Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse | Leaders and Legends Black History Month Exhibition

Leaders and Legends Black History Month Exhibition

Leaders and Legends of Philadelphia 2023

February 4-28 | Smith Memorial Playground 3500 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121

Stay tuned for more information about our 2023 exhibit!

Thank you to our sponsors, CBS 3, Lowe’s, Ballard Spahr, Dr. Beverly Coleman, Philadelphia250, and the UPenn Weitzman School of Design.

Previous Exhibitions

Information about previous exhibits is below.

Leaders and Legends 2021

Saturday, February 6 through Sunday, February 28, 2021

Smith Memorial Playground’s inaugural Leaders and Legends of North Philadelphia Black History Month exhibition celebrates inspirational African American leaders who have made momentous, positive change in the fields of activism, arts, business, education, public service, and sports and have become a part of North Philadelphia’s history. Bring the family out to see displays of each honoree which include biographical information, highlighted facts for caregivers to “Quiz the Kids”, and suggested Philadelphia landmarks, activities, and reading dedicated to or inspired by each honoree that families can explore after they leave Smith.

2021 Honorees

SPORTS

Joe Frazier aka “Smokin’ Joe” – professional boxer and Olympic Gold Medalist (1964 Tokyo, Japan) most known for defeating Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title in 1971
Kyle Lowry – six-time NBA All Star and Olympic Gold Medalist currently playing for the Toronto Raptors

BUSINESS

Ken Frazier – the first African American to lead a major Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company as chairman and CEO of Merck, also a lawyer and philanthropist
Floyd Alston – community development leader best known for his inaugural leadership of the Beech Corporation and his work to spark the revitalization of North Philadelphia

THE ARTS

John Coltrane – legendary jazz saxophonist and composer
Jill Scott – GRAMMY Award-winning entertainer, multimedia entrepreneur and youth advocate

PUBLIC SERVICE

State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (181st District) – first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to either chamber of the General Assembly in Pennsylvania history
Cecil B. Moore – lawyer and civil rights advocate who helped found the Philadelphia Freedom Fighters and fought to desegregate Girard College

EDUCATION

Linda Cliatt-Wayman – educator and children’s advocate who achieved national acclaim for her turnaround of Strawberry Mansion high school
Delores Mitchell Andy – first African American female commissioner of the Philadelphia Recreation Department who was also a community activist and strong supporter of youth

ACTIVISM

Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan – clergyman and human rights activist best known as the pastor of Philadelphia’s Zion Baptist Church who founded the Sullivan Principles (corporate codes of conduct promoting social responsibility)
David and Falaka Fattah – community activists best known for founding of the House of Umoja, an organization whose objective is to end gang violence

Family Time

Continue playful learning celebrating Black History Month and inspired by the phenomenal Leaders and Legends honorees at home and all around the city!

	Smith Play Jawn TV Show Yes, Smith has a TV show and our February episode also features legendary African American leaders and contributions in celebration of Black History Month! Learn More
Inspired by Joe Frazier aka “Smokin’ Joe”	Take a hike on Boxer’s Trail. Joe Frazier trained on it! Drive down Smokin’ Joe Frazier Blvd. (Glenwood Avenue at 2917 N. Broad Street) Visit the Joe Frazier mural (1302 W. Allegheny Avenue). See the Smokin’ Joe statue at Xfinity Live (1100 Pattison Avenue) Read Joe Frazier’s 2019 biography Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier by Mark Kram, Jr.
Inspired by Kyle Lowry	Shoot some hoops at the basketball courts at 33rd and Oxford Streets! Check out the Lowry Love Foundation Suggested reading (kids): B is for Baller by James Littlejohn, Kylie Jean, Basketball Queen by Marcie Peschke, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander Suggested reading (adults): Kyle Lowry: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketballs All Star Guards by Clayton Jeffries
Inspired by Ken Frazier	Play “Doctor” and talk about medicine! Read Ken’s interview with best-selling author Bill George Ken Frazer-inspired reading (kids): Baby Medical School: Bacteria and Antibiotics: A Human Body Science Book for Kids by Cara Florence
Inspired by Floyd Alston	Visit the Cecil B. Moore Library which serves some of the communities Floyd Alston supported! Learn more about the continuing work of the Alston-Beech Foundation Floyd Alston-inspired reading (kids): Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein and Dreaming Up by Christy Hale
Inspired by John Coltrane	Check out the Philadelphia Jazz Project for Coltrane-inspired musical performances Watch Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2016) Suggested reading (adults): Before John was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford or John Coltrane’s Giant Steps by Chris Raschka
Inspired by Jill Scott	Listen to Jill Scott’s music and podcast on all major streaming and download sites Watch the video for Jill Scott’s song “Shame (ft. Eve and the A Group)” filmed at Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center, where Jill played as a child! Jill-inspired reading (adults): The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott by Jill Scott Jill-inspired reading (kids): I got the Rhythm by Connie Schofeild or I am Enough by Grace Byers Learn more about the Blues Babe Foundation
Inspired by State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta	Become a block captain! Learn more about what you can do to help your neighborhood Malcolm Kenyatta-inspired reading (Kids): The Can Man, by Laura E. Williams, A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams, If Everybody Did by JoAnn Stover
Inspired by Cecil B. Moore	Ride the Broad Street subway to Cecil B. Moore station to see the Cecil B. Moore exhibit. Learn more about the continuing work of the Freedom Fighters Cecil B. Moore-inspired reading (kids): We March by Shane W. Evans, Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
Inspired by Linda Cliatt-Wayman	Watch Linda’s TED Talk: How to Fix a Broken School Read Linda’s book (adults): Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard Linda Cliatt-Wayman-inspired reading (kids): Love Monster by Rachel Bright or Love Is by Diane Adams
Inspired by Delores Mitchell Andy	Learn more about the Black Women in Sport Foundation, one of the many initiatives supported by Delores Andy Delores Andy-inspired reading (kids): Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship by Chuck Stone, Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall, She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton
Inspired by Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan	Learn more about Sullivan Progress Plaza, the first shopping center in the nation, developed, continuously owned and managed by African Americans Learn more about OIC, one of the many initiatives founded by Reverend Sullivan. Read these books about him (adults): Build Brother Build and Moving Mountains: The Principles and Purposes of Leon Sullivan by Leon Sullivan Watch the documentary A Principled Man Leon Sullivan-inspired reading (kids): A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara, What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada
Inspired by David and Falaka Fattah	Learn more about what the House of Umoja Fattah-inspired reading (kids): Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Jennifer Zivoin, Sosu’s Call by Meshack Asare, Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter

Become a Corporate Sponsor

Smith’s Leaders and Legends of North Philadelphia exhibition is a unique opportunity for companies and corporations to reach a diverse audience from all zip codes in Philadelphia and beyond. Promotional opportunities include acknowledgment in Smith’s bi-weekly, electronic newsletter which reaches over 15,000 subscribers, and social media campaigns, which reach over 25,000 followers (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Learn more and secure your sponsorship today at the links below!

View Sponsorship Levels and Benefits

Questions about sponsorship? Contact Danielle Smith, Director of Development at danielles@smithplayground.org

Thank you to our sponsors!