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Contact: Denise Delucia, 508 996 4095
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park commemorating Black History Month
Park events highlighting Black History Month
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park has announced its programming commemorating Black History Month during February 2024. This year’s theme chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) is African Americans and the Arts. New Bedford is known for its rich culture and historical artistic significance, and we celebrate today’s artists of the African diaspora who come from every corner of the globe. Two of New Bedford’s own, Iva Brito and Eden Soares will be telling the stories of their art and inspiration. In addition, the 1850s Ladies will explore New Bedford and Boston anti-slavery societies and how crafts became a part of the abolitionist cause. Finally, the park will show the movie, 12 Years A Slave, directed by African Brit Steve McQueen and tells the story of Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped and sold into enslavement from freedom.
Saturday, February 3 at 1:00 PM: Join Iva Brito (also known as Iva B), a mother, artist, poet, and an award-winning author as she shares her art and inspiration. As a native of Cabo Verde, West Africa, Iva channels her nostalgic love of her birthplace through her work that look at the intersectionality of culture, social and political issues.
Saturday, February 10th at 1:00 PM: Join Eden Soares of trigrfx pronounced / tri,grafiks/ as he shares his work through murals and other arts. As a local artist, he weaves a story that resonates with the local community and visitors alike. In the past years, he has captured the essence of New Bedford’s culture and history in colorful and captivating murals. Some of his works include the artistic painting of Booker T. Washington. He has also created mural honoring Cesaria Evora on the wall of the Cape Verdean Cultural Center, the former Strand Theater on Acushnet Avenue.
Saturday, February 17th at 1:00 PM: Join the 1850 Ladies, aka Ruth and Abby as they explore both Boston and New Bedford anti-slavery societies on how they used crafting to raise money to support the abolitionist cause. What kinds of hand crafts or quilts were on display for sale? Do they have stories? Do they preserve history the community memories as well as for empowerment? The Ladies will display some of the arts and crafts sold and how New Bedford contributed to the cause. They will also tell stories of New Bedford’s women, who held abolitionist fairs here in the city.
Saturday, February 24th at 1:00 PM: Join us for the screening and discussion of the movie 12 Years A Slave – an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom directed by Steve McQueen. It is 1841 and Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Stripped of his identity and deprived of all dignity, Northup is purchased by ruthless plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and must find the strength within to survive. In his twelfth year in captivity, a chance encounter with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life.
Established on November 12, 1996, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park serves as a model for community partnerships in the National Park Service. Located in the urban setting of downtown New Bedford that spans over 13 city blocks, the park and its partners preserve, protect, and interpret the cultural resources associated with the history of the American whaling industry. The park is more than whaling as it includes stories of global immigration, Underground Railroad, women’s history, cultural diversity, architecture, art, and their relevance to current topics. The Visitor Center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford and is open every Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (April-December). Park Rangers offer orientation to visitors, maps, and brochures on the surrounding area. The building is wheelchair-accessible and is fee-free. For more information, call 508-996-4095, or follow the park’s social media accounts on Facebook.com/NewBedfordNPS and Instagram.com/NewBedfordNPS.
Last updated: January 19, 2024