This past Black History Month, the National Civil Rights Museum dedicated its focus to celebrating the significant contributions of African Americans to the nation’s cultural and artistic heritage. Through a variety of events and on-demand content, the museum highlighted the pivotal role of arts and culture in the Civil Rights Movement, featuring evocative lectures, performances, and interactive exhibitions. These offerings were designed to educate and inspire reflections on the courage, determination, and resilience of African American artists and their impact on society.

The celebrations featured a notable highlight with the world premiere of Harriet Tubman Oratorio at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, a collaboration with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. This performance, illustrating Harriet Tubman’s journey to freedom, showcased the diverse talent within the Memphis community, including vocalists of various ages and ethnicities, and soloists from Opera Memphis. It underscored the museum’s message about the unifying power of the arts. 

The Museum also kicked off Live at the Lorraine, a dynamic, quarterly music series that culminates this August. The series featured a vibrant mix of artists, including J. Buck, whose electrifying blend of rock, blues, and hip-hop celebrates Black history and culture. Spoken word artist Briality brought a deep connection to Memphis history, weaving powerful narratives of past and present struggles and triumphs.