By Scott Etkin
February is Black History Month, and over the next few weeks museums, libraries, and other institutions on the Upper West Side are offering a host of special events exploring the African American experience. Many are free, and while some are not specifically tied to Black History Month, each offers a way to engage with, and learn more about, African American art, culture, and history. Check out the list here, starting with a talk at Columbia University on Monday night.
American Folk Art Museum: 2 Lincoln Square between West 65th and 66th streets
An immersive installation, Blue Magic, by artist and musician Alexandria Eregbu, responds to the museum’s ongoing exhibit on quilts and honors “Black contributions to textile history, particularly West Africa’s enduring ties to cultural practices such as tie-dyeing, sewing, embroidering, and quilting.” This event is free and open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 21st. There are also free performances and talks related to the event happening throughout the day, and advance registration is encouraged.
American Museum of Natural History, Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation: 415 Columbus Avenue at West 79th Street
The exhibit Black in Natural History Museums presents a timeline of 17 modern and historical Black scientists, artists, and curators in the field of natural history from the 1600s through the present. Admission is included with any museum ticket.
Bloomingdale branch of the New York Public Library: 150 West 100th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues
Bloomindale’s Monday Matinee on February 9th is Sinners (2025), the acclaimed horror/action film written, directed, and produced by Ryan Coogler; starring Michael B. Jordan; and nominated for a record-breaking 16 Academy Awards. On Thursday, February 19th, a book discussion will be held about Passing, a novel by Nella Larsen exploring the experience of two light-skinned Black women in 1920s Harlem.
Central Park Conservancy: Seneca Village, Central Park West near West 86th Street
On an ongoing basis, the Central Park Conservancy leads tours of Seneca Village, the pre-Civil War era community of free African American property owners that was cleared to make way for Central Park. There are three tours coming up on February 7th, 14th, and 22nd.
Jazz at Lincoln Center: Broadway at West 60th Street
A highlight from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s performance calendar is on February 20th and 21st, when trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and bassist Endea Owens will lead performances of new works commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center that are “inspired by the music and spirit of Africa.”
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, David Rubenstein Atrium: 1887 Broadway between West 62nd and 63rd streets
Lincoln Center is hosting free talks for all ages on a wide range of topics. Artists and experts in virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI will share their perspectives at The Future in the Now: Young African-American Creators, an interactive panel discussion on Thursday, February 12th. A performance on Thursday, February 19th, takes inspiration from New York Public Library educator Brian Jones’ new book, Black History Is for Everyone. On Thursday, February 26th, Convergence: A Transformative Evening of Sound, Story, and Sistahood, brings together Afrofuturists, innovators, and artists for an “event that transcends traditional boundaries between panel discussion and performance.”
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation: Starting at Morningside Park, West 110th Street and Manhattan Avenue
At noon on Saturday, February 21st, Urban Park Rangers will lead a free hike through Harlem’s Morningside Park, St. Nicholas Park, and Jackie Robinson Park, along the way sharing information about their history, geology, and ecology.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: 40 Lincoln Center Plaza between West 64th and 65th streets
Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way, an exhibit about the influence of African American artists on Broadway, is on view at the Library for the Performing Arts through Saturday, February 21st. Free tours of the exhibit are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4th, and Saturday, February 21st.
New York Road Runners: Virtual Event
New York Road Runners is encouraging runners to complete 28 miles during February in honor of the contributions of Black runners throughout history, including NYRR’s founding president, Ted Corbitt. Known as the father of long-distance running, Corbitt became, in 1952, the first African American to run the marathon at the Summer Olympics. A fitting place to do the miles for NYRR’s challenge would be the 6-mile Ted Corbitt Loop in Central Park.
Riverside Library branch of the New York Public Library: Virtual Event
Two NYPL librarians will lead a conversation on comics and manga about Black History Month, romance and Lunar New Year. This free virtual event, scheduled for Thursday, February 12th, at 4 p.m., is intended for teens. Advance registration is required. After the event, participants can stop by Riverside Library at 127 Amsterdam Avenue between West 65th and 66th streets to pick up a free comic book.
St. Agnes branch of the New York Public Library: 44 Amsterdam Avenue between West 81st and 82nd streets
St. Agnes is showcasing three Black filmmakers as part of its 2 p.m. Monday Matinee series. The award-winning classic and contemporary films being shown are: Spike Lee’s Crooklyn (1994) on Monday, February 2nd; Michael Schulz’s Cooley High (1975) on Monday, February 9th; and Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction (2023) on Monday, February 23. The book for St. Agnes’ young adult book club discussion on Thursday, February 19th, is If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal, a novel about rival teens who work together to save a historic Black-owned movie theater in Long Island from closing. Lastly, “Black History Month” is the theme for the library’s Teen Trivia event on Thursday, February 26th.
The New York Historical: 170 Central Park West between West 76th and 77th streets
In addition to its ongoing exhibits about Frederick Douglass and LGBTQ+ figures in the Harlem Renaissance, New York Historical is hosting talks on African American history. On Tuesday, February 10th, Harold Holzer, director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, will discuss how Abraham Lincoln rejected Thomas Jefferson’s moral failings in a discussion entitled From Declaration to Emancipation: Lincoln and Jefferson. A virtual event on Thursday, February 12th, will cover A’Lelia Walker’s life and impact on Harlem’s culture during the Harlem Renaissance. On Tuesday, February 17th, author Mark Whitaker, who has held leadership roles at NBC, CNN, and other news organizations, will share insights from his new book, The Afterlife of Malcolm X.
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Great list of local events. I will definitely be at several. I am proud to be black 365 days of the year!