Celebrating Black History Month By Lori Robinson Special to Washingtonpost.com Monday, February 2, 1998

	Edwina Findley and Clinton Faulkner rehearse "Dancing After the Storm," at the Smithsonian. (By Reginald A. Pearman Jr./washingtonpost.com)

There is no better time than Black History Month to make history interesting – even fun. Throughout February, special events designed to celebrate the heritage of African Americans grace museums all over town. Everyone is bound to find something to enjoy, including teenagers who hate history class.

Dress to celebrate at "Carnival '98: A Black History Month Masquerade," a fundraiser for the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture. On Feb. 28, guests will dress up as a notable black historical figures for the party at the Smithsonian Castle on the Mall.

For those who prefer to be entertained, attend a lunch concert at National Museum of American Art on Feb. 4. At noon, the trio BluesWorks performs a musical tribute to blues great Junior Wells. And on Feb. 21 at 2 p.m., the Boston-based group Sankai will treat audiences to African pop music at the S. Dillon Ripley Center Auditorium.

For entertainment laced with information, dancer Diane McIntyre and folk guitarist Oludara will present "In Search of Balance: The Dance Scholar," on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Ring Auditorium of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. For reservations, call 202/357-4500. On Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., storyteller Bill Grimmette dramatizes the life of multi-talented performer and athlete Canada Lee at the National Portrait Gallery. Make reservations for his performance by calling 202/357-2920, Ext. 2.

But Black History Month is not just for grown-ups. The marionette show, "A Woman for a Hundred Head of Cattle," will delight kids at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House on Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. The Capital Children's Museum features an African American History Magic Show on Feb. 21, the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers on Feb. 14, and an African music concert by Amartey Hedzoleh Laryeh on Feb. 16, all at 2 p.m. And children can enjoy storytelling on Feb. 5, 12, 26 and 28. Also, visit the Anacostia Museum on Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. for storytelling by Shirleta Settles.

The Capital Children's Museum gives children and their families opportunities to create their own art all month, including Adinkra cloth, family quilt patches, kufi hats and African dolls and masks. Call the museum at 202/ 675-4120 for dates and times of sessions.

Adults interested in studying and preserving their family history should check out the Bethune/Height Community Training Institute sessions at the Bethune Council House.

"Black History: Your Records, Your History" will be held Feb. 7. "For the Record: The Archives, A Chronicle of Your History" will take place on Feb. 14. And on Feb. 21, attend "Preserving Your Institutional Memory for the Next Millennium." All three events begin at 11 a.m.

At the Smithsonian's keynote address for Black History Month, "African Americans and Business: A Path to Empowerment," businessman Wally Amos and history professor Juliet E.K. Walker will explore past and present Black entrepreneurship. The address takes place at the National Museum of American History on Feb. 18 at noon. The museum is also hosting "Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement" led by motivational author Dennis P. Kimbro. A book-signing will follow the Feb. 23 program, which begins at 8 p.m.

Novelists E. Lynn Harris and Ernest Gaines will also appear in Washington to discuss and sign their books. Harris will appear at the S. Dillon Ripley Center on Feb. 9, and Gaines will be at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Feb. 17. Both events begin at 6 p.m. For tickets, call 202/357-3030.

The Smithsonian also presents a special opportunity to learn about local black history. "Before Integration in the Nation's Capital" is a study tour to be held on Feb. 21. Edward C. Smith, director of the American University's American Studies program, will lead the bus tour beginning at 1 p.m. to sites including Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, Duke Ellington's birthplace and the Lincoln Theatre. Reservations must be made at 202/357-3030.

There will be no shortage of lectures or films during Black History Month this year. At the National Archives' noon lectures, learn about Phillis Wheatley, the slave ship Amistad, the Haitian revolution and the 19th-century sculpture of the black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Films on diverse topics will be screened at the National Archives downtown and at National Archives II in College Park, Md. For information call 202/501-5000.

Throughout February the Smithsonian will host lectures as varied as the National Museum of Natural History's "Designer Coffins of Southern Ghana" and the National Air and Space Museum's "Redtails: Tuskegee Airmen and the P-51 Mustang." A comprehensive film series spans the month, with screenings at the Anacostia Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of African Art, among other Smithsonian museums. For information about any Smithsonian Black History Month event, call 202/357-4574.