Black History Month: From the Underground Railroad to art, here are 12 events not to miss

With Black History Month upon us, central Ohio is buzzing with entertaining and edifying events, activities and performances.

From live concerts to informative presentations and film screenings, there will be plenty of ways to fill up your calendar.

Here are 12 can’t-miss events taking place in Greater Columbus throughout Black History Month.

Movies at the McConnell Arts Center

The McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St. in Worthington, will present four movies as part of its Black Joy Film Series. “The Woman King” will be screened at 2 p.m. Feb. 3; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” at 2 p.m. Feb. 10; and the animated “The Princess and the Frog” at 2 p.m. March 9. All screenings are free, but reservation is required online. More information: https://www.mcconnellarts.org/black-joy-film-series-the-woman-king/

Columbus Cultural Orchestra pop-up concerts

The Columbus Cultural Orchestra — whose mandate is to nurture young musicians of color in central Ohio — will be giving pop-up performances all month long as part of a tour dubbed “Black Bevy.” Look — and listen — for the orchestra at these locations on these dates: at the King Arts Complex and Columbus Museum of Art on Feb. 10; Flavor 91 Bistro on Feb. 16; Boys and Girls Club of Columbus on Feb. 23; and Kipp Columbus High School on Feb. 29. For more information and a full schedule, visit the group’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/columbusculturalorchestra/

Calling all chess enthusiasts

The achievements and personal stories of Black and brown chess players will be explored in “The Long Game: Pan-Afrikan Chess Over Time with the Royal Oak Initiative.” The presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Dublin Branch, 75 N. High St.; and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Karl Road Branch, 5590 Karl Road. More information: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/black-history-month/

Lyn Ford to tell stories

Storyteller Lyn Ford will enchant and enlighten young listeners in several storytelling sessions at branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library: “Let’s Throw Stones with Lyn Ford” at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave. (all ages); and “Laughter and Storytelling with Lyn Ford” at 5 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Southeast Branch, 3980 S. Hamilton Road (ages 7-11); and “If You Can’t Fly: Folktales with Lyn Ford” at 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Hilliard Branch, 4500 Hickory Chase Way (all ages). More information: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/black-history-month/

Ohio Statehouse events

The Ohio Statehouse atrium, 1 Capitol Square, will be the site of four free public events on Tuesdays at noon this month: on Feb. 6, the documentary “The Lincoln School Story,” about the desegregation efforts of southwest Ohio mothers, will be shown; on Feb. 13, the Columbus Metropolitan Library will offer a program about the Underground Railroad and its connection to Ohio; on Feb. 20, Lincoln Theatre executive director Suzan Bradford will discuss the venue and its connection to Black performers and audiences; and on Feb. 27, magician and educator Rory Rennick will recount the life and times of Professor Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved person who achieved renown as a magician. More information: https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/calendar/event?id=1599

Diverse dance on tap

Now in its 30th year, Complexions Contemporary Ballet prides itself on its multicultural approach to dance. As part of a national tour, the diverse ensemble will present an appropriately eclectic program with “Star Dust: From Bach to Bowie” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. More information: https://www.capa.com/events/detail/complexions-contemporary-ballet

Black firefighting history explored

Learn about the Black central Ohioans who first served as firefighters in the late 19th century and those who currently help keep Columbus safe. The presentation “The History of Black Firefighters in Columbus” will take place at two branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library: at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Karl Road Branch, 5590 Karl Road; and at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Martin Luther King Branch, 1467 E. Long St. More information: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/black-history-month/

Sounds of Urban Strings Columbus

Urban Strings Columbus, an ensemble of young instrumentalists drawn from the African American community and other underserved communities, will give several performances this month: at 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Hilltop Branch, 511 S. Hague Ave.; at 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.; and at 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Northside Branch, 1423 N. High St. More information: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/black-history-month/; https://www.urbanstringscolumbus.org

Black Women Rise Poetry Collective performances

Black womanhood will be the theme of poetry performances by members of Black Women Rise Poetry Collective from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Ohio History Connection, 800 E. 17th Ave. Urban Strings Columbus and historical interpreters will also be featured. Admission costs $25, or $20 for Ohio History Connection members; registration is required. More information: https://www.ohiohistory.org/events/the-tea-room/

‘Malcolm X’ screening

Few films could provoke more interesting discussions than director Spike Lee’s 1992 biographical drama “Malcolm X,” which stars Denzel Washington as the Black political activist. At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20, the Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., will show the film as part of its “Film Parlor” movie discussion series; a week later, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27, those who went to the movie can gather at the theater to talk about it. Both the screening and the discussion are free. More information: https://www.drexel.net/tuesday-film-parlor-series/.

A day to celebrate Aminah Robinson

Black artist Aminah Robinson — a Columbus native who died in 2015 at age 75 — is worth celebrating all year long, but Feb. 17 is designated as her day at the King Arts Complex, 835 Mount Vernon Ave. From noon to 4 p.m., local artists will lead free workshops, activities and projects relating to Robinson and her art. Art supplies will be provided, but registration is required. From 4-6 p.m., a reception will take place for the new exhibition, “One Love . . . The Community Collects Aminah.” More information: https://kingartscomplex.com/event/aminah-day-2023/

Underground Railroad discussion

Retired college librarian and author Kathy Schulz will discuss her book “The Underground Railroad and Ohio” at 3 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Ohio History Connection, 800 E. 17th Ave. Admission costs $16, or $14 for students and senior citizens, $10 for ages 3 through 12, free for ages 2 and younger and Ohio History Connection members. More information: https://www.ohiohistory.org/events/underground-railroad-kathy-schulz/

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 Black History Month events include Underground Railroad, art, dance