Black History Month Celebrations in New York

February is an important and vibrant month with loads of activities and celebrations including Black History Month. New York offers many ways to show appreciation for African-American culture as well as learn more about the past and present day community. Art shows, musical performances, literary readings and comedy events top the list this year.

Black heritage is explored through the past NYC Parks employees’ artworks that are on display at Central Park’s Arsenal Gallery in a show titled: Heritage: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future in Black Art. Included in the show are vintage hip hop flyers and party invitations from the Ebony Society. Works by artists include: Tuwanda Harmon, Preston R. Coston. Jr., Buddy Esquire (from the collection of Curtis Sherrod), Claudette Ramos, and Patrick Forman. The event is curated by NYC Parks’ Ebony Society, an employee-based affinity group.

The free exhibition will be open through March 9, 2023.

Arsenal Gallery Central Park

830 5th Avenue

New York, NY

If you’re looking for something educational that includes the kids, check out Brooklyn Children’s Museum week of interactive dance, historical explorations, art projects, music, and more— all in celebration of Black History Month. Take in dance performances that tell the narrative of Black diaspora, engage in workshops that disclose the quilted codes used to run the underground railroad, help with a collage project inspired by artists Lauren Halsey and much more. For a full line up, see the BCM website.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

145 Brooklyn Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11213

Get ready for some belly laughs with Women Stand Up NYC and Black Women In Comedy LAFF Festival. In celebration of Black History Month, these two groups have brought together a side-splitting line up of New York’s funniest Black women in comedy for one night. Joanna M. Briley will host and the show features Ayanna Dookie, Heidi Grandberry, Mezzy D, Whitney Allen, April Boddie, Lauren Davis and headliner Monique Latise who is the first Black woman to open a Black-owned comedy club in New Jersey. Tickets are affordable at $15.

February 23, 2023 7pm

The Stand

116 E 16th St

New York, NY 10003

For the more literary crowd, The Center for Fiction is honoring Black History Month with author events all month. Authors speaking include: De’Shawn Charles Winslow whose second novel, Decent People is a mystery set in West Mills a segregated town. He’ll be at the Center for Fiction to discuss themes of race, money, homophobia and what it takes to heal a fractured community. Jamila Minnicks will also be welcomed for her debut novel garnering attention and praise, Moonrise Over New Jessup. In this engaging book the protagonist arrives in a thriving self-sufficient black community where integration is met with skepticism. Minnicks will join to discuss her work and its themes of love, family, community, and safety.

For a complete line up, as well as for a ticket, see the Center for Fiction website. The events will also be streamed for those who can’t make it in person.

De’Shawn Charles Winslow

February 8, 7pm

Jamila Minnicks

February 16, 7pm

The TRNK Showroom in TriBeCa in collaboration with Good Black Art is hosting a group exhibition to celebrate the contributions of Black artists. The artists’ pieces are intended to showcase craft and technique practiced by African American artists including ceramics and assemblage painting onto textiles. Artists include: Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, Hamzat Raheem, Maya Beverly and Yves Craft. The show will run through February.

TRNK Showroom

18 Jay St,

New York, NY 10013

The Lombardy Hotel’s timeless elegance is iconic to Midtown Manhattan. Our rooms are spacious, comfortable and thoughtfully designed to make you feel at home. We look forward to hosting you on your next visit to New York City.

*Due to Covid-19 our restaurant, cafe and gym will remain closed for a time