Black History Events Planned at Museum for Feb.

In honor of Black History Month, the Franklin Historical Museum will be holding two special events.

Next week on Tuesday, Feb 6 at 7 pm, James C. Johnston Jr., a retired educator and author of multiple books, including the fictional African Son, will deliver remarks discussing the influences, often similar, that shaped the town's namesake, Benjamin Franklin, and Martin Luther King Jr. The event is free and will be held at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street.

Then, on Friday, Feb. 16, at 6 pm, the museum will show Black Orpheus, a 1959 romantic tragedy film directed by French filmmaker Marcel Camus, and starring American Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which set the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice in a contemporary favela in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. Black Orpheus won the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival. The showing, in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center, is Free. 

The museum is located at 80 West Central Street.