#black-history-month

#black-history-month

February is Black History Month, and we've put together a list of ways to commemorate the occasion. From new exhibits and films, to history tours and Black-owned tastings, there are a number of ways to celebrate Black culture this month.

Discover the history of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the museum's recently opened "At the Vanguard" exhibit throughout the month. This week, there's a curator tour about American military history on Wednesday, and a Harlem Renaissance book talk with writer A'Lelia Bundles on Thursday (exhibit closes July 19 , free, events require registration, Smithsonian NMAAHC).

This year's stage will vibrate with drumming and the rich colors of lion dancers and folk traditions. Our main stage will feature the Toishan Association Lion Dancers, Afro-Filipino MPWRD Collective, Patty Chu's Chinese Dance Troupe, queer lion dance troupe Comrade Lover, Bantaba Drum Call, Urisawe Korean Drumming, and SambaFunk! The Kids + Teens Zone storytimes will feature award-winning picture book author Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood (Jam, Too?, Shhh! The Baby's Asleep), YA fantasy author Aimee Phan (The Lost Queen), and craft activities led by Storyland Collective.

During the bicentennial celebrations in 1976, President Gerald Ford declared that February should be dedicated to highlighting the achievements of and challenges faced by Black Americans. The roots of the celebration, however, can be traced back through five decades of activism before Ford's proclamation. In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson launched "Negro History Week," alarmed that Black Americans' contributions were either being distorted or erased entirely from the nation's story.

Five young Black women choreographers came together for two evenings of Draft Works marking The Royal Ballet's association with Black History Month; and the first thing to note is the sheer abundance of ideas on show. That, and the obvious talent of these young women, most of them barely past 20-years-old. In his introduction, Royal Ballet Principal Marcelino Sambe, who curated the programme, described the women's voices as simultaneously powerful and vulnerable, adding that, in his view, they were the future of dance.

For this year's Black History Month, the theme is Standing Firm in Power and Pride, honouring the resilience, innovation and fortitude of Black people in the UK and beyond. It celebrates the community's contributions across many fields, including the arts and culture, as reflected in a selection of brilliant new exhibitions. These range from explorations into the artists and groups