Amherstburg Freedom Museum & River Bookshop Black History Month Programming

Throughout the month of February 2024 in celebration of Black History Month, the Amherstburg Freedom Museum in partnership with the River Bookshop will be hosting an exciting slate of Black History Month programming throughout the month of February featuring the Amherstburg launch for Black Activist, Black Scientist, Black Icon: The Autobiography of Dr. Howard D. McCurdy with Dr. George Elliott Clarke and Dr. Brenda McCurdy, with Moderator Sheila Barker.

This FREE event is happening on February 1^st starting at 5:30pm at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (277 King Street, Amherstburg) please register here.

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra with generous support from Richard and Colleen Peddie will be offering two concerts in the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church on the campus of the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, A Family Concert – Signing With Flo happening on Saturday February 3rd at 3pm, featuring select WSO musicians, vocalist Flo Ndimubandi, the talented singers of the Windsor Essex Youth Choir and conductor Francisco Hernández Bolaños. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased online at windsorsymphony.com. Later in the month on Friday the 23rd of February at 7:30 pm in the Nazrey AME Church, Korin Thomas-Smith Sings Mozart featuring conductor Robert Franz, baritone Korin Thomas-Smith, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. The concert will feature music composed by Mozart, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Jean-Joseph Cassaneà de Mondonville. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased online at windsorsymphony.com.  

This exciting month of Black History Month programming also includes FREE programming including a Youth Art Class with Dennis K. Smith in his studio on February 10 at 2pm (space is limited, please contact the museum to register), and a Panel Discussion: A Conversation about Women’s Empowerment and Community Engagement, with Executive Director of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. Rose Anguiano Hurst, Award Winning educator and Curriculum Developer Shantelle Browning-Morgan, Black Student Support Co-Ordinator University of Windsor Kaitlyn Ellsworth, Actor, Playwright, Choreographer and President of The Black Council of Windsor-Essex Leslie McCurdy and Author, Educator, Historian and President of Essex County Black Historical Research Society Irene Moore Davis. The panel will also be moderated by Global Launch Process, Planning, and Strategy Manager at Ford, and Amherstburg Freedom Museum Board Director, Cari-Lynn Ristic at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum on February 17 at 2 pm.

• What: Book Launch: Amherstburg Book Launch for Black Activist, Black Scientist, Black Icon: The Autobiography of Dr. Howard D. McCurdy with Dr. George Elliott Clarke and Dr. Brenda McCurdy, with Moderator Sheila Barker – at Amherstburg Freedom Museum  
• We are thrilled to present Black Activist, Black Scientist, Black Icon: The Autobiography of Dr. Howard D. McCurdy. Get ready to dive into the remarkable life story of Dr. Howard D. McCurdy, a true trailblazer. During this event, you will have the opportunity to meet the author Dr. George Elliott Clarke, purchase the book, get your copy signed, and engage in a discussion of the book with Dr. Brenda McCurdy and Dr. George Elliott Clarke, which will be moderated by Sheila Barker. 
• When: Thursday February 1, 2024 at 5:30 pm. 
• Cost: FREE 
• Where: Amherstburg Freedom Museum (277 King Street, Amherstburg). 

WSO Concert 

• What: A Family Concert – Signing With Flo 
• Join the WSO, vocalist Flo Ndimubandi, and the talented singers of the Windsor Essex Youth Choir for a concert that highlights the brilliance of black composers. With music from Scott Joplin, Joseph Bologne, and Oscar Peterson, the whole family will be captivated! Also, get ready to sing along to pieces like “This Little Light of Mine” and “Oh Happy Day.” 
• When: Saturday February 3, 3pm 
• Cost: $5/Ticket in person or online at windsorsymphony.com.  
• Where: Nazrey A.M.E. Church @ the Amherstburg Freedom Museum 

• What: Featured Author: Youth Art Class with Dennis K. Smith 
• Local artist Dennis K. Smith will open his studio and invite young people to  learn how to dot paint. Please contact the museum at 519-736-5433 to register, spaces are limited! 
• When: Saturday, February 10, 2024, @2pm 
• Cost: FREE 
• Where: dKs Studio & Gallery 1130 Minto Avenue LaSalle  
• RSVP: [email protected] only 15 spaces available 

• What: Panel Discussion: A Conversation about Women’s Empowerment and Community Engagement 
• Join us for an engaging panel discussion on women’s empowerment and community engagement! This is a can’t-miss event where you’ll have the opportunity to hear from five inspiring Black women in our region who have made a significant impact in their communities and fields. Our panelists Irene Moore Davis, Shantelle Browning-Morgan, Rose Anguiano Hurst, Kaitlyn Ellsworth, and Leslie McCurdy will share their experiences and insights with moderators Amherstburg Freedom Museum board director Cari-Lynn Ristic guiding an engaging discussion. Whether you’re passionate about women’s rights, community development, or both, this discussion is sure to inspire and motivate you. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn from these amazing women. Grab your friends and come join us! 
• When: Saturday February 17, at 2pm  
• Cost: FREE 
• Where: The Amherstburg Freedom Museum 
• RSVP: Registration/RSVP via Facebook 

WSO Concert 

• What: Korin Thomas-Smith Sings Mozart 
• Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Platée was one of the most highly regarded of Rameau’s operas during his lifetime. Ballet was a huge part of 18th century French opera. Jean-Joseph Cassaneà de Mondonville rounds out the program with a concert of pre-revolutionary court music and you’ll hear music from the Marriage of Figaro by their contemporary Mozart sung by Korin Thomas-Smith. 
• When: Friday, February 23, 2023 @ 7:30pm
  Cost: $35 each and can be purchased online at windsorsymphony.com.   
• Where: Nazrey A.M.E. Church @ the Amherstburg Freedom Museum 

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is a curated archive that preserves and shares Amherstburg’s stories of the Underground Railroad, and the compassion and solidarity it took to make this network possible. The Where of the Museum is key; Amherstburg meant freedom, as the Canadian destination for many Blacks escaping enslavement in the United States. Also included in the museum complex are Nazrey A.M.E. Church – national historic site and stop on the Underground Railroad, and the Taylor Log Cabin – home of George Taylor a formerly enslaved man and his family. 

The River Bookshop established in 2020 is a shop that is grounded in our community but open to the world. River Bookshop will be a community hub, a “Third Place” where people gather and will feel comfortable spending time. Our values …. Educate. Entertain. Inspire. Engage.