The annual African-American Celebration at Coastal Carolina University will offer a variety of events promoting the art, history, music and theater of the African-American culture.

Events begin Jan. 13 and will be held through April 14 on the university campus. All events are free and open to the public. The series is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Services. A gospel concert, poetry, Gullah stories and dance are a few of the highlights. All events are free and open to the public.

The following events are scheduled:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Thursday, Jan. 13, 5:30 p.m., Wall Auditorium

The Rev. Joseph E. Washington, a leading Boston civic leader and executive director of Shared Care, will speak at this program. Shared Care is a communitywide effort to improve health care for the low income uninsured in Horry County and is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Gospel Sing Out, Sunday, Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m., Wheelwright Auditorium This celebration of joyous music will feature the harmony of the Coastal Carolina University Gospel Choir and the Richland Northeast High School Gospel Choir from Columbia.

• Brown v. Board of Education (50th anniversary), Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Wall Auditorium.

The African-American Association of Coastal will present a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court case Brown v. the Board of Education. The featured speaker is Nathaniel Irvin, assistant dean of the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University.

• Stories and Songs in Gullah, Tuesday, March 22, 7 p.m., Wall Auditorium.

“Aunt Pearlie Sue,” portrayed by Anita Singleton-Prather, tells stories and sings songs of the Gullah culture. A native of the Sea Islands of Beaufort, Singleton-Prather is a longtime teacher in Beaufort. A popular Gullah performer, she has recorded many stories including “The Chicken Dinner Money.”

• African-American Poetry & Jazz, Wednesday, March 30 at 7 p.m., Wall Auditorium.

Renowned poet and playwright Amiri Baraka will be featured, and Coastal students, faculty and staff will present their own poetry, as well as that of other African-American poets.

• Vibrations Dance Company, Thursday, April 14, 7 p.m., Wheelwright Auditorium.

Founded and directed by Evie Belton, this African-American dance troupe is from the Columbia area. The group performs modern, ballet and jazz dance and entertains audiences throughout the Southeast.

For more information, contact the university’s Office of Multicultural Student Services at 349-2863.