National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA)

A Legacy on the Move — and We are Honored to be Part of It!

The National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) is extremely grateful to the remarkable Colette Phillips and Get Konnected! for recognizing and celebrating us at this week's Lunar New Year & Black History Month: Legacy on the Move celebration in partnership with NAAAP and COJE! We were one of seven organizations to receive the distinction of Boston’s Most Impactful Community Organization at this year’s event. Other awardees were Reclaim Roxbury, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Rice Sticks & Tea, No Books No Ball, Pan-Ethnic Pourovers, American Ancestors.

Colette Phillips is a true force of nature — a visionary connector, DEI pioneer, and one of Boston's most powerful champions of inclusive community-building. To be honored by someone who so deeply understands and champions the legacy of Black art and culture means everything to us.

Our legacy is not a relic — it is alive, it is moving, and nights like this remind us why the work matters.

Thank you, Colette. Thank you, Get Konnected! Thank you, NAAAP and COJE. 🎉 🖤❤️💚

With the transition of Napoleon Jones-Henderson to the realm of ancestors, we have lost a truly great artist, teacher, researcher, and friend. He stood out as an African-centric critic of the arts tradition to which he contributed so much. Always expansive in his thinking, Jones-Henderson worked in many media pursuing interests in printmaking, fabrics and design, mural-making and enameling. An exponent of the Chicago-spawned AfriCobra movement in Black Art, he conducted creative projects across the globe including Europe, the Caribbean and Africa as well as the African Diaspora beyond. Through his imaginative imagery he celebrated the colors, patterns, energy and soul of continental and Diaspora African legacies. In his many commissions, he always integrated young people that he mentored carefully. His artistic impact stretched over more than half a century reaching myriad communities and increasing both understanding and appreciation of what it really meant to declare that “we are an African people”.

Edmund Barry Gaither
Executive Director Emeritus

Image: Roxbury Rhapsody by Napoleon Jones-Henderson

Our 55th season of by Langston Hughes enjoyed sweet Opening Night and the cast was feted by the audience with a champagne toast and dessert bar provided by

Black Nativity by Langston Hughes
Now playing thru December 21, 2025
Thursdays, 7:30 PM
Fridays, 8:00 PM
Saturdays, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Sundays, 3:30 PM

Emerson Paramount Center
559 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111

Get tickets at:
WWW.BLACKNATIVITY.ORG
617-824-8400

Produced by the National Center of Afro-American Artists.

Join us for the Un-monument end of year celebration of Finding Ourselves in Public Spaces in conjunction with the culminating event of the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture Boston UnMonument series!

There will be a premiere screening of the “Cancel Violence: Artists Speak” documentary, a public conversation, and the first-ever video projection onto the museum's prized sculpture, “Eternal Presence,” by John Wilson.

With our partners:
🌟 Music: Zack Wilson and Jamila Gordon
🌟 Documentary: ft. , , , and more
🌟 Conversation: Alexis Smith and Laurence "Larry" Pierce, moderated by Edmund Barry Gaither
🌟 Projections: and

📆 Wednesday, December 10
🕡 6:30 p.m.
📍 Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (300 Walnut Street)
🎟️ Free!

🔗 RSVP at unmonumentendofyearcelebration.splashthat.com

This month in American Theatre History! Black Nativity Boston made its debut!

Boston's Black Nativity featured in American Theatre magazine! Fifty-five years ago today, The National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) premiered its groundbreaking production of Langston Hughes' 20th Century classic gospel musical, Black Nativity. Today, Black Nativity is presented each holiday season across the country and throughout the world--we celebrate all the opening nights around the world this month--and as the longest consecutive running production we invite you to join us at the Emerson Paramount Center, Rob Orchard Stage on our Opening Night, Friday, December 5th at 8:00PM!

Black Nativity by Langston Hughes
December 5-21, 2025
Emerson Paramount Center

Tickets: $55-$100
Group rates start at just 4 persons.

Get tickets today!

WWW.BLACKNATIVITY.ORG
617-824-8400

Tune In: The Cast of Black Nativity Boston is on SPARKFMONLINE.COM!

will be stopping by today to talk to about the annual musical Black Nativity by Langston Hughes at the Paramount Theatre, Downtown. This year Black Nativity is celebrating 55 years of uplifting joy, peace, hope and community through this amazing production that features over 75 cast members across 5 generations on stage.

🎁 🎁 SHARE THE GIFT OF BLACK NATIVITY BY LANGSTON HUGHES
DEC 05—21, 2025
Emerson Paramount Center, Rob Orchard Stage
559 Washington Street in Downtown Boston.

🎟🎟 Buy one full price ticket and get 50% off another full price ticket (all price zones A, B, C, and D). Good on evening performances the first 2 weeks:
Fri, Dec 05 | 8PM
Sat, Dec 06 | 7:30PM
Thu, Dec 11 | 7:30PM
Fri, Dec 12 | 8PM
Sat, Dec 13 | 7:30PM

Tickets must be purchased in increments of 2 and be in the same price zone for the discount to apply. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount offers and does not apply to previously purchased tickets. Offer expires at 11:59PM on Dec. 3, 2025.

Price Zones (full price):
Zone A: $100
Zone B: $85
Zone C: $70
Zone D: $55
All price zones are available in the Orchestra and Balcony.

Get tickets today!
WWW.BLACKNATIVITY.ORG or 617-824-8400