BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
▪ “Liberty or Death: Enslaved People Fighting for Freedom and Nation in the Antebellum United States”: New York State Library presents a webinar Thursday, Feb. 16. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit the library website.
▪ WMHT will air programs on the Mohawk Giants baseball team Friday at 5 p.m.; World War I soldier Henry Johnson Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 5:30 p.m.; and the production “Bridging the Divide” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16.
▪ “Voices of the Game”: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown plans virtual “Voices of the Game” programs: Larry Lester at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16; and “History of the Negro Leagues” about founder Rube Foster at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. The museum celebrates Jackie Robinson’s journey and other milestones with daily programs for kids of all ages Feb. 20-24 as part of Presidents’ Week. See baseballhall.org
▪ Film series: A free film series features “Do The Right Thing” on Thursday; “The Help” on Thursday, Feb. 16; and “Black Panther” on Thursday, Feb. 23. All showings are from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Siek Campus Center, room 202, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. All events are free to the public.
▪ Bobby Seale: The co-founder of the Black Panthers will appear at 6 p.m. Thursday, at Bulmer auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more
▪ The Albany County Executive’s Office will host a panel discussion with Richard Harris from 100 Black Men, Debora-brown Johnson from the Albany NAACP and Michael Epperson from Pathstone in a discussion of the challenges and successes in education, health, business, communities and politics. The program will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, in the Cahill Room of the Albany County Office Building at 112 State St. in Albany. It will be available for viewing on Facebook Live https:// www.facebook.com/mccoyalbanycountyexec/ and the video will be posted later that afternoon on www.albanycounty.com
▪ 18th annual Africana Film Series: Sponsored by Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, free screenings will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 and 28 at the Gozzo Student Center, SC201, 106 New Scotland Ave. in Albany. The lineup includes: “Gurumbé: Afro-andalusian Memories,” showcasing the African roots of Spanish flamenco; “The Mali-cuba Connections / Africa MIA,” a look at musical cross-pollinations between Mali and Cuba; and “Tango Negro, The African Roots of Tango,” exploring tango’s African beginnings and impact in Argentina.
▪ Edmonia Lewis: East Greenbush Town Historian Bobbie Reno will present “The Life and Art of Edmonia Lewis” before the Sand Lake Historical Society at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at 8428 Route 66.
▪ James Baldwin: Philmont resident and poet Karen Schoemer will lead a reading and discussion group about the work of 20th-century author James Baldwin beginning Wednesday at the Philmont Public Library, 101 Main St. The group will meet monthly, on the second Wednesday of the month, in the library’s Cultural Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 518-672-5010 or visit philmontlibrary.com
▪ Stephen and Harriet Myers Historic site: For Black History Month 2023 the Underground Railroad Education Center plans tours of the Stephen and Harriet Myers Historic site. 518-6217793.
▪ Clayton “Peg Leg ” Bates: A new display in Ulster County’s Historical Profiles series features entertainer and community patron Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, 244 Fair St., Kingston.
▪ “African Americans at General Electric”: The Museum of Innovation and Science at 15 Nott Terrace Heights presents an exhibition featuring 60 photographs from the museum’s archives until May 8.
▪ Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area will host a gala at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at 21 Delaware Ave. in Albany. After-school and teen program students will honor past and present African American pioneers. The gala is free, but formal attire is preferred. Reserve tickets and learn more.
▪ Performances at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Palace Theatre in Albany. Step dancing blends traditional African dance with pop culture and weaves in concepts and themes of identity, culture, environment and society.
▪ Proctors in Schenectady is hosting a weekly film series that highlights Black culture through cinema in the GE Theatre. “Malcolm X” will be shown on Thursday; “Akeelah and the Bee” on Feb. 16; and Jordan Peele’s “Nope” on Feb. 23. Screenings begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are free but reservations are required. Visit proctors.org.
▪ Kuumba Film Festival: The Hamilton Hill Arts Center and Proctors present inaugural film festival at noon Saturday, Feb. 25 in the GE Theatre. The event will showcase films made by and about people of African descent (Kumba, which is Swahili, celebrates creativity). Tickets are $11; $6 for students and children younger than 12.
▪ The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Central New York provides descriptions of the Black History Matters free online videos for the second week of February. Black History Matters 2021 and 2022 are also on line. The 2023 programs will be released at midnight on www.youtube.com/@abolitionhalloffame.