Here are 31 events and ways to celebrate Black History Month in Louisville
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February is Black History Month, an annual observance to remember important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. There are numerous events and ways to celebrate the history and culture of Black Americans in Louisville this year, from movie screenings and concerts to history discussions and more.
There are more 30 events in Louisville and Southern Indiana to celebrate.
Art Exhibit: Perspectives
WHAT: "Perspectives: 2023 by 32 Black Artists", is a group show with works by 32 Black artists from Louisville and the surrounding region. Some artist's names you would recognize, like Ed Hamilton, William Duffy and Elmer Lucille Allen. Other are showing in a gallery for their very first time, showing alongside established artists they have long admired.
WHERE: Moremen Gallery, 710 W. Main St.
WHEN: Through Feb. 3
MORE INFORMATION: moremengallery.com
Dr. Kaba Hiawatha Kamene book signing of 'Shabaka's Stone'
WHAT: Dr. Kaba Hiawatha Kamene, renowned author and scholar, will discuss and sign "Shabaka’s Stone: An African Theory on the Origin and Continuing Development of the Cosmic Universe." A Q&A session will follow. Also, poetry and hip-hop performances.
WHERE: Roots 101 African American Museum, 124 N. 1st. St.
WHEN: Feb. 2-6-9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $25. roots-101.org/events
Sheryl Rouse: The Songbird
WHAT: Local singer Sheryl Rouse will perform with Sheryl Rouse Band on her birthday. Her favorite color is purple, so guests are asked to wear purple to the show. WHERE: Headliner's Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road
WHEN: Feb. 2, 8 p.m.
COST: $50 for a table of 2; $100 for 4
MORE INFORMATION: Reserved seat show. For ages 21 and older. headlinerslouisville.com
Black History Month Movie: 'The Pieces I Am'
WHAT: This 2019 documentary of Nobel and Pulitzer Winner Toni Morrison showcases her life, works and literary career, and legacy.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Western Branch, 604 S. 10th St.
WHEN: Feb. 3, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
Black History Bingo
WHAT: Test your knowledge and luck for a chance to win prizes.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Newburg Branch, 4800 Exeter Ave.
WHEN: Feb. 3, 2-4 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
Black Superhero Showcase
WHAT: In honor of Black History Month, spotlight graphic novels, artwork, and activities featuring some of the media’s most popular and not-so-popular black superheroes. Come dressed as your favorite superhero.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Shawnee Branch, 3912 W. Broadway
WHEN: Feb. 3, 2-3:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: For ages 5 and older. Free. lfpl.org.
Simmons College Dance Performance
WHAT: Celebrates Black History Month with a performance from the Satin Rhythm Dance Team and the Simmons College Drumline “Stick Control,” both part of the Simmons College of Kentucky Revolutionary Sound of the South Marching Band. DeMarco Brown is the Director of the Marching Band, and Stephanie Kirtley is the Band Auxiliary Coordinator/Dance Coach.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Southwest Regional Branch, 9725 Dixie Highway
WHEN: Feb. 3, 2-3 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
Maya Angelou 'And Still I Rise'
WHAT: Documentary about the remarkable writer, poet, actress, and activist Maya Angelou. Part of the Black History Month Film Series.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 4, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Panel discussions with faculty, representatives of community organizations, and members of the public will follow the movie. Free. lfpl.org.
Count Basie Orchestra
WHAT: With special guest Janis Siegel. Part of the African American Music Heritage Institute
WHERE: Sandy Allen Fine Arts Center, Ballard High School, 6000 Brownsboro Road
WHEN: Feb. 5, 8 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $35, $20 students. eventbrite.com.
Black Women, Freedom, and Landownership in the Lowcountry South
WHAT: Felicia Jamison will discuss 'Black Women, Freedom, and Landownership in the Lowcountry South.' Hear inspiring stories of newly freed African American women in 19th-century coastal Georgia as they paved the way to freedom through land ownership and explore the significance of this journey, unraveling the paths to first-class citizenship in the post-emancipation era. Part of the Locust Grove Afternoon Lecture Series.
WHERE: Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane
WHEN: Feb. 7, 1-2:30 p.m.
COST: $8, $6 for Locust Grove members
MORE INFORMATION: locustgrove.org.
Teen Hang Time: Black History Edition
WHAT: Watch the movie, "Harriet" and put up a Black History Month display honoring individuals who have had an impact in a variety of areas.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Northeast Regional Branch, 15 Bellevoir Circle
WHEN: Feb. 7, 4-5:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
'Loving and Loving'
WHAT: Actors Theatre of Louisville presents the show that was inspired by Richard and Mildred Loving an interracial couple from Virginia who were arrested in 1958 for the crime of being married. Told from a 21st-century perspective, the play weaves together the story of the Lovings’ landmark civil rights struggle and interviews with mixed-heritage folx in the Kentuckiana community.
WHERE: 316 West Main St.
WHEN: Feb. 7-10, 14, 16, 7 p.m.; Feb. 11 and 18, 2 p.m.; Feb. 17, 2 and 7 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $25, $15 for students and educators
MORE INFORMATION: actorstheatre.org.
Teen Black History Film Series: 'Soul'
WHAT: American animated fantasy comedy-drama film about pianist Joe Gardner who teaches music part-time at a middle school while dreaming of playing jazz professionally.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 7, 4:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Come early to build your own concessions bag of treats and popcorn. Free. lfpl.org.
How Well Do You Know Black History?
WHAT: Test your knowledge of Black history. Do you know who created the potato chip? How about the first African American to travel to outer space? If you think you know the answer to these questions, come for a fun-filled evening.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Southwest Branch, 9725 Dixie Highway
WHEN: Feb. 8, 6-7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
Friends of Shawnee Library Black History Month Event
WHAT: Celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans between the 1940s-1970s. The Chickasaw Book Project Committee will share stories of the people, places, organizations and events that helped shape and sustain the families who resided in Chickasaw during this era.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Shawnee Branch, 3912 W. Broadway
WHEN: Feb. 10, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Door prizes and refreshments. Free. lfpl.org.
Black History Film Series: 'Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution'
WHAT: This documentary is about the historic struggle to secure equal and adequate access to healthcare for all Americans.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Panel discussions with faculty, representatives of community organizations, and members of the public will follow the movie. Free. lfpl.org.
Tracing Lineage: Unearthing the Descendents of UVA's Builders
WHAT: Join Dr. Shelley Murphy, Descendants Project Researcher at the University of Virginia, as she explores the significant role of enslaved laborers in the construction of UVA. During this presentation, guests will get a first-hand account of the challenges faced when linking records of enslaved laborers with their living descendants. This lecture will highlight the emotional and historical significance of these connections. Murphy has been an avid genealogist for 30 years and she serves on the Boards of the Library of Virginia, the Albemarle Charlottesville and Fluvanna Historical Societies and is Coordinator and Instructor at the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute.
WHERE: Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane
WHEN: Feb. 13, 7-8:30 p.m.
COST: $12, $9 for Locust Grove members
MORE INFORMATION: locustgrove.org.
Teen Black History Film Series: 'The Hate U Give'
WHAT: Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 14, 4:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Come early to build your own concessions bag of treats and popcorn. Free. lfpl.org.
Family Storytime: Celebrate Black Women in STEAM
WHAT: Hear stories about Bessie Coleman and Alma Thomas followed by crafts and activities.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Jeffersontown Branch, 10635 Watterson Trail
WHEN: Feb. 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: For ages 3-7. Free. lfpl.org.
Muhammad Ali Youth Night
WHAT: Join the Muhammad Ali Center for a special Youth Night celebration in honor of Black History Month. Youth aged 14-24 will gather at the Center and enjoy food, music, games, performances by local artists, and the ability to connect with local youth vendors and youth-run organizations.
WHERE: Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. Sixth St.
WHEN: Feb. 16, 5-8 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Visitors of Youth Night will also have exclusive after-hours access to our exhibits. alicenter.org.
Trey McLaughlin & the Sounds of Zamar
WHAT: Part of the Brown-Forman Midnight Ramble.
WHERE: Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $40.95
MORE INFORMATION: kentuckyperformingarts.org.
African American Pathfinders: Food Innovators
WHAT: Presentation and discussion on the innovative, and/or cultural contributions made by African Americans.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, West Branch, 604 S. 10th St.
WHEN: Feb. 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free. lfpl.org.
Black History Film Series: 'Rustin – Social Justice'
WHAT: Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Panel discussions with faculty, representatives of community organizations, and members of the public will follow the movie. Free. lfpl.org.
Let's Talk | Bridging the Divide: Eliza Tevis: She Did What She Could
WHAT: The Frazier History Museum is partnering with the Louisville Historical League to commemorate Eliza Tevis and a new mini-exhibit in her honor: "Eliza Tevis: She Did What She Could," curated by students in Dr. Glenn Crothers’s Introduction to Public History class at the University of Louisville. Eliza Tevis was an enslaved woman who gained her freedom in the 1830s, purchased land and built a home in the “Wet Woods,” now the Newburg neighborhood of south Louisville.
WHERE: Brown-Forman Theatre, Frazier Museum, 829 W. Main St.
WHEN: Feb. 18, 2-3 p.m.
COST: $14, free for Frazier Museum members
MORE INFORMATION: University of Louisville students will offer tours of the exhibit and reflect on what they learned about this intrepid woman. Registration is required. Admission is free. fraziermuseum.org.
Teen Black History Film Series: 'Hidden Figures'
WHAT: The story of a team of female African American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Come early to build your own concessions bag of treats and popcorn. Free. lfpl.org.
Let's Talk | Bridging the Divide: March on Frankfort: The 60th Anniversary
WHAT: Join the Frazier History Museum, Louisville Metro Government Office of Equity, and the Courier Journal as they present March on Frankfort: The 60th Anniversary. Panelists: Rev. Louis Newby, Raoul Cunningham, John Johnson, Senator Gerald Neal, State Representative Keturah Herron, Mattie Jones, Chaka Cummings, Charlene Holloway, Lamont Collins and Mike Ward. Music provided by the Sankofa Players.
WHERE: Frazier Museum, 829 W. Main St.
WHEN: Feb. 22, 6-7:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Admission is free, but registration is required. fraziermuseum.org.
A Celebration of Black Artists
WHAT: Learn about Black artists through books, videos, activities and more.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, St. Matthews Branch, 3940 Grandview Ave.
WHEN: Feb. 22, 3-4 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: For ages 6-12. Free. lfpl.org.
'Gem of the Ocean'
WHAT: The University of Louisville Department of Theatre Department show is set in 1904 on the eve of Aunt Ester's 285th birthday. When Citizen Barlow comes to her Pittsburgh's Hill District home seeking asylum; she sets him off on a spiritual journey to find a city in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
WHERE: The Playhouse, 1911 S. Third St.
WHEN: Feb. 23, 24 and March 1, 2, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 23 and March 3, 3 p.m. March 1, 2, .7 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $20 general admission; $15 seniors, UofL faculty and staff, $10 students. onthestage.tickets/university-of-louisville.
'Single Black Female'
WHAT: Redline Performing Arts presents this two-woman dramatic comedy that explores the archetype of the single Black Woman to reveal and confront the challenges of how single Black womanhood exists in society. Part of the Kentucky Performing Arts ArtsReach MeX Project.
WHERE: Martin Experimental Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Feb 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 25, 2 p.m.
COST: Tickets start at $23, $16 students
MORE INFORMATION: Recommended for ages 13 and older. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
Art Tales | BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art
WHAT: Art-inspired book discussion of BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art by Zaria Ware. BLK Art is a fun and fact-filled introduction to the dismissed Black artists and models who shook up the world. From the hushed corridors of royal palaces to the bustling streets of 1920s Paris.
WHERE: Carnegie Center for Art & History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany
WHEN: Feb. 24, 1 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Free, but registration is required. carnegiecenter.org.
Black History Film Series: 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'
WHAT: Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect the kingdom of Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 25, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Panel discussions with faculty, representatives of community organizations, and members of the public will follow the movie. Free. lfpl.org.
Teen Black History Film Series: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse'
WHAT: Miles Morales catapults across the multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
WHERE: Louisville Free Public Library, Main Branch, 301 York St.
WHEN: Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Come early to build your own concessions bag of treats and popcorn. Free. lfpl.org.
Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Black History Month in Louisville 2024: Events and ways to celebrate
