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Black Heritage Festival celebrates past, present, future
Staff file photo by JOSEPH BROWN III (2008)
As part of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, the Florida A&M University Marching 100 Rattlers Band will join bands from across the South in the National MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands and Drumline Extravaganza on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
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Published: January 14, 2010
TAMPA - As founder of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Samuel Wright Sr. had a vision to celebrate the cultural contributions of African-Americans in a melting pot city.
Three days of events were planned for the inaugural festival in January 2001 to coincide with Super Bowl XXXV. The next year, the festival was moved to the week of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
"I was hoping we could do something perpetually that would last so people here and outside the state could come and enjoy a nice, wholesome experience indigenous to African-American culture," said Wright, director of Multicultural Affairs at the University of South Florida, on the festival's early days. "We've seen a lot of growth in the activities and the way people from other areas of the country support it."
Ten years later, the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival spans 10 days and features dozens of events aimed at entertaining, enlightening and educating participants.
The festival, which includes more than a dozen venues on both sides of the Bay, features music, poetry readings, art exhibits, health screenings, galas, a step show and a battle of the bands.
Board member Kaye Brown said despite the growth, the Festival continues to respect the past while focusing on the future.
"We pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality and justice for all, but we want this to be more than another black festival," said Brown, the festival's marketing specialist. "We've planned events that are multigenerational so young people can learn about our art, history and culture so we can cultivate our youth to take leadership roles and they can carry the torch."
Local resident Motown Maurice is new to this year's schedule of events, but not to the Festival. The 29-year-old Tampa resident worked as a filmmaker and photographer at past festival events.
He will launch a new talk show, "The Motown Maurice Show," live on Jan. 23 in Ybor City as part of the festivities.
"As a videographer, recording people that don't live in this city or state, you know it's a big event," said Maurice of his photography work at the festival.
The events, said Maurice, will naturally appeal to African-Americans, but the goal is to get people from all ethnic backgrounds to participate.
"Whether you're black, white, Asian, no matter your creed or color, this festival is part of our heritage. If you live in the United States, this is part of your heritage and of America in general," he said. The festival "brings some of the stories of African-American history and culture that are meaningful and apply to everyone. There's going to be a lot of fun things to do. But there's also a strong message here."
Highlights of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival include:
Heritage Gala: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Busch Gardens, featuring "KaTonga: Musical Tales from the Jungle"; Tickets $40 each; $70 couple; $50 at the door.
Heritage Street Festival — Old School Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday at Al Lopez Park, 4810 Himes Ave; headlined by 1970s R&B band Lakeside and local acts Evidence Band, Raquel, Bucket Drummers and Ms. B; free.
National MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands & Drumline Extravaganza: 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg; $10 in advance, $12 day of event.
21st Annual MLK Day Parade: Noon to 3 p.m. Monday; parade route: Begins on 15th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, ending at Middleton High School; free.
Hillsborough Community College, Heritage Living History art exhibit: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; HCC, 4001 Tampa Blvd.; featuring selected works of Ernie Barnes; free.
Heritage Leadership Luncheon: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N. 22nd St.; keynote speaker, the Rev. Charles Melvin Sherrod; $10 suggested donation.
For a complete list of events, go to www.tampablackheritage.org.
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