public.

            Black History Live! Part One, kicks off on Saturday, February 15th at Noon with the return of the “A Race Against Race” Quilt Series created by Quilter and Priest Mother Carol Burnside. Each quilt carries a message of anti-racism she created as a response to the tragic and unnecessary loss of Black lives. The exhibit will be open to the public 12-4 pm Saturday & Sunday, February 15, 16, 22, & 23. 

            Black History Live! Part Two is on Saturday, at 1 pm, Feb 15, Mother Carol Burnside will speak about the quilts in person, share the stories behind each quilt, and engage in dialogue with the audience. Some messages from the quilts are: “The Human Race is the Only Race,” “Hate Speech is Not Free Speech,” and “The Way Forward is possible when white American used the qualities of empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity in our encounters and relationships with Black Americans.” 

            Black History Live! Part Three is on Saturday, February 22nd at 3 pm is a performance by Nathan M. Richardson as Frederick Douglass. This live history event will bring historical context to the legacy of Cab Calloway and his daughter, Camay Calloway Murphy (longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church whose recent death in November of 2024 was memorialized at the church on December 7th). 

            Frederick Douglass, born into slavery in 1818, taught himself to read and write, then escaped and became the greatest orator of the 19th century, laying a foundation for all great orators who followed him. Hear Frederick Douglass, through Mr. Richardson, recite his own poetry as well as the poems of Francis E. W. Harper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and others. Follow the diaspora of storytelling from the African Griot to Frederick Douglass, Cab Calloway, to the Spoken Word Artists of today. 

            Nathan Richardson is an author, performance poet, and historian. His poetry collections include “Likeness of Being,” “Twenty-one Imaginary T-Shirts,” and “The 7 Last Poems of an Unarmed Citizen.” His work has been featured extensively in anthologies, magazines, and newspapers, including The Washington Post, Coastal Virginia Magazine, and The Cupola. This marks his tenth year portraying Frederick Douglass, embodying both the physical and spiritual essence of the former slave, writer, orator, and abolitionist with remarkable authenticity. Richardson is also Nathan is a Chautauqua Scholar with living history performances at The White House Visitors Center, For more information about Nathan Richardson, see his website at www.scpublishing.com 

            Additional poetry will be read by local actresses, Gay Lynn Price, Jenni Meckelvaney, Nikii Volinski, Stoney Williams, and Jazz Green. They will recite both original poems, contemporary poems, and iconic poetry by Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and many others.

            The performance will culminate in live music played by Christopher Calloway Brooks, who has continued the tradition of his grandfather by leading the Cab Calloway Orchestra for the last three decades. Since 1998, as leader of the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Christopher Calloway Brooks has been the front man, vocalist, guitarist, arranger, composer, director, and “global protagonist of All Things Hi-De-Ho.”

              St. John’s Episcopal Church, built in 1809, is Havre de Grace’s oldest church known for its ministries, spirit of inclusion, and community-oriented outreach. The church has sponsored a Black History event every year for the past ten years, often at the encouragement of Camay Calloway Murphy to whom Black History Live! is dedicated. Donations will be accepted throughout the two-weekend event, but all proceeds will be passed along to the Diocese of Maryland Reparations Fund unless earmarked for next year’s Black History Live! 

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ADDRESS

114 N. Union Aveue
Havre de Grace, MD

21078
 

410-939-2107

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stjohnshdg@comcast.net

Proud Founding Sponsor of the Upper Chesapeake Bay (UCB) Pride Festival

Centered in Christ, Rooted in History, Compassion for All
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