Black Arts Fest MKE was organized in 2018 with the intention to celebrate African American culture and everything that comes with it. This festival exists to celebrate the creativity of Black culture and pays homage to the roots of African Heritage. Each year the festival is held on the Summerfest Grounds on the first Saturday of August. Festivities included live art making, musical performances from local artists, poetry, dance, fashion, health and wellness, community outreach and of course food for the soul!
Upon my first steps entering through the main gate, I was welcomed with the laughs of children playing in the splash pad and the aroma of barbecue and lemons from the fresh lemonade stand. Although there were a lot of people at the festival, it felt intimate and not as loud as I am used to Summerfest being. As I walked the grounds to explore the different vendors and their products, I could hear music, laughter and cheers coming from the Aurora Pavilion Stage. There were distinct “ayyyes” and claps which drew my curiosity. I found that this is where the local musical guests were performing, which transitioned to the Divine 9 Party by the time I was able to get a seat. This was exciting because sororities and fraternities such as Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha, and Omega Psi Phi were all in attendance. I enjoyed watching them step on stage as well as the unity with their brothers and sisters in the crowd cheering for them.
The rest of my time was spent at the Aurora Pavilion Stage because I enjoyed watching everyone laugh, dance and smile together as if I was at one big family gathering. I laughed and conversed with women that reminded me of my mother and aunties, and smiled at the couples dancing as it reminded me of my family members who always loved to “Two- Step” or “Bop.” Overall I appreciated the atmosphere of the Black Arts Fest as it felt like I was amongst family the entire time and for me, that is the beauty of Black culture.
