The New Mexico Black Leadership Council announces the launch of “DECADES: Past, Present & Future 2021 Black History Festival & Events.”
DECADES commemorates the 10th anniversary of the New Mexico Black History Festival with a slate of virtual events taking place from February through July.
In consideration of public health and COVID-19 gathering restrictions, DECADES takes the 10th annual Black History Festival & Events online to provide the community with engaging, inspirational and educational events that center the Black experience in America.
Black history is American history, and DECADES supports the council’s dedication to celebrating, teaching and incorporating Black history and Black voices in February 2021 and throughout the year.
One of the signature events this year will be the Asante Awards: Barrier Breakers ceremony to honor important firsts’ for New Mexico. Recipients include N.M. Court of Appeals Judge Shammara Henderson; N.M. Sen. Harold Pope Jr.; and Marsha Majors, president/CEO of U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union.
The Asante Awards can be viewed via the council’s Facebook and YouTube channels from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 21.
The council is bringing the stage to homes through a poignant 10-year retrospective of how the arts have been used to build and strengthen community. The “Kumbuka Celebration: DECADES Deep” features a lively review and discussion with cast and crew members of the award-winning, critically acclaimed “Roots Revival, Our Struggle, Our Story, Our Glory.”
“Kumbuka Celebration: DECADES Deep” can be viewed via the Facebook and YouTube channels Feb. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Events continue into the summer and include an Afro-Futurism Lecture Series and The One New Mexico interfaith gospel concert in March; a Black Health & Wellness Conference in April; and the Roots Summer Leadership Academy in July.
For more information and to view the DECADES: Past, Present & Future 2021 Black History Festival & Events, visit nmblackhistory.nmblc.org.