Celebrate Black History Month in South Florida

Cities and museums throughout South Florida are planning to honor Black History Month in February with events — from gallery exhibits to guest speakers — that everyone can enjoy virtually and in-person.

The first month-long celebration of Black history took place in 1976 during the nation’s bicentennial when President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” according to africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/.

Here’s how the tri-county area will commemorate the month:

BROWARD

Fort Lauderdale: History Fort Lauderdale will be highlighting the creativity and contributions of Broward County’s African American community, hosting its“Black History, Black Future” fine art exhibit from Feb. 2 to 28. The exhibit in the New River Inn building of History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW Second Ave., will feature pieces for show and sale from students at Dillard Center for Arts’ Advanced Placement.

Viewing the exhibit is also accessible via History Fort Lauderdale’s YouTube Channel. History Fort Lauderdale — previously referred to as the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society — presents stories of the city’s diverse community through educational experiences and cultural exhibits. Admission is $15 for adults, $2 for seniors and $7 for students through age 22 with a valid student ID. Admission is free for military members and children age 6 and under. Visit historyfortlauderdale.org.

Featuring works by Black artists and designers, the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., will have a free exhibit through May. Including art, architecture, photography and poetry, the exhibit will examine concepts of community and life in Sistrunk, a historically Black neighborhood in Broward County. Registration is required. Visit bit.ly/2LX6txT or call 954-357-7457.

Miramar: In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black History Month and Reggae Month, the city of Miramar has a six-week free celebration open to everyone. Until March 14, people can visit the“In Time of Protest”art exhibition at the Miramar Cultural Center Ansin Gallery, 2400 Civic Center Place. On Jan. 30, the Miramar Cultural Center Arts Park, 2400 Civic Center Place, will host the“In Time of Protest” Art-On-The-Go event from 6 to 8 p.m. Miramar Mayor Wayne Messman will host Freeform Art Saturday on Feb. 6 at the Miramar Cultural Center Arts Park, which will feature outdoor activities, live music and local food. On Feb. 13, the city will have a drive-in movie at the Ansin Sports Complex, 10801 Miramar Blvd., featuring the historic film,“Selma.”Gates open at 6 p.m. with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Miramar will also recognize the contributions of reggae music by streaming a virtual panel discussion on Feb. 11 through Facebook Live and miramarfl. gov. Beginning at 6 p.m., the virtual discussion will feature Sen. Shevrin Jones, attorney and activist Alex Audate and Pastor Terrance Wilson.

Miramar will also host its Reggae Icon Awards on Feb. 27 at the Miramar Amphitheater, 16801 Miramar Parkway, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The event will honor artists from the group“Third World.”Visit miramarfl.gov.

Pompano Beach: The Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, 41 NE First St., is commemorating Black and Women’s history months by featuring photographic work by Walter Griffin and paintings by M. Jamesly Saint Louis in“The Longer the Feather”art exhibit. Until March 25, visit the exhibit for free through appointments by visiting pompanobeacharts.org/programs/ the-longer-the-feather-exhibition.

The arts center is also asking residents to take part by sending an image of themselves or loved ones dressed in their Sunday Best outfit. Tag @ bacapompano and using the hashtag #thelongerthefeather. Photos can also be emailed to pbartsinfo@copbfl.com. Visit pompanobeacharts.org/baca.

PALM BEACH

Countywide: The Palm Beach County Library System is offering virtual events throughout the month. Check out Black History Month Collection books and participate in Zoom topics such as baking, trivia, spiritual songs, film screenings and book discussions. Visit http://events.pbclibrary.org/ events/digital-activities/black-historymonth-2021.

Delray Beach: The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, along with Arts Garage and the Delray Beach

Community Redevelopment Agency, will have a free three-part hybrid speakers’ series from February to April titled“Authors Speak: The Impact of Race on American Society.” Broadcasted live via the Spady Museum and Arts Garage’s Facebook pages, one author will be featured each month with the goal to keep the conversations around race going.

Kicking off the series, Jason Reynolds, who is the author of“Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You,”will present from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Tina K. Sacks, the author of“Invisible Visits, Black Middle-Class Women in the American Healthcare System,”will present from 7 to 8 p.m. March 24, while Richard Rothstein, author of“The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America”, will be featured from 4 to 5 p.m. April 29. Following each presentation, a Q&A session will take place. Visit spadymuseum.com/.

West Palm Beach: The city of West Palm Beach and Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis St., will be observing Black History Month in February by hosting a series of free events. Kicking off the month-long series, families with children up to age 5 can join librarian Mrs. Jeanne on Feb. 1 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. as she shares “Charlie Parker Played Be Bop”by Chris Racshka and“What a Wonderful World” by Bryan Ashley and David Weiss. Limited to 10 families, registration is required. Writer and motivational speaker Ersula K. Odom will discuss her book“Doris Ross Reddick: One Person Can Make a Difference” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2 live on Zoom. Starting on Feb. 3, the Mandel Public Library will have Traveling While Black: A Virtual Reality Experience on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Participants must be at least 15. Afrique Ngozi Dance and Drum Inc. will be presenting an African Drumming class for elementary-age children on Feb. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. With the two sessions limited to 16 children each, registration is required. Later in the day, the SaSa African Dance theater will be performing traditional African dances from 2 to 3 p.m. live on Zoom. The Sweetheart’s Book Club will be discussing romance books with people of color or LGBTQ+ main characters live on Zoom on Feb. 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Also on Zoom, Palm Beach State College Associate Professor Africa Fine will be discussing the book “White Fragility”by Robin DiAngelo on Feb. 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. On Feb. 20, the KidSpace Book Club is inviting elementary school children to participate in its reading of the book“Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas”from 2 to 3 p.m. Introducing a program featuring classic movies, watch the 1985 film “The Color Purple”on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mandel Public Library. Registration is required and limited to 17 people. Later in the evening, elementary school children can enjoy Black History Month Bingo at the library, helping them learn about Black leaders in an engaging fashion. Registration is required. Capping off the lineup of events, children in grades 6 to 12 are invited to discuss Ibi Zoboi’s book “Pride”on Feb. 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the library. Limited to six participants, registration is required. Visit bit. ly/2YgQuwZ.

MIAMI-DADE

Miami: Visit renowned art collector Jorge M. Perez’s latest African diaspora-inspired exhibit at El Espacio 23. The exhibit, titled Witness: Afro Perspectives, will feature over 100 pieces of work by African and African Diaspora artists. With Tandazani Dhlakama of Zeitz MOCAA serving as the curator, the exhibit will address themes of systematic oppression, intergenerational trauma, syncretism, identity and territory. Visit elespacio23. com/.

Throughout February, the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., will be commemorating Black History Month with a lineup of in-person performances and online events. Beginning with two in-person concerts at Thomson Plaza for the Arts, the Arsht Center will host music groups, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Jazz Roots on the Plaza on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ($25) as well as Keba and the Usual Suspects and Live on the Plaza on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ($15). The Arsht Center will also have its second annual Heritage Festival on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. for free, broadcast on Youtube and Facebook Live. As of now, the virtual production will feature visual performance artist Omilani Alarcon and performance artist Deborah Magdalena. Capping off its Black History Month celebration on Feb. 24, the Arsht Center will have The Heritage Project Online Salon Series’ The Business of Show. Via Zoom Webinar and Facebook Live for free, the Arsht Center will examine artists as business professionals, discussing how Black culture has become a commodity. The panel will consist of arts administrators,