Black History Month Events in Kingsport

February is Black History Month and the City of Kingsport is pleased to announce its lineup of events and classes.  Events in this year’s lineup range from educational classes to a full concert choir.  Coordinators have worked very hard to make sure that Black History Month will be a time to celebrate unity in Kingsport.  Please refer to the following list for Black History Month events.

Soul Food Gathering

February 19th, 2010 @ 4:00pm

On Friday, February 19, 2010 @4pm, New Vision Youth, City of Kingsport Parks & Recreation (Community Services), & Riverview Boys & Girls Club will host its “5th Annual Soul Food Gathering” at the Civic Auditorium located at 1550 Fort Henry Dr., Kingsport, TN.  Come eat some home cooked Soul Food from the past to present! The dinner will last until 5:30pm or until the food is gone. 

To find out “What’s on the menu?” click here.

For more information, please contact Johnnie Mae Swaggerty at (423)429-7553 or Jason Wilburn at (423)246-4201.

The History of Black Economics Empowerment

Sunday, February 21st, 2010 @ 4:00pm

On Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 4:00pm, New Vision Youth & Kingsport Parks & Recreation (Community Services) will present “The History of Black Economics Empowerment”.  

This event will take place at the Central Baptist Church, located at 301 Carver St. in Kingsport, TN.  This is the “7th Annual” Black History Program at Central Baptist Church.  The Host Pastor is Rev. Ricardo Dorcean and the Guest Speaker this year will be Mr. Robert White.  Mr. White is the Chief Public Relations Officer of Johnson City Power Board.   

Come see live entertainment from “Friendship Baptist Church Choir”, Praise Dancers of Johnson City, TN, “PowerPoint Ministry Church Praise Dancers – “Anointed””, “Full Gospel Mission Choir”, and Dobyns-Bennett High School – Fellowship of Christian Athletes”.   Don’t miss this great opportunity to experience a piece of Black History.  Everyone is welcome!

For more information, please contact Johnnie Mae Swagerty at 429-7553 or Mark Kilgore at 224-2489.  

To view a printable flyer for this event click here.

Daytime Tri-Cities Cooking Segment

Friday, February 26th at 10:00am

On Friday, February 26, WJHL Daytime Tri-Cities will air a cooking segment that will offer you some very special recipies.  Daytime Tri-Cities is a local program that can be seen every weekday at 10:00am on WJHL – CBS (Charter channel 10).

About Claflin

Founded in 1869, Claflin University is an independent, liberal arts, co-educational, historically black institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It is dedicated to educational excellence and to preparing students without regard to gender, race, religion or ethnic origin. It is committed to offering quality undergraduate programs, select graduate programs, and viable continuing education opportunities. The University Concert Choir is one of the largest and most active ensembles on the campus. The 50-voice mixed chorus is dedicated to performing the finest choral music of both classical & contemporary composers. It is the primary vocal ensemble of the Department and is comprised of both music majors and non-music students. The Concert Choir performs for various campus concerts and tours extensively throughout the year. Over the course of the last several years, the Concert Choir has performed across the United States and recently presented a concet in Carnegie Hall in November of 2004.

Black History Month Workshops

Saturday, February 27 from 12:00pm until 6:00pm

On Saturday, February 27 from 12:00pm until 6:00pm, come out and discover at the Black History Month Workshops at the Renaissance Center.  These hands on workshops are brought to you by the Black History Committee.  Admission is free to the public.

Thhe 3rd Annual Black History Month Arts Workshops will be held at the Kingsport  Renaissance Center . These workshops are open to the public and will give school age participants an opportunity to explore many arts forms. Sessions will cover drumming, drama, step dance, head wrap arts and African cuisine sampling.

Featured sessions will include Tap classes lead by Terence Bennett of Atlanta , Ga. and vocal workshops by the Claflin University Concert Choir. Additional instructors are Kingsport residents or natives that have excelled in their fields and will include LaVonda Price, Visions Studio, Head wraps; Richie Hicks, Drumming; Gerrie Harrison, African Cuisine Tasting; Xavier Hall, Step Dance; Starr Releford, Drama.  Workshops sessions are approximately 1 hour each and begin at noon through 6pm.

For three years the Black History Month Committee, chaired by Stella Robinette, has put together these workshops to focus on sharing artistic talents with the  Kingsport community.  In order to promote learning about the talents of many Black artists Elementary and Middle School students in Kingsport City Schools can earn homework passes by attending workshops.
The public is welcome to also come view the Atrium Gallery show of Black artists. A health screening area will also be included. 

Chairman Stella Robinette noted, “We’ll have traditional African dress and food, as well as opportunities to explore drama, dance, drumming.”  Classes and workshops will be held on the second and third floors and in the theatre.  The Renaissance Center is located at 1200 East Center Street in Kingsport, Tennessee.

15th Annual Community Unity Celebration

Sunday, February 28th, 2010 @ 4:00pm

On Sunday, February 28th, 2010 @ 4:00pm, South Central Kingsport Community Development, Weed and Seed, and Kingsport Parks and Recreation will sponsor the "15th Annual Community Unity Celebration" at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, located at 300 W. Market Street.

The program will include area guest choirs, interpretive dancers and more.  Also, the recipient of this year’s South Central Kingsport Building Bridges Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 will be announced.  Be a part of Black History Month Celebration!

For more information, please call Jeannie Hodges at 246-6809.

To view a printable flyer for this event click here.

We would like to thank the following for thier support of the Black History Month Workshops and Chaflin Chior

CITY OF KINGSPORT

WAL-MART FT. HENRY DR.

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY

F & L Limo

WKPT TV & RADIO  ABC

KINGSPORT CHAMBER

JUST ART FOR KIDS

STORM SECURITY SERVICES

BB&T BANK

A  SUPER PARTY

E Z FILE TAX AND BOOKKEEPING

AGAPE CARPET & RUG SPECIALISTS

FOOD CITY EASTMAN RD

ALLIED HOME MORTGAGE

DR HARVEY JENKINS

CAROLYN JENKINS

DOUG RELEFORD SONS & DAUGHTERS OF DOUGLASS

CAVLIN SNEED SONS & DAUGHTERS OF DOUGLASS

DAVID BROWN

TAMMY DAVIS

LAVONDA PRICE

UNOME THE ARTIST

JENNY ROGERS

LITTLE MISS VISION PAGEANT

GERRY HARRISON

SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES

THE LIGHT FANDANGO CANDLE COMPANY

PATIENT SCRUBS

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE

THE OAKS OF KINGSPORT

PREFERRED TAX-FREE RETIREMENT, LLC

KINGSPORT NEWCOMER SERVICE