Brooklynites can commemorate Black History Month with a variety of in-person and virtual events celebrating the rich historical and cultural contributions of the Black community in the borough, New York City, and beyond!
Through discussions and performances, learn about prominent Black figures from the past and present with the help of several beloved Brooklyn organizations.
Here’s some events to check out throughout this February:
Racism and the feminist movement
Listen in on a virtual discussion about the underlying racism inside the US women’s movement with former Jezebel editor Koa Beck, who recently authored “White Feminism.”
She is joined by a panel of esteemed Black female authors to discuss how this inequality “plays out in work and labor” for the first installment of the two-part speaker series hosted by the Center for Brooklyn History.
Register here for “CBH Talks: White Feminism and the Worker of Color” on Feb. 17. 6:30–8 pm. Free.
A walk through history
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a tour of Brooklyn Bridge Park for a fascinating history lesson on the borough’s connection to the Underground Railroad.
The park in Brooklyn Heights is just a few blocks from Plymouth Church, which was described as the “Grand Central Depot” of the Underground Railroad, and is believed to have housed a large number of runaway slaves on their treacherous escapes to Canada.
Attend “Brooklyn and the Underground Railroad” at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Feb. 20 at 11 am. Free.
Her Story
Watch a one-woman performance portraying the life of Harriet Tubman, the woman who never once failed to bring one of the hundreds of escaped slaves in her custody to freedom.
Actress Christine Dixon is the sole performer in the adaption of the 1868 book “Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman” by Sarah Bradford.
“The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman” will be available on Brooklyn Public Library’s Facebook page and Youtube channel for 48 hours starting on Feb. 20 at 1 pm.
Stories in song
Storyteller Tammy Hall will share her gift of oral storytelling to recount tales from the African Diaspora. Her stories will bring the audience to lands throughout the Caribbean, Africa and the Americas with freedom songs and stories in this hour-long Zoom event.
Register here for “Black History Month with Tammy Hall” on Feb. 11 at 3 pm.
Brooklyn’s history
If you’d rather commemorate the month with some independent research, check out “In Pursuit of Freedom” — a project that explores slavery in Brooklyn, and the following anti-slavery movement conducted in partnership by the Center for Brooklyn History, the Weeksville Heritage Center and Irondale Ensemble Project.
The project includes a website providing images of archival material, abolitionist biographies and walking tours outlining the anti-slavery movement in the borough.
Learn more from “In Pursuit of Freedom” on the project’s website.
