Author
Charlie Markham
Published
February 10, 2026
Tags
February invites us to pause and reflect on where we come from, who we are, and how we show up for one another, especially in moments that carry weight and call for care. At DOROT, community is not just something we build through programs. It is something we live, lean on, and carry forward together.
As we celebrate Black History Month, I’ve been thinking deeply about resilience and legacy and how they are shaped not only by historical moments but by everyday acts of courage, love, and connection. In the 1950s, my grandparents, Charlie Markham and Clementine Markham (pictured above), made the life-altering decision to migrate from Brookhaven, Mississippi to Springfield, Massachusetts. Like so many Black families at that time, they were seeking opportunity, dignity, and safety, moving away from the brutal realities of racism and segregation toward an uncertain future. Uprooting from everything they knew was not easy. Yet they carried love, determination, and a deep belief in possibility.
They went on to build a beautiful family of three daughters and four sons, one of whom was my father. They passed down a legacy rooted in resilience, perseverance, and the importance of honoring where you come from while shaping what comes next.
This history is a reminder that community is often what sustains us through change. It is how we remember, how we heal, and how we move forward together. At DOROT, we witness this every day in shared stories and moments of creativity, learning, movement, music, and meaningful connection across generations.
This February, I invite you to join us in honoring the power of community and the strength that comes from being together. May we continue to hold space for one another and celebrate the legacies—past, present and future—that shape who we are.
Black History Month at DOROT
Virtual Tour: Gay Harlem Renaissance
Join New-York Historical Society docent Kyle Einhorn for a live virtual tour of the Gay Harlem Renaissance exhibition, exploring the vibrant world of Black LGBTQ+ life in the 1920s–30s through art, music, and nightlife. Online.
Pearls of Wisdom: Storytelling to Honor Black History Month
Members of DOROT’s Pearls of Wisdom ensemble share stories from their lives and lead an open discussion for reflection and connection. In-person at DOROT in Manhattan.
Modern Storytellers: Romere Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Faith Ringgold
Explore how these three influential African-American artists used narrative to communicate powerful messages, with Elana Kaplan, museum educator and lecturer. Online.