An Evening with Dr. Karsonya "Kaye" Whitehead

The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival (AAHF) is the signature annual cultural and intellectual convening of the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC), a nationally recognized institution dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and advancing the global Black experience through research, scholarship, arts, and community engagement.

AAHF brings together authors, scholars, artists, performers, and families for a multi-day celebration of Black culture, history, creativity, and storytelling. The festival blends lectures, literary events, performances, youth activations, family programming, and curated cultural installations that illuminate the richness of the African diaspora.

The 2026 theme, “We, Too, Sing America: 250 Years of Black Life and Culture,” draws inspiration from Langston Hughes’ “I, Too,” affirming the dignity, resilience, and rightful presence of Black voices in the American narrative. This year’s programming will highlight historical perspectives, contemporary scholarship, artistic excellence, and intergenerational learning.

Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead: President, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Dr. Whitehead is a nationally respected public historian, cultural critic, and educator whose work centers Black public memory, racial justice, and social transformation. As President of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. (ASALH)—the organization founded by Carter G. Woodson—she plays a leading role in shaping national discourse around Black history and its public interpretation. She is also a professor at Loyola University Maryland and a widely sought-after speaker on equity, heritage, and storytelling.

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Host or Publisher South Florida Book Festival