The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival (TBBHF/The Festival) is a ten-day cultural event that features speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople locally and nationally. The Festival, which will take place January 13-22, 2011, traditionally begins the week-end before and concludes the week-end after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity. Each day of this ten-day experience provides both children and adults with an opportunity to increase their awareness of African and African-American culture and history. This event strives to increase diversity and cultural sensitivity.
OUR MISSION:
The purpose of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Inc. is to offer the community of Tampa Bay a unique blend of African and African American art, culture and history, therefore serving as a conduit for promoting and perpetuating the art, culture and history of African Americans and African people for the benefit of all Tampa Bay residents and tourists to the Tampa Bay area. It exists to support the culturally rich and diverse Tampa Bay community by ensuring all events are inclusive of its entire people.
FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES:
- Cultural Enrichment – Living History, Film, Influential Individuals
- Two-Day Street Festival – Spoken Word, Music, Art, Diversity in Entertainment
Click Here for the Festival’s 2011 Schedule of Events
Why Was The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Created?
The Festival’s founder, Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. and the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, a major contributor, had a vision to raise awareness of the African and African-American heritage within the Tampa Bay Area and surrounding community. The result of their combined efforts was increased exposure to African and African-American culture through positive images and achievements.
The Festival surrounds the teachings and philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who advocated for a diverse community that is culturally sensitive to all who live there. Dr. Wright, who is a supporter of Dr. King’s guiding principles, thought that positioning this event so close to Dr. King’s birthday could be one way to honor the memory of the man and his legacy.
The first Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival was launched in 2001. Thanks to the community, small businesses, educational institutions, and the private and public sector, the Festival is now approaching its 11th Season…Come Celebrate With Us in 2011!
