Photo courtesy of Black Arts Alliance
"SANKOFA!" at FireHouse Community Art Center
Black History Month
Virtual Black History Speech Series: “Say It Loud,” new series opening with James Cook as Congressman John Lewis with an introduction by Commissioner Van Turner. Free. Series begins Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m. Online from Hattiloo Theatre, hattiloo.org.
“SANKOFA!,” exhibition celebrating Black History Month recognizing Memphis creative legends for their achievements and integral roles in shaping the fabric of Memphis and the world. Free. February 1-28. FireHouse Community Arts Center, 985 S. Bellevue. 948-9522.
Book Discussion by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, authors discuss Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019, a compilation of ninety writers' stories, each of whom takes on a five-year period of that four-hundred-year span. Free with registration. Friday, February 5, 6 p.m. Online from Civil Rights Museum, civilrightsmuseum.org. 521-9699.
Opening reception for “dis/contented realities,” exhibition of work by five emerging artists from Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States. Free with registration. Urevbu Contemporary (formerly Art Village Gallery), 410 South Main, Saturday, Feb. 6, 5:30-9 p.m. urevbucontemporary.com. 521-0782.
Museum Exhibits
“Dinosaurs in Motion,” interactive STEAM experience featuring 14 recycled metal dinosaur sculptures with exposed mechanics inspired by actual fossils. Visitors are invited to touch and learn. $15. Opens Saturday, January 30, and continues through May 2. Memphis Pink Palace Museum, 3050 Central. 636-2362.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer,” families will be transported to the underground home of the crime-fighting heroes to see what really happens in their secret hideaway featuring hands-on experiences. Free with Museum admission. Ongoing. Children's Museum of Memphis, 2525 Central. cmom.com. 458-2678.
Theater and Entertainment
Peanut Butter & Jam at Home: The Mario Show with Mario the Maker Magician, an all-ages online experience full of homespun magic, DIY robotics, and punk rock slapstick. Mario will entertain you, teach you magic, and get you up on your feet and dancing. Live on Facebook. Free. Saturday, January 30, 11 a.m. Online from Germantown Performing Arts Center Facebook page, facebook.com/gpacweb.
Woman In Motion: Nichele Nichols, Star Trek, in 1977, NASA was struggling to recruit. Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Lt. Uhura, asked, “Where are my people?” creating a national PR blitz that recruited the first African American, Asian, and Latino men and women to fly in space. This is the story. $15. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. Malco Paradiso Cinema, 584 S. Mendenhall and Collierville Grill & MXT, 380 Market, Collierville. fathomevents.com.
Wit, a renowned professor of English spent years studying and teaching the sonnets of John Donne. Diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer she comes to reassess her life and her work. Call for ticket and seating information. January 15-30. Germantown Community Theatre, 3037 Forest Hill Irene, Germantown. gctcomeplay.org. 453-7447.
For a full listing, check out our calendar of events. Also, check the Memphis Parent Facebook Page for information and giveaways. Be sure to tag your favorite family-fun Instagram photos with the #memphisparent hashtag. I hope you have a great week.