Triangle events celebrate African American artists

RALEIGH, N.C. — From concerts to festivals to art displays, a multitude of events will celebrate African American culture in the Triangle this summer.

The Triangle Friends of African American Arts ​(Triangle FAAA), a group that strives to expand awareness, understanding and support of African American arts and artists, put together a full list of events on their website, but here are the big ones.

June 17 - Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Durham - This celebration includes banquets, luncheons, marches, a ceremony of songs, prayers and speakers, as well as national and local performers, food, and African and African-American crafts and clothing.

July 8 - Saba! Saba! Festival at Durham Central Park - Celebrate Durham Sister Cities' partnership and rich cultural exchange with Arusha, Tanzania with African-inspired music, dancing, fashions and local food vendors. There will also be a drumming circle.

July 15 - Jubilee Music Festival at Historic Stagville - Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and help celebrate African-American musical traditions and their legacy.

September 9 - Black Genius Fest at Northgate Park - This annual community celebration of black culture features music, dance ensembles, science activities, food trucks and more.

June 21 - Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles at The Pour House - See the Brooklyn, New York native, a two-time Grammy Award-winning keyboardist with musical roots in gospel, jazz and soul, perform at 9 p.m.

July 8 - Al Strong at Bond Park - The trumpet player, who is well known in the Triangle's growing jazz scene, will play at the amphitheater at Bond Park in Cary. Strong has performed for artists like Brandford Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Clay Aiken and Linda Eder.

June 24 - Martin Luther King: An Interpretation at Carrboro Arts Center - This is an original, thought-provoking one-man interpretation of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a human being. There will be a Q&A immediately after the performance.

August 1-6 - Motown at DPAC - The musical, starting in August, tells the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Smokey Robinson.

RACE at the North Carolina Museum for Natural Sciences - This exhibition, on display through October 22, looks at race through the lens of science, history and personal experiences to promote a better understanding of human variation.​