Roswell Roots
A Festival of Black History and Culture
By Elaine LaMontagne
For the 11th consecutive year, Roswell once again honors Black History Month. Throughout February, there will be a series of 15 cultural events as well as five month-long exhibits in celebration of African American historical and contemporary customs. Roswell Roots Festival is the largest and most comprehensive in the state of Georgia, and one of the most significant in the southeast.
A website details the events, locations, participants, and costs at www.roswellroots.com, and there are brochures with the same information blanketed at establishments throughout Roswell in colorful, primitive motif. Morgan Timmis oversees the popular Festival as the Historic & Cultural Affairs Manager for Roswell, and expresses genuine pride at its growth, built from an earlier, smaller-scale program as part of the Groveway Community.
The newest event garnering much attention is the McIntosh County Shouters in Concert with special introduction by Art Rosenbaum, Thursday, February 9, 8 p.m. The Shouters, from McIntosh, Georgia, perform traditional call-and-response song and dance, which have plantation origins and are historically important as examples of communication and expressions of faith. They have performed at the Kennedy Center and Library of Congress, and were named “Master Artists” by the National endowment for the Arts in 2008. (Tickets $30, Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 770-584-6232)
Another new event which has delicious fun written all over it is the first annual Cornbread Cook-Off, Saturday, February 25, 1-3 p.m. There will be prizes for both professionals and amateurs - Susan Puckett (author and former Atlanta Journal/Constitution Food Writer) will judge and select the winning professional contestant, and YOU, the attendees, will sample and vote for the People’s Choice Award. (For details on entering or visiting the competition, go to www.roswellroots/cornbread or call 770-641-3705, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church)
Returning favorites include such events as:
• The Unity Concert and
Reception – On Friday, February 3, 7 p.m., magnificent voices of choirs from several area churches, including Zion and Pleasant Hill, will perform their favorite selections, as well as 80 students from grades 8-12 from the Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy Choir will share their amazing talents. Plus, there will be a presentation of Hometown Heroes. (Zion Missionary Baptist Church, free admission, 770-641-3705)
• The 10th Annual Tea & Hat Shows – On Saturday, February 11, 1-5 p.m., the Smith Plantation will once again host this whimsical gathering. The Wilbourn Sisters, fashion designers based out of Atlanta, Los Angeles and Jackson, Tennessee entertain the crowd in globe-trotting diva style with a spectacular collection of hats and accessories that will be available for viewing and purchase. The $20 admission price includes a ticket to tour the Smith Plantation Home. (Adult Recreation Center,
770-641-3978)
• The Roswell Poetry Slam: “Slammin in the Suburbs” – Thursday, February 16,
7 p.m. offers an evening of exciting and inspiring spoken word at this 8th annual poetry slam, during which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience on content (discretion encouraged) and performance. Hosted by award winning spoken word artist, Ayodele Heath, the Slam’s new additions include an invitational round of competition amongst some of the metro’s best spoken word artists, as well as increased prizes - $500 for 1st, $400 for 2nd, $300 for 3rd and $200 for 4th places. (Free admission at The Teaching Museum, and for more information, visit www.roswellroots.com/poetryslam or call 770-641-3705)
Other special events involve art exhibits, slave history, genealogy workshops, storytelling, cooking classes, underground railroad hero information, as well as jazz and classical music presentations. The well choreographed festival is sprinkled throughout the historical Roswell district from the Square to the Groveway area to Canton Street and the Cultural Center – poignant backdrops for this wonderful Roswell tradition .q
For complete information on all of the events and activities with Roswell Roots visit
www.roswellroots.com.
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