Saturday, December 9, 2017
7:00 pm

The Black Studies Program
Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center

Kuumba Arts Festival

Main Classroom Auditorium
Cleveland State University

The Black Studies Program Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center will produce its annual pre-Kwanza celebration with the Kuumba Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday, December 9, 2017, 7:00 PM, in the Main Classroom Auditorium.  This year's celebration will consist of a number of tributes to various Cleveland celebrities who have acquired national notoriety and is in partnership with the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers.

The evening will feature dramatic presentations of scenes that are associated with the careers of Ruby Dee, Dorothy Dandridge, Halle Berry, and Terrence Howard.  A special presentation will also acknowledge individuals like Antwone Fisher, who advanced to the silver screen the story about his search for his natural family and experience with the US Navy.  Ronnie B from the Black Studies Hip Hop Workshop will serve as the M.C. and utilize his comedy background to acknowledge Steve Harvey, Arsenio Hall, Kim Whitley, John Henton, and Lawanda Page as well as honor the memory and legacy of Robert Guillaume.  

Local talent including Rob C, Andrea Coleman, Mariama Whyte, Erica Young, Bertha Lee Pickett, and Sharon McPherson Foxx will unite with the group SweetEven to commemorate the recording careers of Gerald LeVert, The O'Jays, and Tracy Chapman.  A variety of other Cleveland celebrities will also be acknowledged throughout the event in the company of surprise guests and some of the honorees' family and friends.

Additionally, Kevin "Chill" Heard, a staff reporter with the Call & Post Newspaper, as the recipient of the Silver B Award in concert with a special celebration of family-friendly rap music by Maliphresh.  The International Earport DJs will give a special salute to Bones, Thugs, and Harmony and a Jazz Heritage Orchestra trio will diversify the range of music genres celebrated during the evening.

This event is free and open to the public with first-come, first-served seating arrangements.  For more information contact Prester Pickett, M.F.A., Coordinator of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center at (216) 687-3655, by email at blackstudies@csuohio.edu, or visit www.csuohio.edu/class/black-studies.