Brooklyn Celebrates Black History Month
February is Black History Month and there are a variety of events happening all around Brooklyn to observe it—from panel discussions, poetry readings, musical performances, history tours, movie screenings, trivia nights, craft lessons—even karaoke.
Check out our list of 17 ways to celebrate, honor, and learn about Black History in Brooklyn this month.
One Way or Another: Black Women’s Cinema, 1970-1991
When: February 3 to 23rd, see calendar for schedule and times
Where: BAMcinématek, 30 Lafayette Avenue
What: To commemorate the recent restoration and re-release of the highly-acclaimed 1991 film, Daughters of the Dust, which documents early-20th century Gullah life, BAMcinématek celebrates the film’s director, Julie Dash, along with other trailblazing black women directors.
How Much: Tickets $14, $7 for members
Black Actress Magic: Black Female Diversity in Film & TV
When: Tuesday, February 7, 7pm
Where: BRIC House Stoop, 647 Fulton Street (enter on Rockwell Place)
What: Brooklyn-based actress Cassandra Freeman will lead a panel including Toni Belafonte, Andrea Lewis, and Santana Caress Benitez to discuss the obstacles black women face in the film and television industry.
How Much: Free with RSVP
Black Voices, Black Art: Upending Convention with Kellie Jones and Kimberly Drew
When: Tuesday, February 7, 7 to 9pm
Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St.
What: MacArthur Genius Award-winner, art historian, and curator Kellie Jones will discuss her career and activism with blogger Kimberly Drew.
How Much: $10, $5 for members
Fiction by Black Writers: Who Are the Readers?
When: Tuesday, February 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street
What: Panel discussion moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Nunez on the assumptions the predominantly white publishing industry makes about black literature and its marketability. Panel members include: Essence Magazine Book Editor Patrik Henry Bass; Random House’s One World Editor-in-Chief Chris Jackson; Authors Guild President Roxana Robinson; and Akashic Books Editorial Director Ibrahim Ahmad.
How Much: $10, $5 for members
Black History Month Celebration
When: Wednesday, February 22, 6 to 9pm
Where: Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street
What: Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adam hosts a celebration of African-American art, dance and music. Dinner and beverages served (while supplies last.)
How Much: Free—RSVP online or call 718-802-3717
Poetic Justice: Speaking Their Names
When: Thursday, February 23, 7pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor
What: The National Coalition of 100 Black Women honors the legacy of Maya Angelou with an evening of social justice–infused poetry and spoken word performance. This year’s program honors women (and men) who have suffered social injustice and empowers women to take action. With performances by Toni Blackman, Sheikia Norris “Purple Haze,” Christine “Phya Startah” Gilliam, Barbara Bethea, and Robyn Baxter “IBePoet.” Special guest—Valerie Bell, the mother of Sean Bell.
How Much: $20
Black in 19th-Century Brooklyn Trolley Tour
When: Saturday, February 25, 11am to 3pm
Where: Green-Wood Cemetery (meet inside the main gate at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue)
What: A trolley tour making stops at the graves of prominent Black New Yorkers and abolitionists buried at Green-Wood Cemetery (Margaret Pine, Susan Smith McKinney Steward) and at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Crown Heights—a pre-abolition free black community. A boxed lunch will be served.
How Much: $40, $35 for members. Reservations required.
Events at Medgar Evers College
History, Culture and STEM featuring Odest Chadwicke Jenkins
When: Monday, February 6, 11:30am to 1pm
Where: Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225, Edison O. Jackson Auditorium
What: As part of Medgar Evers College’s celebration of Black History Month, Odest Chadwicke Jenkins, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, will lead a discussion on the role of Technology in the lives of African Americans. Jenkins’ research addresses problems in interactive robotics and human-robot interaction, primarily focused on mobile manipulation, robot perception, and robot learning from demonstration.
How Much: Free
Langston Hughes and Friends: Black Lives Mattered, and How!
When: Thursday, February 9, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Where: Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225, Edison O. Jackson Auditorium
What: Megar Evers College’s Center for Black Literature presents a conversation and reading with Dr. MaryLouise Patterson, author of Letters from Langston: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond. Focusing on the importance of understanding the struggle, the program features a discussion and book signing with Dr. Patterson, and a performance by author and poet David Mills.
How Much: Free
A Spiritual Awakening with Randy Weston
When: Wednesday, February 15, 5:00 to 7:00pm
Where: Megar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Founders Auditorium
What: Medgar Evers College hosts its artist-in-residence, pianist/composer Randy Weston, in his fourth Master Class, “A Spiritual Awakening.” His guest will be jazz pianist Monty Alexander.
How Much: Free
An Evening with Dr. Tara Betts
When: Tuesday, February 21, 6:00 to 7:30pm
Where: Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Avenue, Edison O. Jackson Auditorium
What: Poet and Author Dr. Tara Betts gives a poetry reading and presentation from her new poetry collection, Break the Habit.
How Much: Free
Events at Brooklyn Public Library
Black History Month at Brooklyn Public Library, Sheepshead Bay
When: Every Tuesday in February, 10:30am to 5:30pm
Where: Sheepshead Bay Library, 2636 E.14th St. (at Avenue Z)
What: Every Tuesday in February, join the library for all day documentaries, and learn about important events and people in American history—from the Civil War to Civil Rights, Dred Scott to Dr. Dre, celebrate Black History month at Sheepshead Bay.
How Much: Free
Kids Create: African Masks
When: Thursday, February 16, 3:30 to 4:30pm
Where: Fort Hamilton Library, 9424 Fourth Avenue
What: Kids craft African masks.
How Much: Free
Book Adventures: African American Quiz Bowl
When: Friday, February 17, 3:00 to 4:00pm
Where: DeKalb Library, 790 Bushwick Avenue (at DeKalb Avenue)
What: Test your knowledge on African-American events and highlights, and learn about African-American history and achievements.
How Much: Free
Black History Month Karaoke!
When: Thursday, February 23, 4:00 to 5:00pm
Where: Cortelyou Library, 1305 Cortelyou Road (at Argyle Road)
What: A fun-filled karaoke program for all ages honoring Black History Month.
How Much: Free
Game On! Jeopardy
When: Friday, February 24, 4:00 to 5:00pm
Where: Crown Heights Library, 560 New York Avenue (at Maple Street)
What: Jeopardy: Black History Month Edition—Compete in teams. Test your knowledge. Win prizes.
How Much: Free
Celebrating Black History – Movie – “MOONLIGHT”
When: Monday, February 27, 2:00 to 4:00pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library, 380 Washington Avenue (at Lafayette Avenue)
What: Screening of Moonlight, the Oscar nominated film chronicling the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.
How Much: Free
