The Westside Gazette

2026 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival

Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Whitehead, President, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc., and  Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson, Historian and Author

We, Too, Sing America: Reflections on 250 Years

 Saturday, March 28 – 11:00am – 8:00pm

 Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson, Historian and Author

African American Research Library and Cultural Center

Gallery B, Auditorium, Dianne Bienes Seminar Room # 1, Michael Bienes Seminar Room #2, Lobby

The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival (AAHF) is the signature annual cultural and intellectual convening.

The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival (AAHF) is the signature annual cultural and intellectual convening of the African American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC), a nationally recognized institution dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and advancing the global Black experience through research, scholarship, arts, and community engagement.

AAHF brings together authors, scholars, artists, performers, and families for a multi-day celebration of Black culture, history, creativity, and storytelling. The festival blends lectures, literary events, performances, youth activations, family programming, and curated cultural installations that illuminate the richness of the African diaspora.

The 2026 theme, “We, Too, Sing America: 250 Years of Black Life and Culture,” draws inspiration from Langston Hughes’ “I, Too,” affirming the dignity, resilience, and rightful presence of Black voices in the American narrative. This year’s programming will highlight historical perspectives, contemporary scholarship, artistic excellence, and intergenerational learning.

For a complete schedule and to register, visit Eventbrite.

Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead: President, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Dr. Whitehead is a nationally respected public historian, cultural critic, and educator whose work centers Black public memory, racial justice, and social transformation. As President of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. (ASALH)—the organization founded by Carter G. Woodson—she plays a leading role in shaping national discourse around Black history and its public interpretation. She is also a professor at Loyola University Maryland and a widely sought-after speaker on equity, heritage, and storytelling.

Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson, Historian & Author of We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance (Seal Press) Historian & Author, Dr. Carter-Jackson is an award-winning historian specializing in Black resistance, freedom movements, and 19th-century African American history. Her book, We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance, reframes traditional narratives of nonviolence by powerfully documenting the many ways Black communities resisted enslavement, segregation, and racial violence. We Refuse has received widespread national acclaim, including recognition as a New York Times Editors’ Pick, a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, and a finalist or winner on multiple “Best of” and social justice book lists. Dr. Carter-Jackson is also a frequent national media commentator and a leading public voice on the history of resistance and liberation.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Student-focused morning programming

Evening keynote conversation & reception

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Family Day & Youth Activations

Children’s readings, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities

Author showcase sessions

Bookstore Activation with Pyramid Books featuring books, signings, and literary vendors

A Service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners

AGE GROUP: | Everyone |

EVENT TYPE: | Fair/Festival | Exhibit | Discussion/Lecture | Arts & Cultural |

African American Research Library and Cultural Center

Phone: 954-357-6282

Hours

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Mon, Mar 23   10:00AM to 8:00PM

Tue, Mar 24     10:00AM to 6:00PM

Wed, Mar 25   10:00PM to 8:00PM

Thu, Mar 26     10:00AM to 6:00PM

Fri, Mar 27        10:00AM to 6:00PM

Sat, Mar 28      10:00AM to 6:00PM

Sun, Mar 29    Closed

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