Where to celebrate Black History Month in Boston
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The Boston area has a range of events celebrating Black history in the arts, activism, labor movement and sports.
- Here are the biggest events to check out.
Month-long happenings
Muqeedah Publishing has artwork celebrating Black History Month on display at Boston City Hall (second floor) between now and Feb. 21.
Catch the gallery exhibition by the Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts highlighting Haitian-American artists across New England between now and Feb. 22 at 1 City Hall Square.
Make your way through the Boston Public Library's annual "Black is…" booklist, which features memoirs, graphic novels, picture books and other works.
Zahirah Nur Truth of ZNT Arts leads the first of several events featuring her interactive hand-sewing project, "The Pieces of Me," for children ages 6-10 across the BPL system. Registration required for each event.
- 2/14: Fields Corner, 4-5pm.
- 2/18: Upham's Corner, 3:30-4:30pm.
- 2/19: Brighton, 3:30-4:30pm.
- 2/20: Codman Square, 3:30-4:30pm.
- 2/21: Roxbury branch, 3:30-4:30pm.
- 2/24: Hyde Park, 3:30-4:30pm.
- 2/25: East Boston, 4-5pm.
- 2/26: West Roxbury, 4-5pm.
- 2/27: Honan-Allston, 4-5pm.
- 2/28: Lower Mills, 3-4pm.
Monday, 2/10
Zahirah Nur Truth of ZNT Arts leads an interactive project on the importance of church fans at the BPL's Jamaica Plain branch, 4-5pm.
Educator Joel Mackall leads a talk about Boston's 400-year African American history, also at the JP branch, 5:30-7:30pm.
Tuesday, 2/11
The BPL Roxbury branch hosts a paint-and-sip event for seniors, 12-3pm.
- Free, but registration required.
Wednesday, 2/12
The National Park Service leads a virtual discussion on the role African American mariners played during the Revolutionary War, 6-7pm.
The New Art Corridor at TRIO in Newton offers a guided tour of its "Sensory Garden" exhibition, followed by a discussion on the political and social themes in the artwork and a reception, 6-7:30pm.
Friday, 2/14
A librarian at BPL's Grove Hall branch, will lead a read-aloud event with protest sign making, 10-10:45am.
Join BCYF's Black History annual skate night at Chez Vous Skating Rink, 5-8pm.
Saturday, 2/15
Author Ada Ari holds two readings of her picture book, "The Spider's Thin Legs," with dances and show-and-tell at two libraries.
- BPL in Codman Square: 12-1pm
- BPL Central in Copley: 3:30-4:15pm
Editor Douglas Stark discusses his new book, "Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History," at the BPL's Grove Hall branch, 3-4:30pm.
Tuesday, 2/18
Join local artist Pearl Brown in a painting workshop for all ages honoring Black icons throughout American history at the BPL's Codman Square branch, 12-1pm.
Friday, 2/21
The BPL's Parker Hill branch screens "Fences," the film inspired by the August Wilson play, 2-4:30pm.
Saturday, 2/22
Boston officials host a Black veterans appreciation brunch at City Hall (second floor), 10:30am-2pm.
Pearl Brown leads a second painting workshop honoring Black icons at BPL in Codman Square, 12-1pm.
Opera on Tap Boston hosts a brunch at City Winery celebrating Black love and joy through the ages, 12-2pm.
- Price: $15-$45
Sunday, 2/23
Check out a tour highlighting portraits by 19th century Black-American artists at the Harvard Art Museums, 2-2:50pm.
Monday, 2/24
Roxbury Reads Book Club holds a virtual discussion about the late Mel King's book, "Chain of Change: Struggles for Black Community Development," 6-7:30pm.
- Registration required.
Join the Black History Month trivianight at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, 7-8pm.
Tuesday, 2/25
Bake cornbread and learn the history behind Southern soul food at the Fenway Community Center, 3-4pm.
Friday, 2/28
Black women leaders host a panel on "The Power of Labor, Leadership and Legacy" at the Bolling building in Nubian Square, 6-8:30pm.
Pianist Mark Copeland performs gospel, soul, smooth jazz and more at the Allen Center in Newton, 7:30-8:30pm.
Saturday, 3/1
Boston boutique Tafari Wraps leads a workshop about the history and art of head wraps at the BPL's Codman Square branch, 1-2:30pm.
- Registration required.
