By Dianne Anderson

A grand mix of attractions at the African American Cultural Center will draw out the throngs for two free days of fun with a little something for every history buff, along with youthful renditions of life from a Black History perspective.

This year, the African Marketplace includes 25 vendors, with space for visitors to wax nostalgic over rare exhibits, and contributions of giants in fields of science.

Sharon McLucas is handling vendor participation, and said the lineup and unique collections are impressive. She commended Sharon Diggs-Jackson, executive director of Elite Skills Development and event organizer, for her work on coordinating and designing the MLK and Black Inventors exhibits.

Husband and wife curators, Sharon and David McLucas of the Forgotten Images exhibit will spotlight some of their rare memorabilia, among the many meanderings.

“I’m going to have a small exhibit for the Forgotten Images artifacts outside,” she said. “We have some nonprofit community organizations displayed. We also have retail vendors that sell clothes, and rugs. We have chefs. It’s just an array.”

Within her heirloom collection, she expects a few new features, including a section on Black cowboys, most notably Bass Reeves,  former Arkansas slave that became the first Black deputy U.S. Marshall, and inspiration for the hit miniseries.

McLucas has spent decades searching far and wide, as her artifact hunters go out across country to hand-pick new pieces for display. But because the history of Black people runs the gamut of oppression, she knows that some pieces are hard to look at and consider.

The implications are painful, but she feels the community should never turn away to avoid the truth.

“I might do something on the history of Black face characters,” she said. “I have a civil rights [piece] and someone called in and said it made them feel uncomfortable. I said it’s history, I can’t help that.”

On the upside, she said the African Marketplace features great information to help with small business opportunities.

“I’m a big advocate of promoting small businesses. We’re going to have art, music, education, an inventors and artists showcase. We have a food court, and a children’s area,” she said.

Chatiera Ray, managing director of The African American Cultural Center of Long Beach, said the event represents the best of Long Beach partnerships, in conjunction with the Expo Arts Center, Elite Skills, Forgotten Images and the Port of Long Beach.

“Different Black businesses and vendors will be out, the same as last year,” she said. “It was a big huge success. Inside the Expo we’ll have all the vendors, along with other vendors of Bixby Knolls.”

On February 2, First Friday Opening Night runs from 6:30-9:30 p.m. On February 3, loads of festivities and entertainment continue from noon to 5:00 p.m.

She is excited they’re bringing back last year’s hit event, the youth canvas painting project.

“We’ll have poets, dancers, spoken word artists coming through,” she said. “A lot of youth activities, and a youth art table to paint their renditions of what Black history means to them.”

Also coming soon at libraries around town for kids and family, Crafternoons are breaking out Black History Month Quilt Art is hosted Thursday, February 1, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. Participants will create a community quilt project at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave.

On Friday, February 2, Burnett Neighborhood Library celebrates Let’s Read: Our History, Our Future and is inviting the community to share and make new friends for After School Book Club with reading in “Black is a Rainbow Color” by Angela Joy. That event is held at 560 E. Hill St., from 3 – 4:00 p.m.

On Saturday, February 3, author Charity Harris discusses her picture book, “What If We Were All the Same” in celebration of Black History Month, detailing the beauty and power of diversity. Families are invited, registration is not required. That event runs from 1 – 2:00 p.m. At the Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway.

Also the same day, the grown-ups, artists, and creatives on path to Black Excellence Professional Development Day are invited out from 1-4:00 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway. There, they can listen to live music all while focusing on boosting their careers, get a good headshot for LinkedIn, and build their resumes at the Family Learning Center.

For more information, see https://aacclb.org/