6 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Metro Detroit

From logging onto virtual discussions to visiting pop-up shops, here are 6 ways to celebrate Black History Month this February

By Perry Haselden

Featured photo via @diadetroit

Artwork by Wadsworth Jarrell

February 13

Celebrating Black Photographers

11:00 am

Wee the People, a Boston-based social justice project for kids, has teamed up with the Detroit Institute of Art for a series of events celebrating Black photographers. On February 13 they are hosting a virtual reading of Carole Boston Weatherford’s picture book “Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America.” This event is free, but registration is required via the DIA website.

February 17

THF Conversations: Being Culturally Responsive as an Educator

5:30 pm

THF Conversations for Educators is a speaker series created by The Henry Ford Museum to highlight real-world innovators, entrepreneurs and inventors. The series’ first event will take place on February 17 via Zoom, with author Zaretta Hammond on hand to discuss her book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students. Registration is required to attend.

February 18

Excellence in Black Cinema Series

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

315 E Warren Ave, Detroit

In honor of Black History Month, for the next two Thursdays The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is hosting in-person screenings of films created by and about African Americans. On February 18 they will be showing three films, “Ghosts of Mississippi”, “Red Tails”, and “The Great Debaters” with each film being shown at three different times, 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. Screenings are free and open to the public!

February 18

Album Discussion: To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

6 – 7 pm

Join Ann Arbor District Library and Will Jones III for a virtual discussion of the album To Pimp A Butterfly by rapper Kendrick Lamar. A Black creative and musician himself, Jones will share why he feels the album is one of the “true masterpieces” of his generation. To attend, simply visit the event website one hour prior to the start time, no registration required.

February 19 + 20

African American Family Book Expo

Detroit Book City is hosting their 5th annual African American Family Book Expo this month. During this free two-day virtual event you can purchase books from Black independent authors, attend a West African dance class, hear spoken-word poetry, and many other fun activities! For more information about the schedule and to register, check out the Detroit Book City website.

February 20

Black History Month Pop Up Shop

2 – 6 pm

The Ultimate Craft Studio

28370 Joy Road, Livonia

Shop local and support Black-owned businesses at the Black History Month pop up shop at The Ultimate Craft Studio! Hosted by The Ultimate Ladies Night, this event will also feature poetry readings and a special BHM craft activity. Tickets for this event are free and can be purchased via eventbrite.