Join us on Saturday, February 24th for our Black Heritage Celebration! This event coincides with National Black History Month, which takes place each year during the month of February. At FSA we strive to honor the identities, experiences, and contributions of Black individuals year-round. This celebratory month, however, is a reminder that Black stories are an essential component of America’s historical and ongoing story. Learn more about Black History Month here.
FSA’s Black Heritage Celebration will take place from 12:00-3:00 pm on FSA’s campus (parking lot and gymnasium). This will be an opportunity to highlight the work of local Black artists, writers, and business owners, and celebrate the diversity and richness of Black identity and culture. Highlights from the event include delicious food from Bussin Jerk, a special read aloud with guest author Breanna McDaniel, a participatory demonstration by Giwayen Mata, live music, and a vendor market featuring local Black-owned businesses.
Event Schedule
12-1pm: Live Music
1-2pm: Guest author read aloud, Q&A, book signing
2-3pm: Performance by Giwayen Mata
The Bussin Jerk food truck, vendor market, and Brave + Kind Bookshop table will be open for the duration of the event.
Guest author Breanna McDaniel will join us for a special read-aloud of her books, which will be available for purchase at the Brave + Kind Bookshop table.
Breanna J. McDaniel (she/her/hers) is the co-founder of REIYL (Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature) and an author. She’s published in myriad academic journals, an academic anthology, and her debut picture book Hands Up! was published with Dial Books in 2019, while her newest picture book Impossible Moon was published with Denene Millner Books in June of 2022.
She has five forthcoming picture books, one with Dial GO FORTH AND TELL: The life of August Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller coming in February of 2024 and Cute Toot with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in Spring of 2024.
Breanna’s academic research is focused on surveillance and respectability politics in representations of Black children as food in contemporary picture books. A proud alumna of Emory University and Simmons University, she completed her PhD in Education in September of 2022.
Performance by Giwayen Mata
The event will feature a live performance from Giwayen Mata
ABOUT Giwayen Mata
Giwayen Mata is the award-winning, dynamic, soul-stirring, all-sistah, dance percussion, and vocal ensemble. In the Hausa language from
Nigeria, our name means “elephant women” and is a term given to the leaders of women’s organizations there. Like elephants, we are a multigenerational herd. We nurture one another, lead one another, and maintain our culture with dignity and grace.
Grounded by movements, rhythms, and songs of the African Diaspora, we present performance works that reflect, celebrate, and unlock the hidden treasures of Black womanhood. With our feet touching the sacred grounds of our Indigenous American ancestors and the birth lands of our foremothers and forefathers of African descent, we stand tall showing honor and respect for the beautiful tapestry of life that adorns who we are as powerful daughters of the world.
Black Business Market Vendors
For more information, please contact Kristen Clayton, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.