AFRAM, Baltimore’s own African American Festival is back for the Juneteenth weekend (June 22 and 23) this year, with an array of entertainment and activities for all ages. This community-based festival held at Druid Hill Park features food and merchandise vendors as well as a star-studded performance lineup including Busta Rhymes, Mya, Big Daddy Kane and more.
The festival has been a trademark of Baltimore culture and community since its founding in 1976 with the support of the Cultural Arts Program and Director Norman Ross. The celebration is held to honor the history and culture of Black Baltimoreans and their African ancestors.
For those who wish to learn more, the RLB Library’s Special Collections and Archives has curated multiple exhibits on the history of the festival and hosts a photo collection series spanning two decades of the AFRAM celebrations.
As part of a digital exhibit regarding The Baltimore Cultural Arts Program, an outline of AFRAM’s history can be found here.
The Robert Breck Chapman Photographs Collection Series on AFRAM, complete with digital objects can be viewed via ArchivesSpace here. Robert Breck Chapman was a staff photographer employed by the City of Baltimore between 1971 and 2002. He was also the unofficial photographer for then Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke.
An in-depth digital gallery featuring photos, videos, and research on the history of the AFRAM Festival can be viewed here. This gallery was curated by a former intern at the UBalt Special Collections and Archives.
Celebrate AFRAM by checking out the Special Collections and Archives’ digital exhibits!