Thursday, March 1
36th Anniversary Heritage Gala ~ 6p - 10p
Come help AAMP celebrate its 36th Anniversary with a night of music, dancing and more! We will also honor the artistry, passion, and commitment to community of four talented individuals: Judith Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Joan Myers Brown, Founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company; State Senator Vincent Hughes, human rights activist; and Sheryl Lee Ralph, actress, singer and HIV/AIDS activist.
Philadelphia Marriott Hotel
RSVP Today at: aampevents@aampmuseum.org or 215-574-0380 ext. 224. Call or visit www.aampmuseum.org to purchase tickets.
Friday, March 2
NEXT LEVEL Party with Questlove and Jay O ~ 9pm – Midnight
The “NEXT LEVEL” of the African American Museum in Philadelphia (Young Friends) invite you to enjoy a night of fun, friends and OLD SCHOOL FUNK. Spend Friday night with Grammy award-winning band The Roots drummer and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’s bandleader DJ Questlove, along with Philly’s own Jay O! Join us after dinner for cocktails and late night snacks. Art by Vivant Art Collection.
Tickets $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Purchase Your Ticket Today at: www.aamp.ticketleap.com Call 215-574-0380 or visit www.aampmuseum.org for more information.
Wednesday, March 7
Robert Smalls: The Radical Reconstructionist ~ 6p - 8p
Join AAMP for an evening lecture by Dr. Craig Stutman, who will address Robert Smalls’ legacy of social activism during the Reconstruction era, a time when African Americans announced their new and improved socio-political presence by serving as elected officials and pioneers for social equality. Designed to accompany the exhibition The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls, Dr. Stutman’s lecture will relate the story of Robert Smalls to the larger Reconstruction landscape.
Free with Museum Admission BY RSVP ONLY. To RSVP, please call or email Ivan Henderson, Curator of Education and Public Programming, (215) 574-0380, ext. 220, or ihenderson@aampmuseum.org. Please include your contact information with all RSVPs.
Saturday, March 10
One Book, One Philadelphia: Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work ~ 1p – 3p
Presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia, the goal of One Book, One Philadelphiais to promote reading, literacy and libraries, and to encourage the entire greater Philadelphia area to come together through reading and discussing a single book.
Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work is Haitian American writer and MacArthur Genius Grant winner Edwidge Danticat's collection of essays which takes its name from Albert Camus's last published lecture in which he stated, "To create today is to create dangerously." The book illustrates the struggle of making art in exile—and what it’s like to exist in a country constantly in conflict, where even the act of reading means taking a stand against oppression. This One Book, One Philadelphia event occurs in conjunction with the re-Launch of the AAMP Readers’ Circle. The book discussion will be led by Shirley Brown, who has served as a discussion leader for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, manager for an online forum for book discussions for the National Writing Project, as well as a former School District of Philadelphia Teacher.
Book supply is limited. Books will be distributed to visitors on a first come, first served basis.
Free Admission
Sunday, March 11
Outreach Workshop & Discussion with Filmmaker André Robert Lee:The Prep School Negro ~ 2p – 6p
The African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic office of A Better Chance present André Robert Lee’s The Prep School Negro. André Robert Lee and his sister grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia while their mother struggled working long hours in a garment factory to support them. When André was 14 years old, he received what his family believed to be a golden ticket – a full scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country. Elite education was André’s way up and out, but at what price? Yes, the exorbitant tuition was covered, but this new world cost him and his family much more than anyone could have anticipated.
In The Prep School Negro, André takes a journey back in time to revisit the events of his adolescence while also spending time with current-day prep school students of color and their classmates to see how much has really changed inside the ivory tower. What he discovers while spending time with the kids and his family will change his life forever. The film includes cameos from prominent African Americans who attended prep school such as record executive Damon Dash, BET’s Stephen Hill and others.
Free with Museum Admission BY RSVP ONLY. To RSVP, please call or email Ivan Henderson, Curator of Education and Public Programming, (215) 574-0380, ext. 220, or ihenderson@aampmuseum.org. Please include your contact information with all RSVPs.
Event has reached capacity as of 3-7-12. No additional RSVPs are being taken.
Please check back for future events of interest.
Saturday, March 17 --CANCELLED--
The War on the Water: African American Service in the Civil War Navy ~ 1 pm - 3 pm
Join Civil War military historian Dr. Roger Davidson (Coppin State University) for an afternoon lecture covering the remarkable record of service amassed by African American sailors during the Civil War. Designed to accompany the exhibition The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls, Dr. Davidson’s lecture will explore in depth the duties performed and obstacles overcome by Robert Smalls and other African American patriots during one of the United States’ bloodiest conflicts, and how prominently their skill and bravery figured in the Union’s eventual victory.
Free with Museum Admission BY RSVP ONLY. To RSVP, please call or email Ivan Henderson, Curator of Education and Public Programming, (215) 574-0380, ext. 220, or ihenderson@aampmuseum.org. Please include your contact information with all RSVPs.
Sunday, March 18
Cinema Sepia Double Feature: The Challenge of Freedom and Congressman Robert Smalls ~ 1p – 3p
Part IV of the four-part PBS series Slavery and the Making of America, The Challenge of Freedom explores the effects of the Civil War and its aftermath on African Americans across the nation, using the experiences of Robert Smalls as a touchpoint. Congressman Robert Smalls: A Patriot’s Journey from Slavery to Capitol Hill, combines interviews with scholars and family members to provide a more personal exploration of the heroic road Smalls traveled. See Smalls’ story unfold on the big screen, then explore the exhibit The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls, 1839-1915 to learn more about a life boldly lived!
Free with Museum Admission
Saturday, March 24
Books and Authors: Pieces from the Past: Voices of Heroic Women in Civil Rights ~ 1p – 3p

Created as a follow-up to the 2002 documentary Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders, Dr. Joan Sadoff’s new book, Pieces from the Past, continues telling the inspirational stories of women from Mississippi who helped guide this nation through one of its roughest eras, the mid-20th century civil rights movement. Come meet editor Dr. Joan H. Sadoff and coeditors Dr. Robert L. Sadoff and Dr. Linda Needleman during this special event celebrating Women’s History Month. This event includes a screening of Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders, followed by a book talk and book signing. Books will be available for purchase on-site.
Free Admission
Sunday, March 25
Cinema Sepia: Daughters of the Dust ~ 1pm – 3pm

This award-winning 1991 film - written, directed and produced by Julie Dash - has been called “an astonishing, vivid portrait not only of a time and place, but of an era’s spirit.” Follow this rich and complex tale of a Gullah family in the South Carolina Sea Islands as they prepare to transition to life on the mainland and in the North. Told through the voice of an unborn child, this is a unique and powerful film experience.
Free with Museum Admission
Saturday, March 31 *-- NEW LISTING --*
Books and Authors: An African Safari for Jarvis (Children’s Literature) ~ 12p – 2p
Former globe trekker and author, Glori Ann, better known as Gloria Blakely, will lead our adventure for the afternoon with readings and photos from her first e-book An African Safari for Jarvis (available on Amazon.com). Told in prose, poetry and pictures, An African Safari for Jarvis is also a charitable work slated to help save wildlife in Tanzania with portions of its sales.
Kid-friendly activities will add to the afternoon fun starting at noon.
An African Safari for Jarvis is an e-book and must be downloaded for viewing on your computer, tablet, or e-reader.
Free with Museum Admission