AMTRAK Web Game
Presented in conjunction with the America I AM: The African American Imprint exhibition, the Center will host a variety of daily interactive events and evening programs that explore and celebrate 500 years of African American contributions to our country, as well as encourage a greater understanding of the undeniable imprint left by African Americans on our nation’s history.
Daily Programs
Evening Programs
Daily Programs
America I AM: Voices of Freedom Music Festival
Saturday, April 4 – Saturday, April 18, 2009, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Event Admission: FREE with museum admission
Celebrate African American music and dance during spring break through activities that explore the vast contributions of African American musicians and artists. Visitors can listen to the unique sounds of an African drum, hear the soothing tones of a jazz saxophone, join in the spirit of a gospel choir, and discover the importance of song for slaves during the trek to the free North.
The following musical performances will take place on the Grand Hall Overlook:
April 4
Triumph Baptist Church Mass Choir and Praise & Dance Ministry (gospel)
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds (blues)
April 9
Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble (West African dance and drum)
Chosen (hip hop dance)
April 10
Royal Brass Band (New Orleans-style front line)
April 11
Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble (Afro-centric jazz)
April 17
Young Lions Jazz Trio (traditional jazz)
April 18
Andy Aaron’s Mean Machine (R&B funk)
Freedom Theatre Company (gospel and dance)
A Celebration of Firsts
January 17 and 18, 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
January 20, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Visitors can explore the enduring contributions of African Americans to our society as we celebrate the presidential inauguration and swearing-in of the first African American president. There will be special themed Inauguration Day events on January 20th – with the inauguration shown on a large screen outside on Independence Mall – including the chance to take the Oath of Office, watch the ceremony, make presidential seals, and have a photo taken with a cutout of President-elect Obama during an exciting scavenger hunt.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 19
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
In honor of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Center will participate in a city-wide celebration on Monday, January 19. Visitors of all ages can enjoy activities, including storytelling sessions, talkback boards, crafts, choirs, famous speeches from civil rights activists, and musical and dramatic performances. In the spirit of Dr. King, visitors can also participate in a quilting service project focusing on the plight of the homeless by lending a helping hand to sew blankets, pillows, and quilts.
From Revolution to Evolution
January 20
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
In partnership with Art Sanctuary, the Center will present a discussion of the civil rights revolution that led to the evolution of America's current president. The discussion will explore the influence of Martin Luther King, Jr.; President-elect Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope; and the connections to the America I AM exhibition.
Culture, Custom, and Convention: A Celebration of the African American Influence
February 14, 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
February 15, 12:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
February 16, 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
To celebrate Black History Month, visitors can learn about the lives of African Americans and the achievements that have helped shape America’s promise. Visitors will also have the chance to participate in a special artifact workshop to learn more about the African Americans who lived on the site of the Constitution Center, including James Dexter.
Freedom For All
March 7
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
In honor of Women’s History Month, visitors can explore the history of African American women and their struggles for equality. Guests will celebrate the women who broke barriers in politics, science, and rights for all women in a fun and interactive show that will keep visitors guessing.
Voices of Freedom
April 6 - April 18
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy stories and songs as the Center celebrates African American history and the melting pot of American culture through music, dance, and poetry. Daily readings and activities will explore the vast contributions of African American artists.
America I AM Audio Tour
$2 for members, $3 for non-members
Explore the rich and inspiring America I AM exhibition through stories, poems, and artifacts as they are guided by its presenter, Tavis Smiley.
Breaking Barriers School Group Package
The Breaking Barriers show will examine the lives of Thurgood Marshall, Bessie Coleman, Jackie Robinson, and other extraordinary African Americans throughout history. The show will give visitors insight into the issues they faced and the rights they secured for all Americans. Students will then be sent on a storytelling adventure as they relive the experiences of African Americans in the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s. These inspiring stories teach students how one’s civic actions can affect a nation.
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Evening Programs
And Justice For All
February 3
6:30 p.m.
Mary Frances Berry, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania and former chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, will share the extraordinary story of the Commission and the struggle for justice in America as told in her new book And Justice for All. Admission is free, but reservations are required at 215.409.6700.
NAACP at 100
February 11
6:30 p.m.
The Center will host a special program commemorating the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Centennial and addressing its profound impact on the country we live in today. The NAACP has a rich and unique history, and is responsible for a number of victories in the struggle for justice and equality in America. Theodore Shaw, former Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and 2008 Visiting Scholar at the Constitution Center, will lead this conversation. Admission is free, but reservations are required at 215.409.6700.
August Wilson and the Century Cycle
February 23
6:30 p.m.
In a unique Constitution Center event, American theater scholars, historians, and professional actors will participate in a special two-hour program celebrating and exploring the work of playwright August Wilson in relationship to the American theater and to the social, political, and historical experience of African Americans. August Wilson is among the most influential and successful African American playwrights of the twentieth century. In Wilson’s Century Cycle, he dramatizes the African American experience and heritage of the twentieth century. The evening will feature dramatic readings from some of Wilson's most famous works performed by a company of professional actors. Admission costs $15 for members, teachers, and students and $20 for non-members. Reservations are required at 215.409.6700.
Ida B. Wells and the African American Freedom Struggle
March 19
6:30 p.m.
Pulitzer-Prize winner Pamela Newkirk, professor in NYU's Journalism school and author of Letters from Black America and Within the Veil: Black Journalists, White Media, and Mia Bay, historian and associate professor of history at Rutgers University, will discuss To Tell the Truth Freely, Bay’s new biography of journalist and activist Ida B. Wells and her pivotal role in transforming the African American freedom struggle. Admission is free, but reservations are required at 215.409.6700.
