The Reginald F. Lewis Museum will celebrate its 20th anniversary on May 8 with a Black Tie Gala in Baltimore, honoring Black culture and community leaders, and featuring live performances, award presentations, and notable guests.
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture
A look at dandyism, the Black fashion style powering the Met Gala
The Met Museum’s spring exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” spotlights Black dandyism—an expressive style rooted in resistance and self-definition—through centuries of tailored fashion, from 18th-century enslaved servants to Harlem Renaissance icons and modern figures like Janelle Monáe. Highlighting how Black communities used fashion as both protest and empowerment, the exhibit, which kicks off May 5 with the Met Gala, traces a vibrant lineage of sartorial defiance, elegance, and cultural pride.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Update: Smithsonian officials say the Greensboro lunch counter exhibit at the ‘Blacksonian’ will now remain at the museum
The Smithsonian confirmed that the Greensboro lunch counter exhibit, a pivotal Civil Rights Movement artifact, will remain on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, addressing concerns about the removal of Black resistance artifacts.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
2025 Met Gala theme inspired by Black style
The 2025 Met Gala, set for May 5, celebrates Black designers and classic menswear with the theme “Tailored For You,” inspired by the Met’s new exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Co-chaired by stars like Pharrell Williams and A$AP Rocky, the exclusive fundraiser continues to blend high fashion, celebrity, and cultural history at one of the year’s most iconic events.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC artist Reggie Gillumo creates art that the visually impaired can ‘see’
Reggie Gillumo, a D.C.-based visual artist and sculptor, has spent nearly 30 years perfecting his signature style—vibrant, touchable artworks designed to be experienced by both sighted and visually impaired audiences. Celebrated for his innovative technique and community impact, Gillumo recently opened his own gallery and continues to inspire through mentorship and his deeply personal, inclusive art.
Posted inArts & Culture
Gospel Fest brings church to the Symphony Hall
In a time when divisions often feel louder than unity, Gospel Fest was a moment of communion—a reminder of the beauty that emerges when tradition, excellence, and faith share the same stage. The event, held at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore on April 3, featured the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Pastor Smokie Norful, and three of the nation’s most distinguished HBCU choirs, Bowie State University Choir, Howard Gospel Choir and Morgan State University Choir.
Posted inBaltimore News
Obituary: Former judge George L. Russell Jr., founding chairman of Reginald F. Lewis Museum, dies at 96
George L. Russell Jr., a trailblazing jurist and civic leader who became the first African American to hold several key legal positions in Maryland, has died at the age of 96. As the founding chairman of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, he played a pivotal role in securing its funding and establishing it as a beacon of Black history and excellence.
Posted inBaltimore News
AFRO High Tea returns to Baltimore
The AFRO’s High Tea returns April 26 at Martin’s West, honoring historic organizations and celebrating community legacy. With nearly 1,000 guests expected, the event features live entertainment, local vendors and support.
Posted inMusic
Going broke for Beyoncé? The Beyhive is in crisis
By Laura Onyeneho The BeyHive is in distress, not just because Beyoncé has blessed us with another groundbreaking tour. It’s tax season, and as some planned to be financially responsible, Queen Bey dropped ticket prices for her much-anticipated Cowboy Carter tour. Suddenly, budgets are being revised, savings accounts are under siege and credit cards are […]
Posted inHBCU
Theatre Morgan presents groundbreaking historical drama ‘Williams and Walker’ at Morgan State University
Morgan State University’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “Williams and Walker,” a gripping historical drama about America’s first Black Broadway stars, running April 24–26, 2025, at the Murphy Fine Arts Center in Baltimore. Written by Vincent D. Smith and directed by Dwight R.B. Cook, the production features music by Eros Da Artiste and choreography by Mari-Andrea Travis, honoring the groundbreaking legacy of George Walker and Bert Williams.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Soulful country duo, The War and Treaty, set to hit Howard Theatre stage
War and Treaty will bring their genre-blending mix of soul, country and rock to Washington, D.C.’s Howard Theatre on April 11 as part of their Plus One Tour. Known for their emotionally-charged performances, the husband-and-wife team says the show is a space for healing, joy and connection—”a family reunion” where fans will “leave lighter than you came
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Smithsonian African American Museum Director Placed on Leave
By Stacy M. BrownBlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent Kevin Young, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), is currently on personal leave and not leading the museum, according to Smithsonian officials. The leave began on March 14 and will continue for an “undetermined period,” according to Kevin Gover, the Smithsonian’s […]