Every Tuesday in February last year, CLP Carrick’s weekly teen program, Teen Thing, focused on a different African American pioneer with a creative activity related to the accomplishments of said pioneer. We made stop-motion zombie flicks in honor of Duane Jones, flipbook comics for Frank Braxton, 3D glasses for Valerie Thomas, and watched a documentary about the arts scene in Brooklyn in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
It was all pretty awesome.
So… when the topic of continuing the weekly Black History Month events came up this January, Teen Think, Carrick’s Teen Advisory Group, voted unanimously to continue the spotlights with this year’s theme of music. Throughout February, Teen Thing will be spotlighting innovative and influential African American musicians who have significantly contributed to the sounds of rock, jazz, punk, and hip hop – and it all starts this week!
Tuesday, February 4th
Teen Thing / Black History Month Spotlight: Blues and Early Rock and Roll
The mysterious Robert Johnson
Into artists like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Jack White, and The Black Keys??? Come find out about the African American blues and rock musicians that influenced them – artists like Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, Muddy Waters, and Chuck Berry.
Oh, and make your own harmonica while you’re at it!
Other events include:
Tuesday, February 11th
Teen Thing / Black History Month Spotlight: All That Jazz
Pittsburgh’s Mary Lou Williams
Tuesday, February 18th
Teen Thing / Black History Month Spotlight: Punk 101 – Bad Brains
Washington D.C.’s legendary Bad Brains
Tuesday, February 25th
Teen Thing / Black History Month Spotlight: Hip Hop and Change
Saul Williams
Find out where the music you like comes from at our Black History Month Spotlights! Teen Thing happens every Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM and is open to anyone in grades 6-12 or age 12-18.
Jon : Carrick
Filed under: Art, CLP - Carrick, CLP programs, local events, Local History, Music, Pittsburgh, Poetry, Teen Advisory Council, Teen Interest | Tagged: African American History Month, African American Music, black history month, blues, hip hop, history, jazz, Music, Musician, Pittsburgh Jazz, punk, Rock and Roll | 1 Comment »