Black History Month: SC State to host Sankofa Exhibition Saturday through Monday at Stanback
The exhibition will be available Saturday, Feb. 21, from 12- 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, from 12- 4 p.m., and Monday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The exhibition is free and open to the public.
"The Office of Student Life and Leadership is excited to collaborate again with the Stanback to offer our students a rich and immersive experience celebrating Black History Month,” said Dr. Franklin Pressley, director of SC State’s Office Student Life and Leadership. “This exhibition was a major success in 2024, and we are grateful for the opportunity to offer it to a new student body.
“By collaborating with the Stanback, we can create a multifaceted and immersive experience that celebrates the rich heritage of Black history and culture during Black History Month,” Pressley said.
Sankofa Museum’s curator, Angela Jennings, has traveled throughout the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Africa, and Europe to amass a collection of art, artifacts, and historical documents that rivals many traditional museums. Founded in 1995, the exhibit is a testament to the vast contributions African Americans have made to this country and to the world.
“We are elated to be able to present this exhibition on a weekend. This will provide an opportunity for the community to experience this amazing body of work,” said Ingrid Owens McMillan, director and curator of SC State’s IP Stanback Museum and Planetarium. “It details the many contributions African Americans have made to this country and to the world, but also the grim reality of what we have endured.
“As changes are happening daily to what part of our history is being told, we encourage parents, churches, and organizations to “carpe diem” as evidence of our Black history may be short-lived,” McMillan said. “We can no longer expect our youth to learn about Black history in the classroom.”
For more information, contact Ingrid Owens McMillan, director and curator of the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium at 803-536-7174 or iowens2@scsu.edu.
More about the exhibit
The Sankofa Museum is a traveling educational archive built from more than 2,000 primary source artifacts, documents, and historical materials that trace America’s story through the experiences of its people. The archive functions as a mobile learning environment where students, faculty, and staff engage directly with documented historical evidence through guided interpretation and scholarly dialogue.
As a part of the exhibit, Jennings presents stories and dramatizations about selected periods and historical figures to allow those in the audience to experience both the pain and the pride of the history portrayed. Additionally, she is always anxious to respond to individual questions from those viewing the exhibit.
Spanning the period of 1860 to the present, Sankofa takes audiences on a journey through slavery and emancipation. It also tells the stories of such notables as Ida B. Wells, the Negro Baseball League, and the Tuskegee Airmen. A major highlight of Sankofa is its unique display of little-known inventions by African Americans.
The Ghanaian term “Sankofa” tells us to "use the wisdom of the past to build the future." Jennings and her African American Museum on Wheels epitomize the meaning of the term by educating, enlightening, and empowering young and old alike with living history.
“The Sankofa Museum is more than a display of artifacts. It is a hands-on learning experience that brings clarity, context, and understanding to America’s past.” — Angela Jennings, Curator.