Skip to main content
search

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

FEBRUARY 4, 2024 | 10 AM - 4 PM

Join us to honor and celebrate Black cultures and contributions at our Black History Month Celebration!

Explore the fascinating heritage of Nigeria through traditional regalia and hands-on making with cowry shells; join storytelling and art-making activities fit for royalty; and, engage with talented STEM makers and more while enjoying a fun-filled day with your family.

GET TICKETS

Event Details

Cultural Treasures of Nigeria: Material Exploration

10 AM - 4 PM

Learn about African culture by exploring traditional regalia or dress materials from Nigeria.

Presented by the Edewor Foundation.

Cowry Shell Creations

10 AM - 4 PM

Make a necklace or bracelet with cowry shells, an important material and symbol in many African cultures, and design your unique piece inspired by tradition.

Presented by the Edewor Foundation.

Transforming Fleece into Textiles

TIME: 10 AM - 1 PM

Discover how wool carding turns messy sheep fleece into soft clothes. Before the invention of the cotton gin, most European and North American clothing was wool-based, and the process of wool carding and spinning was essential to make textiles. Mostly done by women and children, often by enslaved laborers, wool carding is an example of ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Presented by Josiah Henson Museum and Park.

Meet a Maker: Afua Bruce

1 - 3 PM

Get ready for a fun journey into the world of data and coding with Computer Engineer and If/Then Ambassador Afua Bruce! Join us to learn how to collect and organize cool information, and discover how data and technology can make the world a better place.

Meet a Maker: Dr. Ronald S. Gamble

10 AM - 4 PM

Witness the magic of coding as Dr. Gamble uses technology and coding to show a 3D simulation of a real black hole in the universe on his work computer! Also, experiment with magnetic fluids, mimicking how mass moves in space!

Black History Live with Culture Queen

2 - 4 PM

“Black History Live with Culture Queen” is a performance and craft presentation for children that uses original and interactive music, movement, and storytelling to teach them to celebrate their history and love themselves. With a renewed sense of confidence, cultural awareness, and curiosity for exploring the world around them, students will leave proudly exclaiming, “I Like The Me I See!”

Presented by Culture Queen.

Access for Every Maker

KID Museum is dedicated to expanding access to STEM and maker learning opportunities for all by providing free and reduced-cost opportunities to participate in our programming.

LEARN MORE

Celebrating Black #HistoryMakers

Afua Bruce

Computer Engineer

Growing up, Afua Bruce’s parents often told her and her sisters to study hard and see what they could do to help other people. She soon realized that she could use her passion for technology to change the world for the better. It all started with a simple database to help a local nonprofit organization stay on top of their goals. Nowadays, Afua thinks of tech as her superpower. With computer engineering, she assists organizations that keep children out of jail, help low-income families access benefits, and ensure all kids have safe homes. She’s even worked with the White House.

Afua Bruce
Computer Engineer

Javon Ford

Cosmetic Chemist & Science Communicator

Everyone’s skin is a little bit different — but we all need to take care of it. After seeing how much misinformation is spread about skincare on social media, cosmetic chemist Javon Ford decided to start creating and sharing educational videos about what actually goes into the products people use every day. He breaks down soaps, face washes, sunscreens, and other products, explaining the ingredients in simple, straightforward terms so that the average person can take better care of themselves.

Javon Ford
Cosmetic Chemist & Science Communicator

Dr. Ronald S. Gamble, Jr.

Theoretical Astrophysicist

How much do we really know about the universe? Theoretical astrophysicists, like NASA’s Dr. Ronald S. Gamble, Jr., are constantly stretching the boundaries of the imagination to research the invisible parts of our existence. Dr. Gamble specializes in the way energy moves through the universe, particularly around supermassive black holes. But he’s not just a scientist; he’s also been an artist, painter, and illustrator for 15 years.

Dr. Ronald S. Gamble, Jr.
Theoretical Astrophysicist

Matthew Goins

Creator of Puzzle Huddle

Matthew Goins is the creative force behind the DC family-run jigsaw puzzle company Puzzle Huddle. Matthew and his wife, Marnel, created Puzzle Huddle after they felt there was a lack of diverse representation of children in toys — particularly puzzles. Matthew used his knowledge of arts and crafts and started to make his first puzzles for his own children using cardboard, printed high-res images, glue, and scissors. Since then, Puzzle Huddle’s mission has spread far beyond their home, making it onto shelves in big box stores like Target. Even Oprah featured them in her Gift Guide. Puzzle Huddle is changing the way kids play and learn and has made a significant impact on the toy industry.

Matthew Goins
Creator of Puzzle Huddle

Jessica Hebron AKA Culture Queen

Award Winning Performer, Artist, Author, & Educator

To imagine the future, sometimes, we have to look at the past. Jessica Hebron, better known as “Culture Queen,” has been producing innovative Black History-themed performances, festivals, and professional development programs for the past fourteen years. Culture Queen is an award-winning playwright, children’s author, musician, performer, and educator whose work is enjoyed by educators and families across the country. Today, Culture Queen lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and serves as the Chief Program Officer of Arts For Learning Maryland — a nonprofit working to transform learning through the arts for more than 250,000 Maryland students annually.

Jessica Hebron AKA Culture Queen
Award Winning Performer, Artist, Author, & Educator

Josiah Henson

Author, Abolitionist, & Minister

Josiah Henson is an important figure in the fight against slavery. Born into an enslaved family in Port Tobacco, Maryland, in 1789, he was determined to escape — and in 1830, Josiah took his family north, founding the Dawn settlement in Canada to support other emancipated people. As a woodworker and minister, he led vocational training and provided stability for his community. His commitment to empowering others through craftsmanship and education reflected his vision for a society free of oppression. Josiah’s legacy extends to his autobiography, “The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, as Narrated by Himself.” This work shed light on the harsh realities of slavery and helped strengthen the abolitionist movement. Josiah’s contributions as a liberator, maker, and author are a testament to his impact on accomplishing justice and equality. Learn more about Josiah Henson by visiting the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, which preserves the house where Josiah was enslaved when a child and young adult, located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Josiah Henson
Author, Abolitionist, & Minister

Dr. Shanika Hope

Director of Computer Science Education at Google

Can a great teacher change your life? Dr. Shanika Hope knows firsthand the power that teachers have to inspire kids to do great things. Growing up in foster care, she often felt that the world was "too much" and says she sought refuge in school. Today, she says she owes her thirst for knowledge to one of her favorite teachers. As a tech educator at Google, Dr. Hope has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children have access to technology and computing. Her job is to create programming and products that support widespread access to tech education, especially in the kinds of communities where she herself grew up and, for years, was a classroom teacher.

Dr. Shanika Hope
Director of Computer Science Education at Google

Sharon Caples McDougle

Spacesuit Technician & Author

Picture an astronaut: what are they wearing? If you said an orange spacesuit, you can thank Sharon Caples McDougle, a retired spacesuit technician who worked to ensure the safety of NASA astronauts for many years. Sharon was both the first woman and first Black person to manage the Crew Escape Equipment department. She and her team were responsible for suiting up the astronauts, testing their equipment, strapping them into the space shuttles, and recovering the crew upon landing — all critical roles to ensure missions go smoothly. Since retiring, Sharon has written a children’s book about her experiences: Suit Up for Launch with Shay!

Sharon Caples McDougle
Spacesuit Technician & Author

Murjoni Merriweather

Artist

Since graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Maryland artist Murjoni Merriweather has been working in clay and ceramics to talk about and celebrate Black culture. Tired of seeing Black stereotypes, Murjoni began to push back on European standards of “beauty” by producing sculptures based on real people and real experiences. These sculptures stand tall and proud, unapologetically taking up space and highlighting style niches like grillz and nail culture within Black American experiences.

Murjoni Merriweather
Artist

Dasia Taylor

Inventor

As inventor Dasia Taylor likes to say, “Age by no means defines when you can and cannot invent.” Dasia’s path to invention began in 11th grade at Iowa City West High School, where she developed low-cost “smart” sutures to help detect infections. She experimented with using beet juice to coat her cotton stitches and discovered that this allowed them to change color as they reacted to the Ph of a wound that is infected. Currently, she is a college student at the University of Iowa, as well as an entrepreneur and STEM advocate. Dasia is aspiring to obtain a patent for her "smart stitches."

Dasia Taylor
Inventor

DIY Activities

Celebrate Black History Month at home with our free DIY maker projects inspired by Black History Month.

GET MAKING
Close Menu