Civil Rights Saturday

A Free Interactive Activity – Teaching Families about the Civil Rights Movement

The Alexandria Black History Museum, in cooperation with the Living Legends of Alexandria/Family Legends Project, will present Civil Rights Saturday on May 24, 2014, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This free interactive event is open to the public. 

This event will feature a book signing for Fire on the Bayou: True Tales from The Civil Rights Battlefront, written by Howard Feinstein. This new book chronicles Mr. Feinstein’s experiences as a federal hate crimes prosecutor in the deep South. Guests are invited to hear a reading from the author, and he will be available to sign copies of the book. The book has been nominated for the 2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Afterwards, join acting Director Audrey Davis for an overview the featured exhibition, Sit Down and Take a Stand: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-in. The 75^th anniversary of this historic event occurs in 2014. It is thought that Alexandria’s 1939 sit-in was one of the earliest civil rights actions in the United States.

Then join artist Sushmita Mazumdar for storytelling and a book making activity. Adults and children can tell a tale of someone they know who had an experience during the fight for civil rights in America. Participants will make a book they can take home. Suitable for children 10 years and over.

Space is limited, and reservations are recommended. Participation will be limited to the first 20 people who reserve. For information and reservations, please call 703-746-4356.

The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, in the Parker-Gray Historic District.  The Museum is five blocks from the Braddock Road Metro Station on the Yellow or Blue lines. Street parking is available. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org . 

2014 Alexandria Women’s History Guided Tour - May 3

The Alexandria Commission for Women, the Friends of the Alexandria Commission for Women, Historic Alexandria and the Living Legends of Alexandria invite you to attend the 2014 Alexandria Women’s History Guided Tour, Sunday, May 3.

The Women’s History Tour covers many different sites in a one mile abbreviated tour. The tour highlights the achievements of women in Alexandria. Through the dedication and advocacy of Susan Lowell Butler, the Commission for Women, and Friends, the stories of Alexandria’s women, from past to present, are highlighted during the Alexandria's Women’s History Tour.

The tour will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Visitors Center at Ramsey House 221 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, it will also include a stop at The Living Legends of Alexandria Portraits of Women Legends: 2007-2013 exhibit which is a photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle Alexandria's history makers. The  exhibition is presented by Prudential PenFed Realty.  A small reception with light refreshments will be held after the tour at the Lloyd House located at 220 N. Washington Street.  The event is free.

Please RSVP online or by email: friendsofalexwomen@gmail.com by May 2, 2014.

"Highlights" Video

 

The “Highlights” video produced by students Paul Shalonis and Dario Baguena under the direction of associate professor Joe Small, Northern Virginia Community College, was accepted in the current student Photography and Media Show, The exhibition was juried by Kathleen Ewing who has operated the Kathleen Ewing Gallery for 30 years. Ewing selected 117 pieces of 236 entries and commented that the video was “really well done.”  We, of course, agree!

The video was aired at the Meet the Legends reception on April 20.  watch-v=U4QmgouQf9o&feature=em-upload_owner

 

The exhibition may be seen at the Tyler Gallery, Tyler Building, NVCC, Alexandria Campus.