Black History, All Around Us!

All Month

Portals Exhibition at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia

• Open until the end of February
• Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia — located at 122 West Leigh St. in Richmond
• This community-based exhibition features historic photographs that represent African Americans in the early 1800s through the 1980s.
• For more information, click here.

Dominion Energy Jazz Café 

• Every Wednesday — from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. in Richmond
• For this month, catch jazz performers Bobby Blackhat, WSB3 and Jon Greenberg’s Jazz Warriors.
• The concerts are free and requires no registration.

Food Truck Friday’s

• Fridays, Feb. 7, 15, 21 and 28 — midday
• In support of Black-owned businesses, each Friday during February, food trucks will be featured right outside of the City Hall.

Feb. 15th – Feb. 21st

The City of Petersburg – Black History Concert

• Friday, Feb. 21 — at 7 p.m.
• Petersburg Public Library — located at 201 W. Washington St. in Petersburg.
• Enjoy a variety of live entertainment and spoken word at the Black History Concert inside of the Petersburg Library. The doors open up at 6:30 p.m. and the concert is free.

Feb. 22nd – Feb. 28th

Empowerment Through Enterprise

• Saturday, Feb. 22 — 10 a.m. to noon
• Meadowdale Library’s Community Room — located at 4301 Meadowdale Blvd. in Ampthill
• Hear from Sassy Charis Jones, owner of fashion brand Sassy Jones, as she shares her story of her business journey. Network with organizations that can assist you on your journey to business ownership. Refreshments will be provided.
• Click here to register.

Celebration of Black Business Vendor Fair

• Saturday, Feb. 22 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Beulah Rec Center’s Multipurpose Room — located at 6901 Hopkins Rd. in Chesterfield
• Discover a variety local vendors featuring products from art, clothing, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, food and more. Enjoy live music from EZ Project and DJ Prolific. Witness live art by Naila Venable and the ARTS Community Center.

A Conversation with Ona Judge

• Saturday, Feb. 22 — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Clover Hill Library’s Community Room — located at 6701 Deer Run Drive in Midlothian
• Hear Ona Judge’s story from historical interpreter Sheila Arnold, as she shares her experience as a free woman and prior personal maidservant to Martha Washington.
• Registration will begin on Feb. 8

Addressing Complacency in Black History Month

• Saturday, Feb. 22 — from 11 a.m. to noon
• Chesterfield Museum — located at 6813 Mimms Loop in Chesterfield
• Chesterfield Historical Society’s African American History Committee will present a lecture focusing on the youth in the community, examining solutions to the challenges that they face.
• Click here to register.

Keeping African American Heritage Alive

• Saturday, Feb. 22 — from 1 to 2 p.m.
• Chester Library’s Community Room — located at 11800 Centre St. in Chester
• Storyteller, Sheila Arnold will share cultural traditions and rich history passed down to generations of African Americans.
• Registration will begin on Feb. 8

Celebrating Armstrong HS Student's Transformative Experience in CHIP

• In celebration of Black History Month, the Armstrong Leadership Program would like to cordially invite you to the premiere of a compelling short (20min) documentary which captures the Armstrong High students’ transformative experience in CHIP, a unique and comprehensive initiative designed to educate and empower youth! Last summer, our Armstrong students traveled from Richmond, Greensboro, Atlanta, Tuskegee, Montgomery and Selma to learn, study and reflect on the experiences of the African American community during the  slavery, reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement.
• Tuesday, February 25th at 5:30pm at Richmond Hill, 2209 E. Grace Street

“Love & Solidarity”: James Lawson and Nonviolence

• Tuesday, Feb. 25 — from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Central Library’s Community Room — located at 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd. in Chesterfield
• Discover the life and works of Rev. James Lawson, nonviolence leader and organizer of rights for workers.
• Registration will begin on Feb. 11.

Black History Month Poetry Slam

• Wednesday Feb. 26 — from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Henrico Theatre — located at 305 E. Nine Mile Road in Henrico
• Henrico Schools’ Division of Family and Community Engagement is hosting its third annual Black History Month Poetry Slam, featuring middle and high school students that will share their talents in front of an audience. Students that are performing have already registered ahead of time.

Introduction to African American Genealogy

• Thursday, Feb. 27 — from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• Clover Hill Library’s Community Room — located at the 6701 Deer Run Dr. in Midlothian
• Begin researching your family history with an overview of how to navigate genealogical research and learn specific strategies, resources and techniques to trace Black ancestry.
• Registration will begin on Feb. 13

VMFA’s History-Making Art Loan to Lusanga, Democratic Republic of Congo 

• Thursday, Feb. 27 — from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — located at 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. in Richmond
• Curator of African Art Dr. Ndubuisi Ezeluomba will share his perspective and fascinating journey that he made with his sculpture on display at VMFA.
• The event is $8 for general admission and $5 for VMFA members.

Movie Night — Fences

• Saturday, Feb. 28 — from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Beulah Rec Center’s Multipurpose Room — located at 6901 Hopkins Rd. in Chesterfield
• Fences is a feature film based on the Pulitzer Prize winner play, that shares the perspective of a man coming to terms with what life means and the opportunities he’s been rejected from due to his race and the era.
• Click here to register.