February is Black History Month, and all month long there’s lots of ways to celebrate in both Sacramento and the Bay Area. Keep a close eye on SacCulturalHub.com as we keep you updated all month longs with lots to see and do!
Editor’s Note: As dates, times and other information can change, please make sure to contact each location listed below for the most up-to-date information.
SACRAMENTO
Finding Your Black Ancestors
Feb. 15, 3pm
Genealogy expert Lisa Lee will offer tips of tracing your family’s black history roots.
Belle Cooledge Library
5600 South Land Park Drive, Sacramento
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
“When We Were Colored: A Mother’s Story”
Feb. 16, 12 pm
Award-winning author Eva Rutland, 95, will lead a discussion about her life from her book, When We Were Colored: A Mother’s Story.
California State University Sacramento
Union Redwood Room, 6000 J Street, Sacramento
916-278-6943
www.csus.edu
Black Gangsters Infiltrate Hollywood
Feb. 16, 3-7pm
The Sacramento Area Black Caucus and The Black Group present “Old School Afternoons at the Movies” paying tribute to black filmmakers, directors and all-star black casts. This week’s films include “The Bronze Buckaroo” and “Girl in Room 20.”
Women’s Civic Improvement Center
3555 3rd Ave., Sacramento
(916) 453-0665
3 Kings
Feb. 16, 8pm
Live art, poetry and music performances by Destructikonz with Algorhythms and Brother Hypnotic.
The Brickhouse Art Gallery
2837 36th Street, Sacramento
916-475-1240
www.thebrickhousegalleryoakpark.com
Sacramento/Black Art of Dance
Feb. 16-18, 24 and 25, 8pm; Feb. 19 and 26, 2pm; Feb. 22-23, 6:30pm
The Sacramento/Black Art of Dance will celebrate its “20th Anniversary Concert: Past, Present and Future” in the Solano Hall Dancespace. Tickets are $5-$12 and available at Sac State’s Ticket Office, 916-278-4323 or www.tickets.com.
CSUS
6000 J Street, Sacramento
916-278-6943
www.csus.edu
Black History Month Family Festival
Feb. 18, 11am-3pm
This free event will feature performances by musical storyteller Asheba, the Vukani Mawethu Choir, and the Sacramento/Black Art of Dance.
Crocker Art Museum
216 O Street, Sacramento
916-808-7000
www.crockerartmuseum.org
Here’s to the Ladies: Carmen, Billie, Nancy and Dinah with the Vivian Lee Quartet
Feb. 20, 6:30pm
Jazz vocalist and recording artist Vivian Lee and her quartet will celebrate divas of jazz — Carmen McRea, Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson and Dinah Washington.
Central Library
828 I Street, Sacramento
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
African-American History Tour
Feb. 23, 10-11am
“Meet” runaway slaves, Buffalo Soldiers, restaurant owners, deacons and gamblers at the Historic City Cemetery’s African-American History Tour.
The Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
1000 Broadway, Sacramento
916-264-7839 or 916-448-0811
www.oldcitycemetery.com
The Story of Rosa Parks
Feb. 23, 2pm
Sacramento Regional Transit District is celebrating its annual Season of Civil Rights to promote awareness of the significance that transit played in the American Civil Rights Movement.
Valley Hi-North Laguna Library
7400 Imagination Parkway, Sacramento
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
A New Century is Coming
Feb. 24, 2-8pm
The Sacramento Area Black Caucus and The Black Group present “Old School Afternoons at the Movies” paying tribute to black filmmakers, directors and all-star black casts. This week’s films include “Killer of Sheep,” “Daughters of the Dust,” and “To Sleep With Anger.”
Women’s Civic Improvement Center
3555 3rd Ave., Sacramento
(916) 453-0665
19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest Awards Ceremony
Feb. 28, 6:30pm
Hear the winning essays read by students who wrote about Dr. King.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
7340 24th Street, Sacramento
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
A Stitch in Time: The Past, Present and Future
Through Feb. 28
The second annual quilt exhibit of the Sisters Quilting Collective highlighting African-American quilters and quilts.
The Brickhouse Art Gallery
2837 36th Street, Sacramento
916-475-1240
www.thebrickhousegalleryoakpark.com
Ladies of Lincoln’s Era Exhibit
Through March 11
Look beyond the bonnet with the Ladies of Lincoln’s Era — 12 stories of mischief-making, trend-setting and pistol-wielding women who made a difference in American History.
Central Library
828 I Street, Sacramento
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
The Black Kitchen — Cooking From Our Heritage
Various dates in February
Join a discussion about the rich culinary heritage and diverse recipe sources of the African American kitchen.
916-264-2920
www.saclibrary.org
BAY AREA
Working the Roots: The Healing Power of Black Folk Medicine Tradition and Practice
Feb. 16, 2-4pm
Michele Elizabeth Lee will present through photographs and demonstrations plant medicines and other common ingredients used in Black Folk medicines. Afterwards, stick around as The Friends of the African American Museum and Library present their first mixer of the year in honor of Black History Month from 4:30-6:30pm.
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street, Oakland
(510) 637-0200
www.oaklandlibrary.org
Black History Month Celebration
Feb. 18, 11am-5pm
Visit the “Out of This World” lab where recorded biographical interviews of African American pioneers from the early days of the space program will be shown throughout the day, and play the “Expedition to Mars” board game that features famous African American astronauts.
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
510-336-7300
www.chabotspace.org
Buffalo Soldiers of the Presidio
Feb. 20, 7-8:30pm
Hear Ranger Frederik Penn discuss the importance of the Buffalo Soldiers in the management of the National Parks and to the legacy of African Americans in the post-Civil War era.
Merced Library
155 Winston Drive, San Francisco
(415) 355-2825
sfpl.org
Celebrating Black History Month at the Ingleside Library
Feb. 21, 4-5pm
Internationally-known master drummer and folklorist S. Kwaku Daddy introduces traditional culture, music, dance and stories of Ghana, as well as other African countries.
Ingleside Library
1298 Ocean Ave & Plymouth, San Francisco
(415) 355-2898
sfpl.org
African Celebration
Feb. 23, 1-4pm
Hidden Villa and African percussionist Afia Walking Tree will present an exhilerating journey through the unique regions of Africa.
Hidden Villa
26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills
(650) 949-8650
www.hiddenvilla.org
“One Man’s Voice”
Feb. 23, 1:30-3pm
Rick Moss, scholar and chief curator of AAMLO, dissects the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and The March on Washington.
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street, Oakland
(510) 637-0200
www.oaklandlibrary.org
A Music Enlightenment to Remember
Feb. 23, 4pm
All are welcome to a performance featuring Minister of Music Henry Delton Williams and the Seventh Avenue Missionary Baptist Church Choir.
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street, Oakland
(510) 637-0200
www.oaklandlibrary.org
The Oakland Jazz Brunch
Feb. 24, 11am-3pm
Dine to a special jazz brunch menu at Miss Ollie’s, while soaking in the sweet jazz sounds of the Marcus Shelby Trio.
Miss Ollie’s
901 Washington St., Oakland
(510) 285-6188
sfnoir.org
Free Your Mind: A Revolution in Words Black Literary Festival
Mar. 2, 11am-5pm
This full-day event featuring storytelling, geneaology lecture, author showcase and more is the culmination of the San Francisco Library’s Black Literary Festival — a culture-positive series of interactive events, programs and book clubs brought to you by the African American Interest Committee of the San Francisco Public Library.
Main Street Library
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
(415) 557-4400
sfpl.org
“The Art of Living Black” @ The Black Bean
Until March 9
The Black Bean is supporting African American artists by hosting a satellite for the “Art of Living Black” — a regional art event held annually at Richmond Art Center.
Black Bean Ceramic Art Center
561 Emory Street, San Jose
408-642-5757
www.blackbeanclay.com
Visit the African American Historical & Cultural Society
Open to the public Thurs through Sat, 1-5pm
The Society’s mission is to collect, preserve and present art, artifacts and recorded materials that reflect the history and culture of African Americans in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
African American Art and Culture Complex
762 Fulton Street (2nd Floor), San Francisco
415-292-6172
sfaahcs.org