Black/African-American History Month 2024

Black/African-American History Month is February 1 - February 28.

Black/African-American History Month LibGuide: Linked in this guide hosted by FCPS is essential information about the study and celebration of Black/African-American History Month.

Black History is Artistic

[ ahr'tis'tik ]

adjective

  1. showing skill or excellence in execution
  2. exhibiting an involvement in or appreciation of art, especially the fine arts

Yemi Fagbohun - Artist

Born in Nigeria, Fagbohun studied art and worked successfully as a professional artist in New York before relocating to Frederick County, MD. Commercially, he has produced illustrations for well-known retailers and more than one hundred Fortune 500 companies. In addition to several children’s books, he has designed more than 300 international postage stamps, and his “Girl Group” stamps are a part of the permanent collection of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. 

Well-known in Frederick County for his community-centered projects, he collaborates with towns across the region to design highly-collectible keepsakes highlighting area landmarks. Courtyard by Marriott, The Common Market, Creekside Plaza and many more locations are home to his large historic murals and glass installations. “The Pillars of Frederick,” on the side of the McCutcheon’s Apple Products building, features legendary Frederick County leaders, and is one of the largest murals in Maryland at 1280 square feet.

Yemi Fagbohun

Yemi Fagbohun

Rose Chaney - Retired FCPS Art Teacher

A retired elementary art teacher for Frederick County Public Schools, Chaney also served as supervisory teacher for student teachers, an orientation teacher for newly hired art teachers and art curriculum consultant for the MD School for the Deaf. She was employed with FCPS for 34 years. Chaney graduated from Morgan State University with over 30 graduate credits before she went on to teach art.

Chaney is known in Frederick County for her extensive charitable work within the community. For over 30 years she has been a member of the Frederick Club of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, as well as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a charter member of the Chi Theta Omega Chapter in Frederick. She is also a charter and current board member of the African American Resources Cultural and Heritage Society of Frederick County (AARCH). Chaney has been recognized many times for her achievements in education and beyond. She was most recently honored with the 2024 FCPS Ava Maria Whittemore Educational Equity Legacy Award, given annually to a member of the FCPS community who demonstrates a sustained commitment to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Rose Chaney

Rose Chaney

Lester Bowie - Musician

Lester Bowie, born in 1941 in Frederick County, grew up in St. Louis and began studying trumpet with his father as a boy. He was a cofounder of St. Louis’s Black Artists Group, and would go on to co-found the Art Ensemble of Chicago. An adventurous player, he explored the connection between jazz and other forms of popular music, and was famous for performing in a white lab coat, indicating he was a researcher of jazz and the stage was his laboratory. -From African American Resources Cultural and Heritage Society. 

While recognized as one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation, Bowie frequently drew critical flak for the humor he injected into his work. Besides the squeaks he was able to coax from his horn, he sported a flat-top haircut and Fu-Manchu goatee that tailed off into two points. He completely rejected the idea that jazz had to be solemn and unsmiling. In December of 2020 a mural of the esteemed artist was unveiled at 69 S. Market St. in Frederick, MD.

Lester Bowie

Lester Bowie

Misty Copeland - Ballerina

Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in San Pedro, California, Misty Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of thirteen. She currently  dances with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading ballet companies in the country. In 2015, Copeland became the first African American Woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the ABT’s 75-year history. She joined ABT’s Studio Company in September 2000, joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2001, and in August 2007 became the company’s second African American female soloist and the first in two decades. 

Since then Misty has served in several leading roles, including Clara in The Nutcracker and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She made history as the first black woman to perform the role of “Odette/Odile” in American Ballet Theatre’s production during the company’s inaugural tour to Australia. 

She has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to work with and mentor young girls and boys. In 2014, President Obama appointed Misty to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

Misty  Copeland

Misty Copeland