South Raleigh News

Black History Month, from February 1st through March 1st, provides an annual opportunity to honor the contributions and legacy of Black Americans across U.S. history and society.

Ongoing Event throughout February: Art Exhibition with Dena Reese-Booze

• Show runs January 13th - March 1st
• The Halle Cultural Arts Center (237 N. Salem Street) | Drop in during business hours
• Learn more

Dena Reese-Booze is a self-taught artist residing and working in North Carolina. After raising a family and establishing a career in the legal field as a paralegal, she wanted to return to her love of creative expression. Throughout the years she focused her attention on writing, publishing her first book of poetry in 2015. Looking for a new creative outlet, she began experimenting with watercolor in 2019 and eventually settled into abstract expressionism. Dena entered her first art competition in 2021 and was chosen as a finalist in the 4th Annual Women Artists Art Competition Art Exhibition held by Fusion Art.

Wednesday Night Movie

• Wednesday, February 1st | 7:30 pm
• The Halle Cultural Arts Center (237 N. Salem Street)
• No registration required

In collaboration with the American Legion Post 124 - we hope you'll join us for an evening movie highlighting the important role the Tuskegee Airmen played during WWII. Learn more about their red tailed aircraft, history, and impact through a pre-show presentation.

United Strings of Color performs Stories from Africa & America

• Saturday, February 4th | 3:00 pm
• The Halle Cultural Arts Center (237 N. Salem Street)
• Event is free! But registration is requested. Register here!

The United Strings of Color was started in Raleigh, NC in 2018, as a project to address racial disparity in classical music through music education and community engagement. United Strings of Color features black youth musicians. This performance features:

• An introductory talk with writer and composer, and Apex-local, Elmer Gibson. Gibson created a compilation based on the African folktale Ijapa & Mr. Igbin.
• The United Strings of Color quartet will perform Gibson's compilation of Ijapa and Mr. Igbin with the help of narrator and singer, Tahmiyah Kelly.
• The quartet, alongside Tahmiyah Kelly singing and narrating, will also perform a reading with music from Sing A Song written by Kelly Starling Lyons. This work provides a brief history of African Americans through the National Anthem, Lift Every Voice.
• After the performance, attendees are invited to an Instrument Zoo! All ages are welcome to interact with various string instruments and ask questions to musicians.

Wednesday Morning Movie 

• Wednesday, February 15th | 10:00 am
• The Halle Cultural Arts Center (237 N. Salem Street)
• No registration required

Grab snacks and blankets to enjoy a free movie on the big screen! Doors open at 9:30am. We hear this morning movie is full of jazzy tunes and maybe even a frog prince? You'll have to come to find out! 

Black History in Early Apex - 2 Nights Offered

• Tuesday, February 21st | Eva Perry Library
  • Event is free, but registration is requested. Register here!
• Saturday, February 25th | 6:00 pm | The Halle Cultural Arts Center (237 N. Salem Street)
  • Event is free, but registration is required. Register here!

Celebrate Black History Month by hearing oral histories of Apex citizens' resilience and resistance. Presented by author/historian Warren Holleman, students from Middle Creek High School, and their teacher, Matt Scialdone.

Original source can be found here.