Extraordinary African-American Women Exhibit

• Create a Black History Month program depicting prominent African-American women. Have members or students research African-American women, presenting the information in an exhibit. For example, display the first woman to establish a financial institution, Maggie Lena Walker. Highlight the life of Rosa Parks, a tailor who refused to give up her bus seat in Alabama. Alternatively, showcase the Crystal Bird Fauset, the first African-American woman designated to the United States House of Representatives.
  
  

Classical Band Concert

• Create a music program to invite the community to enjoy and listen to African-American composed classical band music. Members of local schools, churches and the community may enter the band music concert. Participants select from African-American composers, such as Kid Ory's "Society Go March' In," Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," Tad Dameron's "Dial B for Beauty," and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A Train."
  
  

Night in Song Concert

• Coordinate a choir concert to salute African-American heritage. Host the program in a performance hall, auditorium or in a gymnasium. Participating musicians sing songs, such as "Deep River", "We shall Overcome," "I'm so Glad," "Great Day," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Have a narrator discuss the songs background and explain the significance in African-American history.
  
  

Pianists Salute African-Americans

• Organize community musicians to honor African-American chronicles by hosting a piano performance. Participants play an original composition and a selection from a top African-American composer, such as Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day."
  
  

Oral Interpretation

• Present skits of poems written by African-American poets. Members select a poem to dramatize either in groups or alone. Participants dress in the period the poem represents. Select poems from noteworthy titles, such as Langston Hughes' "Dream Deferred," Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman," Countee Cullen's "Fruit of the Flower" and Phillis Wheatley's "On Imagination."