The Power of Black Art

From murals to music festivals, creative expression fosters understanding, inspires change

Destinations and events centered around Black cultural expression allow travelers to connect with the soul of a community. Through music, visual arts, and festivals, groups can experience firsthand the impact Black innovation has on the world. As you plan your next heritage tour, consider adding these group-friendly stops to your itinerary.

Railroad Park is a beautiful green space in downtown Birmingham, Ala., that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of the city.

More than just a museum, the new Go Go Museum & Cafe in Washington, D.C., is poised to become a central hub for music lovers. Private tours, weekly concerts, special events, and an on-site recording studio allow groups to experience the genre’s unique rhythms up close.

More than just a museum, the new Go Go Museum & Cafe in Washington, D.C., is poised to become a central hub for music lovers. Private tours, weekly concerts, special events, and an on-site recording studio allow groups to experience the genre’s unique rhythms up close.

“Could You Get on the Bus?” mural commemorates the Freedom Riders attacked in Anniston, Ala., on May 14, 1961, at the Greyhound Bus Depot. The mural faces the alleyway where the attack on these Freedom Riders began.

“Could You Get on the Bus?” mural commemorates the Freedom Riders attacked in Anniston, Ala., on May 14, 1961, at the Greyhound Bus Depot. The mural faces the alleyway where the attack on these Freedom Riders began.

The Detroit Institute of Arts connects people to art through its diverse collection, programs, and resources.

The Detroit Institute of Arts connects people to art through its diverse collection, programs, and resources.

The Detroit Institute of Arts connects people to art through its diverse collection, programs, and resources.

The Detroit Institute of Arts connects people to art through its diverse collection, programs, and resources.

The Detroit Institute of Arts connects people to art through its diverse collection, programs, and resources.

The Detroit Jazz Festival is free to music fans and includes performances by artists who are as remarkable and diverse as the genre itself.

The Detroit Jazz Festival is free to music fans and includes performances by artists who are as remarkable and diverse as the genre itself.

Music Moves Groups

With the opening of Washington, D.C.’s new Go-Go Museum & Cafe in February, music lovers and history buffs can experience this unique genre firsthand. Founded in the 1970s and kept alive through generations, go-go remains the heartbeat of D.C. Free admission, live performances, interactive exhibits, and historic artifacts like DJ Kool’s touring jacket and Little Benny’s horn bring DC’s vibrant music legacy to life. Not-to-be-missed is the museum’s food truck-style café, featuring a menu of African, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors that reflect go-go’s diverse cultural influences.

In Washington, the DC Jazz Festival celebrates the rich history of jazz music. Traditionally held over Labor Day weekend, the festival features performances by over 100 musicians across various venues citywide. The city also offers programs that introduce jazz to students and adults.

Detroit hosts its own Jazz Festival at the end of summer. “We have Detroit musicians as well as national and international musicians,” says Jennifer Miller, manager of domestic tourism at Visit Detroit. “There are food trucks, there are lots of people around throughout the weekend, and it’s a great celebration.”

Detroit is one of the three cities—and the only American one—credited with creating techno, a genre of electronic dance music. “I think the allure of techno and electronic music is that it’s so underground, and you kind of have to find it. It’s very speakeasy-ish,” says Meg Griffith, media relations manager at Visit Detroit. One example is Exhibit 3000, a museum dedicated to the birth and rise of Detroit techno, where guided tours are available by appointment only. The museum tells the stories of the Black pioneers of the techno movement, like Derrick May, Jeff Mills, and Kevin Saunderson. “It really is rooted in the Black community of Detroit,” Griffith says.

Detroit also hosts the Movement Electronic Music Festival during Memorial Day weekend. It features international and local artists across multiple stages. Known for energetic afterparties, Movement is a premier event for techno enthusiasts.

On the other side of Lake Erie in Western New York, “the Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo is believed to be the oldest African American musicians’ club in the United States,” says Ross Levi, executive director of New York State’s Division of Tourism/I LOVE NY. “It has hosted greats from Billie Holiday to Nat King Cole.

“And, of course, New York City is a must,” Levi adds. “From the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to the world-famous Apollo Theater, there’s so much culture to appreciate.”

Visual Arts Tackle Both Joyful and Difficult Realities

The Rubell Museum in D.C. “is dedicated to the D.C. experience, mostly of Black Americans,” says Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of Destination DC. Its thought-provoking exhibitions of contemporary art often tackle themes of identity, culture, and social justice in African American communities.

In Detroit, the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art is one of the largest African American-owned galleries. While they have galleries in other cities, “Detroit is one of their signature locations,” says Griffith.

The city is also home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, with over 65,000 pieces of art ranging from the earliest civilizations to the present. The institute’s “Center for African American Art” collection showcases “American history, society, and creative expression from an African American perspective.”

Birmingham, Ala., boasts dozens of hand-painted wall murals in areas like Avondale and downtown, with themes ranging from civil rights to modern art. Both local and international artists contribute to this dynamic urban canvas. For a full list of murals and where to find them, visit bhamwiki.com/w/List_of_Birmingham_murals.

Washington, D.C.’s U Street Corridor is home to independent galleries that showcase diverse works, plus street art and murals. The Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street serves as an incubator for emerging visual artists.

Linda Formichelli has been a freelance writer since 1997. She lives in Raleigh, N.C.

Photo credits: Randy Crow; Jamie Martin; Courtesy of washington.org; Bill Bowen; BUREAU; Visit Detroit; Jazz Festival; The Fulkerson Group.