Learning from the past

Western Piedmont Community College continues its monthlong observance of Black History Month today as the local chapter of the NAACP and the Burke County Public Library prepare for their annual events this weekend.

Best-selling author and South Carolina peach farmer Dori Sanders will speak at 11 a.m. today in the Leviton Auditorium at WPCC.

The annual Black History Festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Collett Street rec center.

And the 10th annual Gathering of the People is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Morganton Public Library.

WPCC

Sanders is the owner of one of the oldest black-owned farms in Filbert, S.C. and has written two best-selling novels, “Clover” and “Her Own Place,” plus a cookbook.

“Clover” is the winner of the Lillian Smith Award and tackles relationships between blacks and whites.

The cookbook includes family recipes and stories.

Sanders is the granddaughter of a freed slave and her father, a former sharecropper, bought the family farm in 1915.

Following her talk today, the college will host a reception and book signing in LRC room 120.

Festival

“Finding our place by remembering our past,” is the theme for this year’s annual Black History Festival.

The Rising Sun Tribe dancers will perform and the Voices of Eden Gospel Choir from UNC Charlotte will sing.

Other local choirs and talent will provide more entertainment.

Vendors will set up booths featuring clothing, jewelry and cosmetics.

New this year is the Bargain Marketplace garage sale.

Returning favorites include the black history poster display and the food — Essie Lee’s chicken pie, Kennette’s mac ’n cheese, St. Luke’s fried fish plus homemade candies and baked goods.

A rolling video game station will be set up, plus other games and prizes are planned.

Sponsors are the Burke County Branch of the NAACP and the Morganton Parks and Recreation Department. Funding comes from a grant from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council and the Burke Arts Council.

Gathering

“Giving back” is the theme of this year’s Gathering of the People program at the Morganton library.

Valaida Fullwood, author of “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists” is the guest speaker.

Fullword is from Morganton and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a major in international studies with a focus on economics.

She wrote “Giving Back” in collaboration with Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists and photographer Charles W. Thomas Jr.

The book is on the list of 10 best black books in 2011.

The free program includes music and refreshments.

Sponsors include the Committee for the Preservation of Black History; Xi Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Hickory Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; the Burke County Public Library; the Burke County Genealogical Society; and the Burke County Historical Society.

Other events

The History Museum of Burke County at 201 W. Meeting St. near the library and a few blocks from the rec center, will hold special hours in conjunction with this weekend’s events. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Sunday. Black history photographs and memorabilia are included in the education, military and law enforcement exhibits.

“Blue Scales” art exhibit is on display through Feb. 29 in the Goodfellow Art Gallery in LRC. It features WPCC graduate Alvin Ward’s collection of oil paintings of blues singers, including Morganton’s Etta Baker. The art show is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. on Friday. A reception is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Monday.

Young adults and adults movie night will feature “The Help” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Morganton Public Library.