Black History Month Activity Guide

Celebrate Black History Month at one of the many exhibits, concerts, and workshops happening around the city.

Feraba African Rhythm Tap Duet at Brooklyn Public Library
February 14
1-2pm

Feraba Ensemble
The Feraba Ensemble. Photo via feraba.com

Come see the Feraba dance ensemble, which performs dances, rhythms, and songs from Guinea in addition to American tap dance. At this interactive performance, the audience will learn how American tap dance is rooted African music and dance. African “shakers” and small drums will be provided to kids and their families. Free, 1-2pm. Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, bklynlibrary.org

 Celebrate Black History Month–George Washington Carver Workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden
February 17
1:30-3pm

Learn about George Washington Carver’s important contributions to the world of botany at this hands-on workshop. Discover  his achievements in botany, agriculture, botanical illustration, medicine, and more. Paint with plants and plant a peanut to take home! Registration required. $5 per person, 1:30-3pm. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, Queens, queensbotanical.org

Makers Making History: A Black History Month Celebration at CMOM
February 14-22
Various times

Join the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for a week-long festival featuring contemporary artists and performers in celebration of the African-American community’s contribution to the arts. Activities include memorial design with Harlem historian John Reddick and caxixi rattle building with Kevin Nathaniel, a world music pioneer and instrument craftsman. Free with museum admission, 10am-5pm except on Saturdays, 10am-7pm. The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, cmom.org

Apollo Theater Open House
February 21
12-5pm

The Apollo Theater is hosting a free afternoon of community programming in celebration of Black History Month. Visitors can explore the theater and stand on the stage where musical legends have launched their careers, hear true stories about the Apollo, the Tree of Hope, and Harlem told by members from the Storytelling Center of New York, enjoy live music, and participate in a family storytelling workshop with the Pickney Players (suggested for ages 6 and up). Free, 12-5pm. The Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, apolloeducation.org 

the-migration-rachel-griffiths-american-lg
A photograph from “The Migration” at Arsenal Gallery. Photo via nycgovparks.com

See “The Migration” at the Arsenal Gallery
Through February 24
Various times

Visit Central Park’s Arsenal Gallery for an exhibit focused on artistic depictions of “The Great Migration”–the historical period when roughly six million African American descendants of the antebellum South left for northern and western cities. 22 artists share their interpretations of this demographic shift and its impact. Free, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. Arsenal Gallery, Central Park at 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, nycgovparks.com 

Black History Month Festival at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Through February 28
Various times

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is celebrating Black History Month with a variety activities throughout the month as well as of musical performances. On February 7, see Janice Marie Robinson’s Melodic Magic perform an interactive, soulful concert. On February 19, join the museum for a sing-a-long featuring cherished songs from the African-American spiritual tradition. Grace Drums will perform an African and Caribbean-inspired show on February 21, and the Phantazia String Players will give a Black History Month-themed performance on February 28. Free with museum admission, various times. 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, brooklynkids.org

 Visit the Louis Armstrong House Museum 
Through February 28
Various times

Did you know that Louis Armstrong and his wife settled in Corona, Queens, in 1943 and lived there for the remainder for their lives? At the Louis Armstrong House Museum, visitors can tour the jazz legend’s longtime home and hear audio clips of his homemade recordings, see an exhibit on his life and legacy, and visit the Armstrongs’ Japanese-inspired garden. In honor of Black History Month, during February the museum will explore how Armstrong’s music influenced world music and the Civil Rights movement. While supplies last, visitors will receive a complimentary limited edition Jack Bradley print of Armstrong. Adults $10, Children $7, Children under 4 free; Tuesday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm, Saturday-Sunday: 12 pm-5 pm. 34-56 107th Street, Corona, Queens, louisarmstronghouse.org

“Freedom Journey 1965: Photos of the Selma to Montgomery March” at the New-York Historical Society
Through April 19
Various times

Come see Stephen Somerstein’s photographs documenting the January 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Civil Rights March. Somerstein joined marchers to gain an inside look at the movement, and gained access to figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, and Bayard Rustin. Free with museum admission, Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday, 10am-6pm; Friday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm. 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street), nyhistory.org

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Gaga Madness

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Gaga is the hottest new sport in NYC. We've taken the fun of GAGA and pushed it into overdrive. Energetic coaches, pumped up music, sideline commentary, gear giveaways and more. Stay active and keep fit with this new craze that's sweeping the city.</span></p>

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp

<p>Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp offers five daily rotating activities such as swimming, ice skating gymnastics, rock climbing, parkour, indoor/outdoor turf, and courts plus more in its ample 175,000 sq. ft. facility and 35-acre outdoor area. Aviator Summer Camp also offers off-site and on-site field trips such as a day at Green Meadows Farm, Launch Trampoline Park, and a Brooklyn Cyclones game. The summer camp runs from 9 am-5 pm with early drop off and late stay available. Bus transportation is also available throughout Brooklyn. Lunch and an afternoon snack are included. Sign up by February 28th to receive up to $300 off camp with early bird discounts.</p>

Brooklyn Music School

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For over a century, we at The Brooklyn Music School have strived to make the joy of music, dance and performance accessible to everyone no matter their age, background, or financial status.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to offering affordable in-person and online private and group music lessons, dance classes, after-school programs, and community outreach, we also provide space for </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooklyn and NYC artists to perform in our 250-seat Spanish-style theatre. Come by for a night of live music, or join us for a class!</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit BrooklynMusicSchool.org to learn more, register for classes, or view our calendar for upcoming events. </span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b378613-7fff-f89d-3c88-fe6beaabeb55"></span></p>