The Jack McLean Community Center is hosting the “Our Culture, Our Community” event tonight to celebrate Black History Month.
“We want to shed light on African-American history and culture from a hip-hop perspective,” said James Harding Jr., assistant supervisor of the community center.
The community center intends to catch young people’s attention by showing how connected hip-hop is to Africa.
The event is for “anybody who wants to be educated or informed about African-American history and the culture, meaning not just the music,” Harding said. “Because hip-hop has other intangibles other than just the music.”
Niteisha Clark, community center director, said she expects the majority of the attendees to be Tallahassee’s youth.
“We are expecting mostly high school and college students,” Clark said.
Jukeboxx Movement will breakdance and invite the audience to join in and learn some new moves. African drummer and dancer Chi Nuru, members of FAMU’s Latinos UNIDOS and wood artist and hip-hop performer David Ritchie will also participate.
“The FAMU Chapter of Dream Defenders will be there, too,” said Jimmie Thomas Jr., co-founder of Curators of Hip Hop.
The Jack McLean Ravens Pep Squad will provide assistance to the staff by welcoming guests, and Shelby’s Bistro will serve guests with samples of classic dishes cooked with healthier recipes.
The free event is from 6-9 p.m.