Sophs Magnanini - 00:00
Oak City Move is a podcast on WKNC's 88.1 FM HD 1 Raleigh where we highlight people and organizations
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blog.wknc.org or follow us on SoundCloud at wknc88.1 hello 88.1 WKNC Raleigh. The song you just heard was
Sweaty linen by Surf Ninja 3. I'm Sophia Magnanini, your host and you're listening to Oak City Move. Today we are
joined by some very special guests, Madison Phillips, Alex Scotterijia and Kaya LittleTurtle. They are all from the
North Carolina Museum of History. And today we are going to kind of discuss the new upcoming 25th annual
American History exhibit.
Sophs Magnanini - 00:57
So first off, I just want to thank you all for coming and taking the time out of your day to talk with me. And if
someone wants to start by telling us a little bit about each of yalls roles at the Museum of History and how you're
involved with this upcoming exhibit, sure.
Madison Phillips - 01:13
Thank you, Sophia. My name is Madison Phillips. I'm the Public Programs Branch head with the North Carolina
Museum of History and we are very excited to talk about the 25th annual African American Cultural celebration
that the History Museum is putting on this year. It will be at the North Carolina Museum of Art off Blue Ridge Road.
And that is because the North Carolina Museum of History building is under construction at the moment. So while
our building is under construction, we want to continue on the legacy of this wonderful festival. So we are working
with our sister agency in order to keep having this in person. So that will be Saturday, January 31, from 10:30am to
4:30pm can you kind.
Sophs Magnanini - 01:57
Of tell us the official title of the exhibit and then also kind of the core story or message that you guys are hoping
the visitors will take away, as well as how Alex and Kai, you guys are also included.
Kaya Littleturtle - 02:10
Yeah, so this is going to be the 25th anniversary of the African American Cultural Celebration. And of course, while
normally we would be having it over at the Museum of History, we're having some exciting renovations happening
to our building right now. And through the wonderful partnership that we have with North Carolina Museum of Art,
we are hosting this annual celebration over there at their beautiful facility. It will be January 31st, but we will also
be having an educational day on January 30th that's going to be virtual. So if you cannot attend in person to the
celebration on January 31, you can sign up for the really fun Education Virtual Day that's going to be going on
January 30th. But we're really excited.
Kaya Littleturtle - 02:53
This is, this is 25 years of really, really powerful history and storytelling about the African American community
here in the great state of North Carolina.
Sophs Magnanini - 03:04
It's really cool that you guys are doing it at the. You guys offer virtual as well as doing it in person at the art
museum, which is really cool. How kind of the different museums are helping each other since they're all kind of
connected at 1. Does this exhibit differ from any of the past history exhibits or the museum has hosted or is it kind
of the same? Is there any new things that you guys are excited about?
Madison Phillips - 03:30
So the location change is definitely something we are interested to see. How it goes. We recently held the
American Indian Heritage Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of Art this past November. It was a beautiful
celebration with great space. The one, the layout was awesome. We saw on attendance on par with what we've
seen when we've held the festival at our own museum. So we think that this one is going to be just as wonderful.
We've had some great partners working with us to make this happen. The staff at the art museum has been
nothing but accommodating and easy to work with. So we are heavily looking forward to how this is going to go.
As for the festival itself, the biggest thing is we're celebrating 25 years. So in order to do that, we will have a 25
year slideshow.
Madison Phillips - 04:21
This will feature photos from all the past years. You'll get to witness people grow up over the years as they have
attended each year. You'll see people who have demonstrated in the past. You'll see new generations of
demonstrators coming forward. And who knows, if you've been before, you might even see yourself in a photo.
Sophs Magnanini - 04:42
That's really cool. It's kind of gathering all the community that has been with this exhibit since the first year that it
was put on. That's. That's awesome. It also builds up, makes everyone feel special. Like the people that are
included in it, the people that help build it, the people that it's about. And so that's really awesome.
Madison Phillips - 05:01
Yes. We intend for this event to be super family oriented, family friendly. We have something for all ages. Whether
it's hands on activities or panel discussions, meeting authors that are going to be talking on a panel and then
getting Them to sign copies of books that you could take home. It is just really exciting for all different age groups
and backgrounds.
Sophs Magnanini - 05:22
No, that's really cool because my next question was going to be, are there any lesser known stories or figures or
anything that you guys are really excited about that's featured in the exhibit this year?
Madison Phillips - 05:35
Kaya, I think you have one you're really excited about.
Kaya Littleturtle - 05:39
I do, I do. Several. There's, there's. There's so many, there's so many amazing people that's going to be there. But
one person in particular that comes to My mind is Dr. Sonny Kelly. And you know, he's a dramatic arts performer,
storyteller, motivational speaker, and he's a really good comedian. He has, he has a way of being able to talk about
these different points in history in such a way that it resonates with the audience. And so we're really excited to
have Dr. Sonny Kelly there. And he is going to be doing his performance over in the auditorium of the art museum
from I believe it is 12:30 to 1:15. So we're really excited to have him.
Kaya Littleturtle - 06:25
Another person that I want to highlight, that just comes straight to my mind when we're talking about legacy and
we're Thinking about the 25 years of the African American culture celebration is Mr. Ben Watford. He is an elder, he
is a potter, a master potter, and he's in his 90s. And he has been coming and supporting the celebration as a
demonstrator for a number of years. And he drives all the way from New Bern. And I think that just speaks to the
importance of this celebration, the amazing and vibrant visibility and education that it brings. And I'm really
appreciative of him and all the different elders to help pave the way for such beautiful representation. And I'm just
really proud that we have him in attendance and all of our demonstrators.
Kaya Littleturtle - 07:14
We also have Ms. Alfreda Johnson, who's traveling a ways from around the Charlotte area that's going to be
demonstrating sweet grass baskets. Beautiful, beautiful sweetgrass baskets. And I think that once again, that
speaks to the overall celebration because it's multi generational. We have a variety of different ages that can speak
to the abundance of different talent and historical contributions of the African American community in North
Carolina.
Madison Phillips - 07:41
And I'd love to piggyback on that. When I hear you talking about legacy and all of the amazing things that these
demonstrators are bringing, it's important to remember that it's not just These people, we are also helping to
spread the word about these crafts and these traditions. We are helping to raise the next generation of
demonstrators. One that I can speak about this is Taryn Pipkins. His father, Tarish Pipkins, is also known as Jay
Ghetto Entertainment. He is a master puppeteer and his son is following in his footsteps at being an arts educator
and knowing how to do wonderful, intricate things with puppets. So I am very excited to see how he has advanced
over the years now that he is our demonstrator for puppetry.
Madison Phillips - 08:29
So we are very excited to have Taryn at this festival and get to see how he's doing and how he's grown up over the
years learning this craft and now he can be the one to present it. That's.
Sophs Magnanini - 08:41
That's amazing. It's really endearing how much love and depth and community goes into these exhibits and these
celebrations. And so many people keep coming back and then bringing new people like their sons or friends,
family, and it's just really awesome. My next question, you guys kind of talked about it a little bit, but how are the
local communities, artists and historians also involved in shaping this exhibit? I know you guys talked about some
of the people that are going to come. Are there any other, like specific people organizations that are really helpful
to y'?
Madison Phillips - 09:16
All? Yeah, I think this is a great time to highlight all that goes into this festival. Outside the wonderful two days,
both virtual and in person. This takes a year round effort. So from February 1, the day after this year's festival, we
will start beginning planning for 2027. So we have a wide advisory board that features staff from our museum. It
also features staff from the African American Heritage Commission, which is also part of the Department of
Natural and Cultural Resources. We have support of our superiors, we have support of sister agencies, our historic
sites, all these people with such in depth information, in depth history knowledge that come together. And we add
in community members that serve as board members. They help guide these conversations, they help connect us
to demonstrators that we don't know of yet.
Madison Phillips - 10:10
And they are based all over North Carolina. So while we are here in Raleigh, we have that reach extended through
our advisory board. So this is year round planning, year round input and vetting people discussing what all is
important to highlight the different trends of the year. I mean, we have America's 250th anniversary birthday
celebration, as you want to call it this year. So it is exciting to highlight that as well. We are planning with different
artists and different community groups to bring in new acts every single Year. We don't want this festival to ever
feel stagnant because just as the communities change, we will change to reflect that. So their participation in the
planning and in the event itself really reflects the lived experience and highlights the traditions that are actively
participated today.
Sophs Magnanini - 11:05
Hearing how many people are so willing to help and are just love being able to give a chance to speak or let others
speak, show what they know is really awesome.
Madison Phillips - 11:18
Absolutely. It calls for a lot of volunteers too. So outside of just having people present, outside of staff who are
dedicated to making this festival happen, we have people that volunteer. They help with parking, they help getting
presenters inside the building and set up. They help with hospitality throughout the day. So we are grateful to their
work as well. We are very close partners in volunteering with the Delta alumni groups around here. So Delta Sigma
Theta sorority, we could not do all of the hands on interaction without them. So we appreciate the volunteering that
goes into this as well.
Kaya Littleturtle - 11:55
Yeah, we have to, yeah, we have to have the volunteers. It is a, it's a massive feat. And see, that's the thing. These
cultural celebrations, these festivals is a, is a powerful vehicle for community engagement. You know, that's the
thing. You know, when you're, when you're thinking about history and then when you apply it to these cultural
celebrations, it's making history. Not just something of the past, not just something that's in a book, it's making it
something of the present, but also something of the future. Because we're making history. We're making history.
When we, when we gather the communities together like that, history is being made and it's paving the way for, for
more, for more greatness.
Kaya Littleturtle - 12:35
So I'm really proud of, of what we're able to do as the museum of history and our partners throughout the state, the
community partners that we have, and of course just the inter partner collaboration between all the different
divisions of dncr. So we're really, really thankful for that.
Sophs Magnanini - 12:56
And, and it just goes to show that every little person, every little job really matters, especially in these giant
celebrations. Like you guys were saying, just even like volunteers for parking and certain stuff like that. It's
everyone working together to make the day as best as it can be, to make it flourish and everyone get what they
want. You were talking a little bit about, you know, the future as well as paving the way. And my next question was,
how do you hope this exhibit resonates with younger Visitors or maybe first time museum goers.
Kaya Littleturtle - 13:30
Yeah, well, you know, my thing is that I want people to leave from there inspired. You know, when I was young, I
was involved in the American Indian Heritage celebration for it's. We just had our 30th annual this past November
and I've been involved in pretty much every year of that. And I know what that did for me, the positive impact that it
had for my life growing up to see such a, a positive reflection of my culture and heritage in such a huge setting and
platform and how that impacted my self esteem and where I felt like that I could take my identity.
Kaya Littleturtle - 14:23
And so that is really for me personally, that's one of my biggest missions and that's one of the main reasons that I
wanted to come work for North Carolina Museum of History is that I wanted to help to inspire people through the
history and culture of our state.
Madison Phillips - 14:39
Beautifully said, Kaya. Yeah, I would agree that first time visitors and those who are younger, I mean being able to
see themselves in some of these demonstrators and some of these cultural demonstrations, that's so important.
Just getting the day to connect with community members across the state. I mean, how often do you get that
opportunity in such a educational and inspiring event format? So I mean it's exciting for those matters as well as if
you're a kid and you're showing up. We've got hands on activities, we've got food vendors that will be there that
have all different kinds of food that you can snack on all day long. We've got tons of crafts that are oriented to
what our demonstrators do.
Madison Phillips - 15:23
So while they might not be at the master level of the demonstrators, it will help them walk away and show them
what they can make with their own two hands. So that part is really exciting. Something else I'd like to highlight is
that our resource tables that we will have at that event include some of our historic sites across the state. So as
these people go home, they will have the chance to visit some of these historic sites that might be closer to them,
closer to their homes. They'll get to see how this history continues on and why it's more important to study it year
round instead of just coming to this one day and getting your information that way.
Madison Phillips - 16:01
So hopefully as people travel across the state for vacations or they visit family in another town, they'll get to check
out places like Somerset Place and Historic Stagville and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historic Site. So we're Very
excited to have staff from those sites come visit and come table for the day to talk about their passions, their
histories, and to hopefully inspire the next generation of historians and cultural torchbearers. So it is very exciting
for me as someone who works in a museum, to be able to see the joy and the inspiration in the faces of first time
visitors and those who are younger.
Sophs Magnanini - 16:43
Incredibly important, especially when it's celebrating groups of like, minorities and younger generations. They
might celebrate seeing their, them being so celebrated in their people. It just helps them feel like this is who I am.
Like I can be me. I can be any version of myself and I don't have to apologize for it or try and dim that light for
others. And so it's incredibly important, especially the history aspects too, because I know in like, especially at this
time where kind of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, like that kind of history and African
American history and other stuff have a threat of being taken out and taken away, it's really important to still have
that and celebrate it. And also really cool about all the engaging activities that are there for all ages. And just the
resources are amazing.
Sophs Magnanini - 17:50
My next question is, how can you connect this exhibit to experiences in the current social or cultural movements?
Madison Phillips - 18:02
So this festival, it allows the museum to honor tradition and scholarship while creating at the same time
experiences that feel meaningful and memorable. I mean, we've been talking about the joy that occurs at these
festivals. And while we read news headlines all day that are meant to make you feel something, meant to make
you engage with the article, getting to experience this pure joy, this sense of community, the sense of belonging, I
think it is, and it's a great highlight to have at the beginning of the year. So people will enjoy the performance, they'll
enjoy the crafts, they'll enjoy the conversations with elders and those that came before them just to keep the
history alive, learn the history as well as experiencing that community and that joy.
Madison Phillips - 18:49
And those are really our big pushes for this festival, especially as it is a kickoff to Black History Month. I mean, the
next day we're starting with Black History Month and all of the amazing events and highlights that will be occurring
around the triangle at that time.
Kaya Littleturtle - 19:07
Yeah, and that's what you'll feel when you go there. You know, that's, that's the thing. It's gonna, it's gonna feel like a
celebration because it is a celebration. And you know, down from the foods to the singing to the dancing to the
North Carolina association of Black Storytellers telling Their beautiful stories, and then once again to the. To all the
different variety of demonstrators. So, you know, it. It takes. It takes different parts of every beautiful facet of the
community and puts it on an amazing platform for the community abroad to be able to come and visit and share
and learn and be with each other.
Sophs Magnanini - 19:49
Especially like what you were saying, how it kind of kickstarts the year. It's an amazing way for people to kind of,
yeah. Start their year, see this, and then they go on throughout the year kind of building that up, and then they could
possibly help with the next year or absolutely bring that again for the next. And so it's an amazing kind of cycle of
just this growth in this deep, rich, like cultural and history that is 100 needs to be shared and protected from being
forgotten, which you guys are doing such an amazing job in that. This kind of also pairs with the last question, but
how do you guys think that museums serve as a spaces for dialogue, reflection, and social change?
Kaya Littleturtle - 20:37
I just, I feel like that's like one of our main directives is that, you know, we are the, you know, the institution that, that
gets to hold on to the history and disseminate it out into the beautiful world. I love working at a museum. I'm one
of them kind of. I'm one of them kind of people that when I was a kid, I said to myself, I want to work at a museum.
I remember kids my age look at me like, you want to work at a museum? I'm like, yes, history is so cool. You know,
you have to know where you came from in order to help guide you into where you need to be. And so, you know, it's
a, It's a, It's a really big foundation for us as indigenous people. And, and I just think it's. It's a real.
Kaya Littleturtle - 21:24
It should need to be a really strong foundation for all of us as human beings. History. History is beautiful and, and,
but history also is. Is one of the best teachers. And so, you know, that, that's my thing. I feel like we had that
responsibility. We had that responsibility out. Out to the people to, to uphold history and, and make sure that we
can get it to them so that they can. They can be history bearers as well.
Madison Phillips - 21:55
It is absolutely a responsibility and it is a blessing and a joy to have to be able to present the facts and the history
and the interpretations over time and then building skill sets in people and encouraging them to grow their critical
thinking, to have conversations, to question things. I mean that's the epitome of learning. So to be the ones that
can facilitate and to offer the space and to offer the time to be able to have dialogue, to reflect on the past, to then
look where you're going in the future and have those decisions inform how you lead your life. That is the passion in
so many of us, that is the fire that burns inside of us is that we want to learn from the past and we want everybody
else to see the cyclical nature of time and of society.
Madison Phillips - 22:52
So it is an honor to work at the history of museum. It is an honor to hold these cultural festivals. It is an honor to be
able to work with the public. And that's why, I mean being the branch head for public programs, I am just enthused
every day that I wake up and I'm like, I get to do this. I get to help make an impact, a positive impact on those that
come after me. So very proud of my team, very proud of the community partners, proud to be a part of this
museum, proud to be a part of this cultural festival. We're going to have an amazing time at the end of the month
here and looking forward to celebrating 25 years and here's to 25 plus more years.
Kaya Littleturtle - 23:36
Creating spaces for healthy conversation is so important. So just I'm just so glad that we get to be a part of that.
Sophs Magnanini - 23:45
It's amazing hearing how passionate you guys are about what you guys do and helping keep people informed,
helping create spaces for people to come together. It's just really amazing because like you guys were saying, in
order to forge the future we have to remember the past and look on that which especially I keep saying this but in
the state that we are right now as a country, it's very important for us to look back and see. Yeah that recognize the
cyclical nature and trying to inform those around us about how we can keep firm as we kind of like wrap up the
questions. If you guys just wanted to say how long the exhibit is open.
Madison Phillips - 24:33
So this is a day long festival. So this will start at 10:30am on Saturday, January 31st and it will continue all of the
free fun you could possibly imagine to 4:30pm that day. So we are going to be out there. It doesn't matter what
time you show up. If you're busy in the morning still, come on out. There's tons to do. We will not run out because
our Resources are people, so they're going to be there all day. If you're not able to be in the Raleigh area on that
Saturday, January 31st, do not forget about the Virtual Education Day. So that is a stream of past recorded
demonstrations that will be going on from 9am to 2pm you're able to sign up to receive that link next week.
Madison Phillips - 25:19
You're able to sign up if you go to nc-aacc.com and you'll see Virtual Education Day. Register here. You put in your
information and you'll receive the link within the next week to join at whatever time during that stream. Perfect.
Sophs Magnanini - 25:36
And I know you guys mentioned earlier how important volunteers are. So if you guys also wanted to kind of shout
out how people could get involved if they wanted to do that.
Madison Phillips - 25:46
So we did have a volunteer link up for a while. Just due to the nature of this being such a big festival and having to
have those logistics figured out a bit more. We are pretty full on volunteers at this point. But for next years, I mean
we will have the same website. You can visit the museum's website in order to find the link as well. And we will
encourage any and all volunteers.
Sophs Magnanini - 26:10
Well, I just want to thank you guys so much once again for coming in and telling all this amazing information and
just being so passionate about what you guys do. It's incredibly important and I'm really looking forward to this
new exhibit or the 25th celebration.
Madison Phillips - 26:28
Yes.
Sophs Magnanini - 26:28
Of this exhibit.
Madison Phillips - 26:29
Absolutely. We are more than excited as well. It's a, it's a big year. It's a big festival season. As Ko mentioned,
American Indian Heritage Celebration celebrated 30 years. We're celebrating 25 with this celebration and Black
History Month is celebrating a whole century. So just very exciting times to be around to be able to celebrate
together.
Sophs Magnanini - 26:52
Lots of celebrations happening, but that's how it should be. Everyone should always be celebrating something. As
we come up on the end of our chat, I just want to thank you all again for listening and for our special guest for
coming in and talking about their amazing organization and exhibit that coming that's coming up. It's really
amazing celebrating such an amazing group of people and keeping that history and culture rich and alive. But
thank you all again for listening to Oak City Move. I am your host, Sophs Magnanini and if you're interested in
listening to this episode again or to past episodes of the show, you can go to wknc.org podcast and make sure to
tune into our show every other Monday on WKNC 88.1 FM Raleigh. Have a great day.
