Nostalgia:Black

Excellent walking tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards today! Thank you Association of Leadership Programs for choosing Soul of DFW to educate you on Texas cowboy history through the lens of food. We learned about the history of cowboys, Fort Worth’s impact on cattle throughout American history, and how the foods that were introduced told a story.

The African American Museum, Dallas invites the community and media to Black Narratives on Screen, a special film screening featuring the work of filmmaker Don TorteIIini. Held on Friday, April 18, 2025, the event showcases two powerful short films exploring memory, community, and resistance.
This screening is an extension of the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition, where Don’s photograph God’s Sons is currently on view. His work blends history and activism, using visual storytelling to honor Black legacies and resilience. The Museum is proud to spotlight his voice and vision in support of our mission to uplift and preserve Black narratives.

Featured Films:
🎬 God’s Sons – A heartfelt tribute to the Red Bird Raiders, Dallas’ oldest still-active youth football organization. For over 40 years, this team has shaped young lives in Oak Cliff, instilling discipline and perseverance in generations of athletes. This film extends the story captured in Don’s photography—one of his stills from God’s Sons is currently on display in the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Exhibition, located upstairs in the museum.
🎬 Chaos on Commerce – A striking historical documentary composed entirely of archival footage in collaboration with UNT Special Collections. This film revisits February 9, 1993, when racial tensions erupted on Commerce Street, revealing hard-hitting truths that still echo in our city today.
We are excited to have OAC's director, Martine Elyse, as the conversation moderator. We extend an open invitation to the Office of Arts and Culture Dallas, members of the press, and the local community to attend this important event.
Event Details: 📍 African American Museum, Dallas
📅 Friday, April 18, 2025
🕕 Time: 7PM - 9PM
🎟️ Free & Open to the Public
RSVP for the Event: aamdallas.org/events

Tonight’s event with Dr. Rolanda Teal and Dr. Maria Esther Hammack was brilliant! They explored the often-overlooked history of the brave Black women who helped enslaved people turned freedom seekers escape slavery by guiding them south into Mexico.

Thanks to the DHS for hosting this vital conversation on Mexico’s role as a sanctuary for African Americans in the 19th century. History like this deserves to be remembered and shared!

Bobby Seale (left) and Huey (right) laugh in a series of photos captured by Stephen Shames. "I don't remember what they said, but they looked at each other and they just cracked up," Shames says. "They had that relationship."

What a beautiful part of historical culture. Be sure and view on display at Irving Arts Center through June 1.

ARTIST SHOUT-OUT

R.C. Hickman did something essential for black culture here in Dallas. He documented it. More than that, Hickman's work as a photojournalist for black newspapers, and freelance for national publications such as Jet, Sepia, and Ebony, made the invisible community visible. A strong and important part of Dallas, they were ignored because of their race. See them now at Irving Arts with the touring exhibition by Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin, and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Courtyard Gallery Through June 1st FREE TO VIEW Tuesdays - Saturdays from 12 - 5pm

We dropped this news tonight after Isabel Wilkerson’s sensational dialogue! Our next speaker for National Juneteenth Museum speaker series is THE Henry Louis Gates!
Buy your tickets now. This will sell out too!

Uniting Voices: the National Juneteenth Museum Speaker Series Special Juneteenth Edition: An insightful discussion featuring the distinguished guest Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Happy Douglass Day!! Did you know? Douglass Day helped give rise to Black History Month. It’s why we have Black History Month in February.

After Frederick Douglass passed away in 1895, many saw the importance of honoring his memory and activism. In Washington, D.C., a group led by Mary Church Terrell, (an important African American activist, educator, and author) observed Douglass’s birthday every February 14th as “Douglass Day.”

Although Douglass was a profoundly complex character and much can be critiqued about him as a man, his abolition work was and is deeply respected. He was a renowned writer, speaker and faced many challenges. Here Douglass is pictured aging, his first wife, Annie - a woman who deserves equal credit for her role by his side (more on that later) - and 4 of their 5 children.