The annual observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is a widely-celebrated precursor that usually sets the national stage to recognize February as National Black History Month.

“It certainly is my marker to kick planning into a higher gear”, says Rahn d. Fudge, Creator and Executive Producer of this year’s 17th Annual Black History Month (BHM) Phoenix Affaire RISE!  Weekend slated for February  22-24 in Bainbridge.  Other RISE!-related events are also scheduled in Bainbridge (February 18, 19) and in nearby Colquitt (February 20) and Donalsonville, Georgia (February 21).

On the local Black History Month ‘menu’ of events this year will include a mixture of  standard and a couple new events being  planned including, of course, the weekend’s cornerstone event better known as the Phoenix Affaire, the group’s ‘signature’ fashion-theatre and supper club show and newly-added this year is a “I Have A Dream” (cash-prize winning) speech competition open to all ages and races, emphasizes Fudge of San Francisco, Calif., who is also a 1979 graduate of Bainbridge High School.

There will also be continued focus, as in past years, on the importance of saving what Phoenix Affaire Group organizers say is an unmarked, forgotten and abandoned local black history ‘treasure’ which is Mt. Zion A.M.E. church.  The group updates that now the historic cemetery grounds near the little white wood frame church, already itself decaying from years of neglect, were recently further damaged by the path of destruction left behind when Hurricane Michael swept through the region and where recovery efforts from the storm continue.

“Despite our best efforts so far, we still need much more awareness, response and support from the community (at-large) to help us lead the push to save this little rich-history black church and so many other unmarked and unrecognized local historical landmarks throughout this region of Southwest Georgia”, states Fudge.

A full, detailed listing of all free and ticketed events for the 17th Annual Phoenix Affaire RISE! Weekend is forthcoming in early February. 

For more information or to help volunteer, please call 1.229.205.0218(Betty) or email rahn.fudge@gmail.com