On September 26, I had the joy of hosting a Coloring Book Party as part of my current exhibition, Teaching Black History Through Art. The event brought together families, students, educators, and community members for an evening of creativity, reflection, and celebration.

Thanks to the support of Canvas & Courage, crayons and coloring pages from the Women of Color and Accomplishment series were provided for everyone to enjoy. Attendees of all ages sat side by side, filling pages with vibrant colors while learning about the powerful stories of Black women often overlooked in history books.

Inspiring Voices

The highlight of the event was hearing from our guest speakers, each of whom reminded us why this work matters.

• Dr. Cindy Acker, the teacher whose students’ coloring pages were featured in the exhibition, spoke about how her classroom used the books to create a schoolwide Black History exhibit.
• Shirley Hasley, a beloved educator and the 100th portrait in my series, shared her reflections on teaching and representation.
• A parent offered heartfelt words about the positive effect these books have had on her children, noting how seeing strong Black women represented helped her kids imagine new possibilities for themselves.
• And I shared my own inspiration for creating the event, bringing art and history together to spark meaningful conversations across generations.

Why It Matters

The Coloring Book Party showed us that art can be a bridge: between past and present, between classrooms and communities, between children and the stories that inspire them.

As I looked around the room, I saw more than pages being colored—I saw history being honored, voices being uplifted, and legacies being carried forward in a way that was joyful, engaging, and deeply human.

This is the heart of Teaching Black History Through Art: to remind us that history isn’t just something to read about, it’s something we can create, share, and keep alive together.