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Charleston, S.C. Celebrates Black History Month with Special Events, Tours and Festivities

During the month of February, nationally recognized as Black History Month, Charleston, S.C. will honor African-American history and culture. All month long, visitors can immerse themselves in the rich sights, sounds and food of South Carolina’s famed Lowcountry region. They can learn about the area’s Gullah heritage, recognized for preserving the African linguistic and cultural traditions more than any other African-American community in the U.S., or partake in centuries-old practices such as sweetgrass basket-making.

While Charleston’s African-American history can be appreciated year-round in museums and historic walking tours, Black History Month also ushers in special events that travelers of all ages can enjoy. For a complete listing of Charleston attractions, special events, lodging and packages, please visit www.explorecharleston.com.

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site:

This historic site was established to interpret Charles Pinckney's plantation, Snee Farm, his role in the development of the U.S. Constitution, and the transition of the U.S. from a group of colonies to a nation. Interpretive exhibits highlight these areas as well as the influences of African Americans in the development of Snee Farm. A series of free cultural programs will take place every Saturday at 2pm during February and March 2010. These Gullah programs include craft demonstrations, cooking, African drumming and story-telling and other musical performances. For more information, call 843.881.5516 or visit http://www.nps.gov/chpi.

Charleston Museum

On February 18, the museum will host a workshop titled “Sweetgrass Baskets: Hands-On History Workshop.” Visitors will have the chance to admire and purchase artisans’ work as they learn how sweetgrass basket-making was and is still done during the workshop. For additional details, call 843.722.2996

Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture

The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is part of the College of Charleston and was established in 1985 to serve as a source for community outreach for African American affairs. The Avery Research Center collects, preserves, and makes public the unique historical and cultural heritage of African Americans in South Carolina and the Lowcountry. Tours are available Monday – Saturday. For general information, call 843.953.7609

Old Slave Mart Museum

First constructed in 1859, the building now serves as a museum for African American history, arts and crafts and is the only known South Carolina building still standing that is a former slave auction gallery. This historical treasure is now a museum that documents the story of the trans-Atlantic slave trade between the 15th and early 19th centuries. The Old Slave Mart Museum is open Monday – Saturday. For more information, 843.958.6467

Tours

A wide array or tours are available throughout Charleston that explore the region’s rich African-American history. Sampling of tours:

The mission of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is to unify and lead the local travel industry in marketing the Charleston area as an individual, meeting, incentive and group destination to both the domestic and international markets. For more information, visit www.explorecharleston.com

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Have a Black History Month Event to Share?

Lowcountry Africana Becomes A National Partner in StoryCorps' National Day of Listening

StoryCorps and Lowcountry Africana provide Do-It-Yourself tips for family historians to share and record stories on the day after Thanksgiving

(11/3/2011) – Charleston, SC – On Friday, November 25, 2011, Lowcountry Africana will represent SC, GA and FL in the fourth annual National Day of Listening, a national holiday started by the acclaimed oral history nonprofit organization StoryCorps in 2008. The National Day of Listening is an effort to encourage all Americans to honor a friend, a loved one, or a member of their community by interviewing them about their lives.

National Day of Listening participants are encouraged to record their National Day of Listening interviews using equipment that is readily available in most homes–from cell phones to tape recorders to computers or even pen and paper. StoryCorps has created a free Do-It-Yourself interview guide with equipment recommendations and interview instructions available online at www.nationaldayoflistening.org.

Lowcountry Africana will be taking part in the 2011 National Day of Listening by recording interviews with local residents. Lowcountry Africana has also created special National Day of Listening pages at: www.lowcountryafricana.com/national_day_of_listening.asp.

“The idea of listening during the holiday season has clearly resonated with people across the country,” says StoryCorps founder and MacArthur “Genius” Dave Isay. “The National Day of Listening, which coincides with Black Friday–traditionally the largest shopping day of the year–provides a meaningful alternative to holiday consumerism and proves that simply listening to one another is the least expensive and most meaningful gift we can give.”

“We are excited to become national partners in the National Day of Listening,” said Toni Carrier, founder of Lowcountry Africana. “We hope Lowcountry family historians will start a new holiday tradition by interviewing a loved one while the family is gathered for the holidays. We look forward to adding the National Day of Listening to our holiday calendar every year.”

To see how more people across the country are celebrating this year’s National Day of Listening, visit: www.nationaldayoflistening.org.

About StoryCorps

Founded in 2003 by MacArthur “genius” Fellow Dave Isay, StoryCorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of their lives. Each week, millions of Americans listen to StoryCorps’ award-winning broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition. StoryCorps has published two best-selling books: Listening Is an Act of Love in 2007 and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps in 2010. For more information, or to listen to stories online, visit www.storycorps.org.

About Lowcountry Africana

Lowcountry Africana, sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, SC, is an all-volunteer research project and free website dedicated to African American genealogy and history in SC, GA and FL. For more information, please visit www.lowcountryafricana.com.