Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 1-14-20

Local
Tampa’s Black Heritage Festival Reaches 20-Year Milestone!
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Twenty years ago, one of the Tampa Bay region’s biggest and most popular events was birthed.
But today’s Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival looks nothing like its predecessor. The first fes- tival took place over just a few days at Lykes Gaslight Square Park. There was no Music Fest with performances from world- renowned artists and bands. And it was difficult to get ade- quate support – public or private – to cover festival expenses.
Festival founder Dr. Sam Wright well remembers those early years.
“We were having difficult times getting funding,” he said. “It seemed like corporate Amer- ica would support other festivals and cultural events, but we would get support one year and not again for three years.”
Now, the festival boasts
DR. SAM WRIGHT, WILLIAM SANDERS AND RUBY JACKSON ..Festival founder and its Co-Chairs
featuring Florida Rights Restoration Coalition executive director Desmond Meade, and numerous financial semi- nars.
Festival volunteers know that quality programming is key to a successful event and all planning is done keeping the community at the forefront, Jackson said.
Seeing festival attendees come out and enjoy themselves makes the months of hard work worth it, she said.
“I look forward to the com- munity coming out and support- ing us,” she said.
Dr. Wright, who years ago stepped down from the planning committee, said he is pleased to see that the same standard of ex- cellence that was implemented 20 years ago when the festival was first staged, continues to guide the planning committee.
It’s this foundation coupled with that has ensured the festi- val’s survival, he said.
“People need a sense of pride and they’re excited about com- ing out,” he said. “Young people see it and it propels them to do something. That’s what this is all about.”
If You Go
The Tampa Bay Black Her- itage Festival is a 10-day cultural event that features seminars, a Music Fest, and other happen- ings throughout the city.
Here are some festival high- lights:
– Leadership Luncheon featuring Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Wednesday, Jan. 15th at University Area Com- munity Development Corp., 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa.
– Music Fest 2020 – Sat- urday and Sunday, Jan. 18 & 19, at Curtis Hixon Park. VIP, Preferred, and General Admission seating avail- able.
– New this year is the Uncle Nearest VIP Experi- ence.
– Scholarship Gaming Tournament, an e-sports competition for high school students, 5-8:30 p. m. Sat- urday, Jan. 18, Curtis Hixon Park.
– To purchase tickets and see the full list of events, visit tampablack- heritage.org.
nearly 20 sponsors, including Publix, TD Bank, and the Florida Sentinel.
The 10-day event is now one of the largest events in the area, boasting an estimated 15,000 people to its popular Music Fest at Curtis Hixon Park.
Despite the trials, Dr. Wright said he never wavered in his belief that the festival would persist.
“I had trust in God that He would make it work,” he said.
“It’s been phenomenal. I’m still in awe.”
Dr. Wright isn’t alone. William Sanders, the festi- val’s longtime marketing and en- tertainment coordinator, has been a part of the festival since its inception.
The last two decades “have gone by so fast,” Sanders said. And while lineups, locations,
and events have changed, what remains constant is the festival’s appeal, he said.
“We’re established,” he said. “People are calling us from all over the world to be a part of this festival. We’re still hustling, but our name has made room for us. We’re international now.”
Sanders’s co-chair, Ruby Jackson concurred.
“We’re on the map,” she said.
This year’s festival features a long list of events, including: a 5K Walk-Run-Bootcamp for Health; Leadership Luncheon
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