The Arna Bontemps African American Museum and Cultural Arts Center continues to increase awareness of the literary legacy of Alexandria’s native son, Arna Wendell Bontemps through this celebration of the 105th Anniversary of his birth. The Museum is the birthplace home of Arna Bontemps located at 1327 Third Street and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Arna Bontemps Museum will mark this event with the Arna Bontemps Literary Residency on October 11 and 12, 2007, featuring nationally renowned African American folklorist and storyteller Adella Gautier (Adella, Adella the Storyteller), on October 11th and 12th. She will visit selected Rapides Parish schools and will also be featured at the Museum’s Art Walk /Open Mic on Friday, October 12th, hosted by Pam Kay and Richard Cooper.
The Arna Bontemps Birthday Block Party will culminate the celebration on Saturday, October 13, 2007 with activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing to 7:00 p.m.
Arna Wendell Bontemps, a noted Black author-poet, scholar, and librarian, was born in this turn-of-the 20th century middle class home in Alexandria, Louisiana on October 13, 1902, to Paul Bismark and Marie Pembrooke Bontemps. Best known for his contributions during the Harlem Renaissance Period, his works included novels, histories, plays, folklore, poetry, children’s literature, and biographical works of Black athletes, authors, and social activists. Bontemps used his fond childhood memories of Alexandria as inspiration for his literary works. His works and acclaim have reached across international borders, including Mexico, where he and Langston Hughes collaborated to write and popularize Pasteboard Bandit, a story written in particular for children.
The Arna Bontemps Museum extends an invitation to the Central Louisiana community, friends, and those who might be relatives of Bontemps. The day’s activities will include a literary focus on the film, “A Tuesday Morning Ride,” the only Black film nominated for an Academy Award in 1996, which was adapted by Dianne Houston from Bontemps’ short story, “A Summer Tragedy”. An audio recording of An Anthology of African American Poetry for Young People, compiled and read by Arna Bontemps, will also be featured. The Museum’s permanent display showcases book covers from his noted works, along with artifacts such as the typewriter on which he typed to draft his literary pieces. Selected books will be available for purchase.
Schedule of Activities
10:00 Local Choirs
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Domino Tournament - Contact the Museum to Register
12:00 noon–3:00 p.m. Clowns, Balloons and Jumpers
1:00 p.m. – JoyDara Singers
2:00 p.m. - Dancers from India
3:00 The Bontemps Birthday Cake
4:00 p.m. Extreme Praise Ministries
5:00 Scenes from City Park Players’ Encore of Crowns
6:00 Domino Award Ceremony
6:30 Jazz under the Stars, Music by Local Jazz Ensemble
For more information call 318-473-4692.
This project is sponsored by the Arna Bontemps African American Museum and co-sponsored by the Mayoral Commission for Cultural Affairs, Office of the Mayor, City of Alexandria, and partly funded by Act 18, State of Louisiana.