KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – Black History Month is a time to reflect on the people of the past who shaped society. But on Saturday the African-American Art History Showcase spotlighted Black creators making an impact on Central Texas right now.
With each drum beat, drummers Ja’Nay Ratcliff and Xylia Golden paid homage to their Haitian ancestors at the event.
”I do this with all my cousins, my grandma and my mom,” Ratcliff said. “I feel like it’s something that really bonds us and brings us all together.”
The two of them were with a group of African drummers called the Songhai Bamboo Roots Association, just one of the many performance groups featured.
”I feel like during Black History Month it’s really important for us to advocate for our culture and show this is who we are,” Golden said.
The day-long event, hosted by an organization called Impac Outreach, focused on where African-Americans came from and where they fit into American history today.
“There are some unsung heroes that aren’t talked about when we talk about Black history,” Impact Outreach founder Rodney Duckett said. “We are trying to expose those unsung heroes.”
Vendors like George Kwakuyi from Ghana were happy to have a space to sell their handmade items.
“You get some joy when you put time into creating and people see your stuff and they’re happy and you put a smile on their face,” Kwakuyi said.
A plate full of food is how vendor Melzie Roberts shared her Jamaican culture with others.
”When people buy the food they tell me that they’re enjoying it,” Roberts said. “It’s a good feeling to know that people are enjoying your food.”
It’s all a way to celebrate and uplift a sample of the many Black voices in our community.
”It’s Black history, and we’re all a part of Black history,” Roberts said.
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