Lunch & Learn: On the Circuit: Networks of Black Entertainment in Georgia

Description

The Bartow History Museum will host a special roundtable, On the Circuit: Networks of Black Entertainment in Georgia, examining the history and impact of the Chitlin Circuit and its role in providing safe performance spaces for Black entertainers during segregation. In 2024, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) received a grant from the Fox Theatre in Atlanta to develop a historic context for the proposed Georgia Chitlin Circuit Heritage Trail. From the 1920s through the mid-1960s, the Chitlin Circuit operated as a statewide network of tent shows, theaters, and juke joints, allowing Black performers to tour and perform safely across the South.

The program will feature a panel of experts involved in the heritage trail project: Mary Wilson Joseph, Community Outreach Coordinator with DCA, will introduce the initiative and its goals. Leigh Burns, Director of Community Partnerships at the Fox Theatre, will discuss the grant program and its importance. Renee’ Donnell and Wes Nimmo, historians with New South Associates, will present research findings, including notable Chitlin Circuit venues in Georgia. The session concludes with a panel discussion and audience Q&A, giving attendees the chance to engage directly with the speakers and ongoing preservation efforts.