Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of ‘Negro History Week,’ the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
Nashville Public Library
The Civil Rights Room in the Nashville Public Library is a space for education and exploration of the Civil Rights Collection. The materials exhibited capture the drama of a time when thousands of African American citizens in Nashville sparked a nonviolent challenge to racial segregation in the city and across the South.
Nashville sites
Follow in the steps of those who took a stand by taking a seat. The Civil Rights Sit-Ins tour was written and narrated by Fisk University professor Linda Wynn. The Downtown Civil Rights Sit-Ins tour begins at Church Street and Sixth Avenue North and ends at Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Visit <nashvillesites.org/>.
National Museum of African American Music
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) officially opened to the public in January 2021. Discover the central role African Americans have played in shaping and creating all genres of American music. From classical to country to jazz and hip hop, NMAAM has integrated history and interactive technology to share the untold story of more than 50 music genres and sub genres. Tours initially follow a weekend schedule and will be held on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am-6 pm.
Tennessee State Museum
Learn more about Black History at the Tennessee State Museum. The permanent exhibitions feature Black History from the early days of the state’s beginnings through the Civil War and Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movements in Tennessee. The current temporary exhibition, ‘Then & Now: A Black Craft Symposium,’ will be a day-long event at the Tennessee State Museum devoted to honoring the legacy of Black craftspeople in Tennessee and examining the state of Black Craft in Tennessee today. Through a variety of programming, the event will highlight the voices of Black craftspeople from the past and present. This event encourages visitors to learn the history and heritage of Black Tennessee craftspeople and interact with contemporary Black crafts artists. The event is presented in partnership with Tennessee Craft to commemorate the Best of Tennessee Craft 2021 Biennial exhibition, which closes February 20.
Seating is limited for each talk. Those with tickets will be seated first, and then any available seating will be given on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the event. Register here via Eventbrite. These talks will also be live streamed and available on the Tennessee State Museum website at <TNMuseum.org/Videos>. For questions, contact Morgan Byrn, Public Programs Manager, at <Morgan.Byrn@tn.gov>>.
United Street Tours
United Street Tours offers a series of five-star rated, historical Nashville walking tours that are led and curated by locals. The Nashville Black History Walking Tour celebrates the past through storytelling about Nashville’s enslaved population by spotlighting people such as Robert ‘Black Bob’ Renfro. While the Nashville Black History Walking Tour gives you a look into the past, on the Nashville Civil Rights Walking Tour you’ll experience the civil rights story and gain an inspiring new perspective of Nashville. Discover the murals, music, and local community of the Music City with the Nashville Black Neighborhoods Walking Tour. Unearth the fragments and piece them together with extraordinary stories that leave you more educated and inspired to become bridge builders in your community.
Oz Arts Nashville
An ongoing project by photographer Marcus Maddox, Figures of Color, looks closely at how Black skin is represented in works of art, and the relationship between this representation and elements of light and darkness.
Oz is also presenting Ronald K. Brown’s ‘Evidence Grace, Mercy, and The Equality of Night and Day: First Glimpse’ through February 12. Tickets are from $25.
Hailed as a ‘modern dance savior’ by the New York Times, Ronald K. Brown’s extraordinary work fuses the form, rhythm, and history of African dance with contemporary dance styles. Coming to Nashville following its acclaimed engagement at the prestigious Kennedy Center, Brown’s latest work The Equality of Night and Day: First Glimpse features an original score by acclaimed jazz pioneer Jason Moran, set to spoken word by educator and activist Angela Davis. This new work is the third installment in a trilogy examining balance, equity, and fairness for young people, women, and people of color in modern society. The program also includes Brown’s legendary dance work Grace, originally choreographed for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, set to a score featuring powerful music from Duke Ellington, Fela Kuti, and Jennifer Holliday, among others.
BNA 5th annual Black History Month Music Series
In celebration of Black History Month, Nashville International Airport’s Arts at the Airport program is poised to delight travelers and guests with a spotlight on African American music.
The initial schedule for BNA’s Black History Month Music Series is listed below. Dates of additional performances by African American musicians will be listed at <flynashville.com>.
To date, the following performances are scheduled from noon–2 pm at the pre-security area in the South Terminal near Green Beans Coffee.
February 17: Fisk Jazz Ensemble
February 24: The 474 Band featuring PMRnB
All performances are free and open to the public.
Scarritt Bennett Center
Prayers for Black History Month will be held on Tuesdays in the Chapel at Scarritt Bennett Center. A weekly 35-minute worship service hosted by the Soul Work program is offered each Tuesday at 12:30 pm in the historic Wightman Chapel.
Nashville Repertory Theatre
Nashville Repertory Theatre presents School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls play from through February 20. Paulina, the longest reigning Queen Bee of Aburi High School, has it all. With a team of teenage sycophants and the latest styles from the glamorous American boutique ‘Wal-Mart,’ she’s a shoe-in for the Miss Ghana 1986 pageant. The game changes when new girl Ericka moves to Ghana from exotic Ohio, USA, on the same day the pageant recruiter arrives. Who will be chosen to compete for the crown?
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
The Nashville Municipal Auditorium welcomes the No Cap Comedy Tour with DC Young Fly, Deray Davis, Chico Bean, Karlous Miller, Lil Duval, Michael Blackson, and Blaq Ron: Friday, February 11.
Fisk University
Black History Month Speaker Series
Part Two: ‘Why Black Art Matters?’ The History of Black lives told through art from the past to the present with guest speakers Jamaal B. Sheats and Charly Palmer. February 15, 3–4 pm.
Part Three: ‘Black Freedom Struggle – Activism, Organizing, and Social Justice’ with guest speakers Diane Nash and Justin Jones. Tuesday February 22, 3-4 pm. Register for Zoom at: <zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Um87PO43Scmbfeo31_IVzA>.
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Held at the Hermitage Church, the Black History Month Memorial Service will feature music and special remarks, followed by a procession to the slavery memorial ‘Follow the Drinking Gourd.’ There, 150 flowers will be laid by attendees, marked with the names of all those known to have been enslaved at the Hermitage.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center presents African American Plays and Playwrights from February 28-March 7. Interactive sessions will highlight different topics from modern musicals to famous choreography, creating characters, playwrights, and more for adults looking to explore their creative and artistic side through the lens of popular musicals and plays.
Black Chamber of Commerce
Join the Nashville Black Chamber and our partners from Music City Baseball as we celebrate Black History Month with special guest Bob Kendric, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Tuesday, February 22, 6 pm at TSU Avon Williams Campus, 330 10th Avenue North. NBCC, will also share exciting upcoming events and educational opportunities for the new year. Visit <www.eventbrite.com/e/the-social-kicking-off-2022-with-special-guest-bob-kendrick-tickets-264805238597>.
