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African American History or Black History Month. Celebrated annually in February in the USA and Canada
Black History Month celebrates and honors the achievements of African Americans and the role they’ve played in U.S. history. Though the month of February is filled with a variety of commemorative events, here a few of the local Black History Month happenings:
Black History Month at Tubman Visitor Center – Church Creek
Weekends through February 24th
Free
Head to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center throughout the month of February for various ranger-led programs that explore and celebrate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman. Click here for more information.
Winter Lecture Series: African American Experience – Edgewater
Saturdays in February, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
$12 for adults, $10 for seniors, free for members
Join Historic London Town and Gardens for its Winter Lecture Series. Each Saturday, learn from a noted scholar about the African American experience in the Chesapeake region. Click here for more information.
Black History Month Events – Anne Arundel County Public Library
Throughout February
Free
The Anne Arundel County Public Library is hosting a variety of events in honor of Black History Month. Click here for a full list of events, locations, and times.
Reflection on the Dream MLK – Cambridge
Friday, February 1st, 5–7 p.m.
Free
Chesapeake Utilities presents Rev. Dr. John G. Moore, Sr. in “A Reflection on the Dreamer…Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” at the Dorchester Center for the Arts. Moore’s presentation will include portions of King’s most famous speeches including “We Shall Overcome,” “I have a Dream,” “The Drum Major Instinct,” and “The Mountain Top,” King’s final speech. Moore will also talk about King’s life. Click here for more information.
Romare Bearden Family Day – Baltimore
Saturday, February 2nd, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Free
Celebrate the colorful works of collage artist Romare Bearden with fun filled activities for the family at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. Tour the art gallery with storyteller Diane Macklin. Build a musical instrument inspired by Bearden’s jazz artworks, incorporating collage, printmaking, and cardboard. Enjoy youth performances by Muse 360 Arts and the Peabody Preparatory Improvisation and Creative Composition Ensemble. Click here for more information.
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom – A Talk and Book Signing with David Blight – Chestertown
Thursday, February 7th, 5:30 p.m.
Free
The Starr Center at Washington College welcomes preeminent author and historian David Blight for a talk and book signing in celebration of his critically acclaimed new biography about African American freedom fighter Frederick Douglass. The event will be held in the Hynson Lounge in Washington College’s Hodson Hall. Click here for more information.
African American Legacy & Heritage in Jazz, Blues, and Gospel Concert Series – Chestertown
Saturday, February 9th, 7–10 p.m.
$20
This concert series, hosted by and held at Sumner Hall, will shed light on the legacy of Black America in jazz, gospel, and blues. For the first performance of 2019, Philip Button will demonstrate how the “New Orleans Piano” sound has evolved from a myriad of musical and cultural traditions, including African, Caribbean, and Creole. Joined by drummer Ray Anthony, Button will provide an evening that is both entertaining and educational. Tickets can be purchased here.
Lost History: Frederick Douglass in Caroline County – Denton
Saturday, February 9th, 1:30–3 p.m.
Free
Join local history enthusiasts and community leaders for a debut presentation detailing a previously unknown high-profile visit Dr. Douglass made to Denton, Maryland. He arrived by train, was escorted through town by a brass band from Centreville, spoke at the old country courthouse, and departed by boat.”. Click here for more information.
Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Celebration - Annapolis
Saturday, February 9th, 6–10 p.m.
Free
In February of 2018, Governor Larry Hogan signed a proclamation declaring 2018 as the "Year of Frederick Douglass" to honor the 200th anniversary of Maryland's own abolitionist, writer, and orator. Join the Banneker-Douglass Museum as they celebrate his life and legacy. Special guest speaker: Kenneth B. Morris, Founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. Click here to register.
Black History Month Concert – Annapolis
Sunday, February 10th, 6 p.m.
$19
Join the United States Naval Academy Gospel Choir for their 2019 Black History Month Concert, held at the Naval Academy’s Main Chapel. Tickets can be purchased here.
Picturing Frederick Douglass: A Conversation with Dr. John Stauffer - Annapolis
Monday, February 11th, 6 p.m.
Free
Celebrate Frederick Douglass' birthday week at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts with an engaging lecture given by Dr. John Stauffer, Harvard University professor and author of Picturing Frederick Douglass: An Illustrated Biography of the Nineteenth Century's Most Photographed American. Learn how Frederick Douglass became the most photographed American of the 19th century at this special event. Advanced registration is required. Click here for more information.
The History of the NAACP: The Baltimore Connection – Baltimore
Saturday, February 16th, 12 p.m.
Prices vary
Enjoy a living history performance, film, and talk about the NAACP and its leaders from the Jim Crow and Civil Rights era at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. See a living history performance of activist Juanita Jackson Mitchell, hear a lecture on the Baltimore branch by Professor Prudence Cumberbatch, and conclude with a film screening of Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall & The NAACP (57 minutes). NAACP artifacts and panels covering 97 years of Maryland history will be on view. Click here for more information.
African American Heritage Tour – Annapolis
Saturday, February 16th, 1–3 p.m.
$20 for adults, $10 for children ages 3–11, free for children age 2 and under
Explore the history and culture of Maryland’s African-American community during the African American Heritage Tour. The tour departs from City Dock Information Booth, and includes stops at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, Thurgood Marshall Memorial, and the Banneker-Douglass Museum. For more information, visit Annapolistours.com.
Follow the Footsteps: An American Legend – Cambridge
Saturday, February 23rd, 9 a.m.
$50 per person
Join Harriet Tubman Tours for a dinner, show, and tour. The event begins at the Dorchester County Visitor Center. Tour sites include the historic Dorchester County Courthouse, Long Wharf, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, and more. The day will conclude with a full-course meal and storytelling by local historians. Click here for more information.
