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BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The 2026 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival blends lectures, literary events, performances, youth activities, family programming, and curated cultural installations that illuminate the richness of the African Diaspora on March 27-28 at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival is multi-day event featuring music, author engagement and community conversation. AARLCC celebrates the rich cultural and artistic legacy of Black culture, history, creativity, and storytelling. This year's theme, "We, Too, Sing America: 250 Years of Black Life and Culture," is inspired by Langston Hughes' iconic poem "I, Too." The poem and the festival honor the dignity, resilience, and rightful place of Black voices within the American story. 2026 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival Schedule:
Friday, March 27, 7:30 - 9:30PM
After the opening talk for the 2026 Africana Arts & Humanities Festival, join us for an evening of music, food, and fun featuring performances from vocalist LaVie. This is a ticketed event presented by the Friends of AARLCC. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. You must be 21 years old or older to attend. Saturday, March 28, 11AM - 8PM - Family Day and Youth Activities
- Children's readings, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities
- Author showcase sessions and book signings
Featured Speakers and Performers: - Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead: President, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Dr. Whitehead is a nationally respected public historian, cultural critic, and educator whose work centers on Black public memory, racial justice, and social transformation.
- Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson: Historian and author of We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance (Seal Press). Dr. Carter-Jackson is an award-winning historian specializing in Black resistance, freedom movements, and 19th-century African American history.
- Dr. Randal Maurice Jelks: Professor, documentary producer, and the author of four books, including his latest, My America, a revelatory portrait of celebrated poet and writer Langston Hughes (1902-1962) and Hugh's writing on democracy.
- Bryan Carter: Tony award-winning musician and composer, Carter's sextet explores a vast repertoire from jazz standards to classics from Ray Charles and Burt Bacharach.
The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival is generously funded by Wayne and Lucretia Weiner, The Friends of AARLCC and Broward Cultural Division.
About Broward County Libraries Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is one of the largest and busiest library systems in Florida. Broward County Libraries Division's 37 locations provide convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and X.
February 9, 2026 954-357-5520
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