Ocean City Celebrates Black History Month

Eddie Morgan and Daryl Robinson

Ocean City will be host to a variety of events to mark Black History Month in February.

The Ocean City Free Public Library joins the National African American Read-In on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The day will include community readings of African American literature. All readings will be held in the Children’s Activity Room:

• 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Toddler Time (Ages 2-3), featuring African American authors and artists
• 1:30 to 2 p.m.: Story Train (Ages 4-5), featuring African American authors and artists
• 6:30 to 7 p.m.: Open Mic, everyone invited to participate by bringing a favorite short passage from a book, poem, or speech by an African American author to read aloud

The library will offer a free showing of the 2004 Oscar-winning biopic “Ray” at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall. The movie stars Jamie Foxx in the life story of legendary musician Ray Charles.

Local jazz duet Eddie Morgan and Daryl Robinson will perform a free concert at the Ocean City Arts Center 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. The concert will feature jazz classics from the past several decades.

Morgan, an Atlantic City native, will play trumpet and provide vocals. He is a music teacher in Pleasantville and founder of “JAZZ 4 KIDZ & U,” a summer enrichment music camp for all his current and former students.

Robinson will play keyboards. He has performed with such legends as Wynton Marsalis and Dave Brubeck. In addition, Robinson has taught music for the past 35 years.

The Ocean City Free Public Library and the Ocean City Arts Center are both part of the Community Center building at 1735 Simpson Ave.