NEWS RELEASE: Historic Huguenot Street Celebrates Black History Month
With a Concert by Kim & Reggie Harris, “Songs of Joy, Hope, and Freedom”
NEW PALTZ, NY (January 22, 2016) – In celebration of Black History Month, Historic Huguenot Street will host a concert by dynamic musicians and storytellers Kim and Reggie Harris at the Crispell Memorial French Church (60 Huguenot Street) on Thursday, February 11, at 7 pm. In recent years, Historic Huguenot Street has taken an active role in educating the public on the history of Northern slavery and the part Africans played in the development of the National Historic Landmark District we know today. The organization celebrates Black History Month as a testament to the many African and African American descendants of Huguenot Street and their contributions to American history.
Kim and Reggie Harris are dynamic, talented performers who combine a strong folk and gospel legacy with classical, rock, and pop influences. Their captivating stage presence and unique harmonies have earned the respect and love of audiences for over 30 years.
“We last hosted a concert by Kim and Reggie for a Juneteenth celebration in 2014,” said Kara Gaffken, Director of Public Programming. “They are truly powerful storytellers who put on a moving, inspirational performance, and we are happy to welcome them back to the acoustically-beautiful Crispell Memorial French Church.”
With numerous recordings on the Appleseed Recordings and Folk Era labels, Kim and Reggie have earned wide acclaim for their contributions to the historical and educational knowledge base on the Underground Railroad and the modern civil rights movement. More than just singers and songwriters, they are educators, interpreters of history, and cultural advocates.
Members $10, seniors and military $12, general admission $15.
A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 New Paltz settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century. It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve the nationally acclaimed collection of stone houses. Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today.
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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Communications & Marketing Manager
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org