Arts in Black celebrated at Fulwood Park

May 8—TIFTON — Arts in Black celebrated its 37th year over the weekend with an array of performances in Tifton. Rain fell both Friday and Saturday, but crowds still came out for the celebration.

Vendors of all kinds set up in Fulwood Park, ranging from arts and crafts to voting assistance to food.

Saturday opened with the annual Poetry Recitation Contest on the Syd Blackmarr Stage at Fulwood Park. Entrants were divided into age groups. Langston Hughes was a popular poet for Division I, with two youngsters reading his poems. Another entrant read Useni Eugene Perkins' "Hey, Black Child."

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members also read a poem in another segment.

Performance arts were not limited to poetry, however.

In the first 30 minutes alone, youth held up artwork on stage. Eagle's Wings Judah praise dancers performed to "Open Up the Heavens." Music is a big part of the festival, with groups scheduled to come in from all over the state.

Arts in Black is nearing 40 years of tradition. The festival began in 1986, originally held on the campus of J.T. Reddick Elementary School.