8+ Cultural Events and Exhibitions to Celebrate Black History Month Uptown
Immerse yourself in Black history and culture Uptown at these community-driven events and exhibitions.
Black History Month signifies a time of communal reflection and reverence. It calls us to honor the resilience of past African American pioneers and celebrate the creativity and innovation of modern-day visionaries. This February, a collective of Uptown community groups and institutions are hosting events and exhibitions rooted in education and empowerment.
From history-driven panel discussions that explore the storied legacies of Black trailblazers to artistic celebrations that center the work of contemporary creatives of color, we've curated a roundup of immersive celebrations to check out during Black History Month.
Uptown Arts Reception: ‘In Solidarity: Activism in Community Yesterday and Today’
Date: Wednesday, February 19 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: 61 Claremont Ave, New York, NY 10115
From the Civil Rights era to modern-day social justice movements, the art of photography has historically been an illuminative element of activism. In celebration of Black History Month, the Interchurch Center in Morningside Heights will host a photojournalistic-inspired exhibition—In Solidarity: Activism in Community Yesterday and Today—that explores the legacy of advocacy through the lenses of photographers Ken Thompson and Bob Gore.
Illustrating how the power of social activism transcends generations, the exhibit will bridge poignant images captured by Thompson during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and captivating present-day photographs from demonstrations across the country included in Gore’s Know Justice, Know Peace collection. The artists' reception will be followed by a riveting performance from the Interchurch Center Gospel Choir.
A Revolutionary Friendship: Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama
Date: Wednesday, February 19 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037
Connected by a shared passion for justice, Civil Rights leader Malcolm X and California-born, Japanese American activist Yuri Kochiyama—a former Manhattanville Houses resident—forged a lasting friendship that exemplified the power of allyship. Ahead of what will mark the 60th anniversary of Malcolm X’s death, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is teaming up with The New York Public Library's Center for Educators and Schools, Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and the Yuri Kochiyama Solidarity Project to host an insightful and inspiring panel discussion that delves into archival history, speaking truth to power, and the past, present, and future of racial solidarity within activism.
The esteemed lineup of panelists includes filmmaker and writer Jamal Joseph—who currently serves as the Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia School of the Arts' film department—Kochiyama’s granddaughter Akemi Kochiyama, a writer and scholar-activist who is the co-director of the Yuri Kochiyama Archives Project, writer Tamara Payne, and Black Women Radicals Founder and Executive Director Jaimee A. Swift.
NYC Parks x Randall's Island Park Alliance Black History Month Celebration
Date: Thursday, February 20 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 158 E 115th St, New York, NY 10029
Celebrating the vibrancy of the creative arts across the Black Diaspora, NYC Parks and the Randall's Island Park Alliance are hosting a community-driven cultural fête in the heart of East Harlem. The lineup of festivities for the family-friendly program—taking place at the East Harlem Neighborhood Health Action Center—includes an Afro-Brazilian Samba class, arts and crafts sessions that spark creativity, lively music, fun-filled games, and an array of other immersive activities.
Every Day Is Black History Month Market
Date: Friday, February 21 - Saturday, February 22 | 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037
Immerse yourself in the cultural creativity of Harlem’s entrepreneurial scene at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s ‘Every Day Is Black History Month’ market. Designed to amplify the work of artisans, makers, and creatives of color, the weekend-long Black History Month-inspired bazaar will feature a curated selection of vibrant artwork, one-of-a-kind garments and jewelry, a collection of thought-provoking reads penned by contemporary writers, statement stationery items and other trinkets that were all crafted and created Uptown. Although you can support local Black-owned small businesses at The Schomburg Shop all year round, this is an Uptown shopping experience you won’t want to miss.
Harlem Grown’s ‘Roots & Recipes’ Black History Month Celebration
Date: Saturday, February 22 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: 521 W 145th St, New York, NY 10031
From urban farming education sessions for local youth to community-driven farm-to-table tastings, Harlem Grown has been at the forefront of Uptown initiatives rooted in sustainability. This Black History Month, the organization is shining a light on Black innovation through its ‘Roots & Recipes’ celebration. During the event—taking place at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem in Hamilton Heights—attendees can learn about the legacies of Black visionaries through indoor food and agriculture-inspired activities that include cultural cooking workshops and tastings, wellness sessions, a recipe swap, and more. Roots & Recipes aims to honor history and inspire creativity.
Lenfest Kids: ‘The Princess and the Frog’
Date: Saturday, February 22 | 12:00 PM - 1:40 PM
Location: 615 W 129th St, New York, NY 10027
Make your way to Manhattanville for a family-friendly screening of the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog at Lenfest Center for the Arts. The movie chronicles the journey of a girl named Tiana—Disney's first Black princess—who dreams of opening a restaurant. Her path takes a few twists and turns after a spell is put on her and a visiting prince by voodoo magician Dr. Facilier, leading them on a journey to reverse it.
Set in the bayous of Louisiana, Tiana's character is inspired by the late culinary legend Leah Chase. Dubbed the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” she and her family’s New Orleans-based Dooky Chase's Restaurant has been a celebrated cornerstone in the culinary world. Established in 1941, the Black-owned eatery—which has served the likes of James Baldwin and Beyoncé—has been a space for community, culture, and civil rights activism.
Uptown Film Screening: 'Do the Right Thing'
Date: Saturday, February 22 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: 518 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
From biopics about Civil Rights icons to fictional films inspired by the nuances of everyday life, legendary filmmaker Spike Lee has used his work to creatively capture the essence of the Black experience in America; sparking crucial conversations about societal injustices and shedding light on the human condition. This month, George Bruce Library will host a screening of Do the Right Thing, one of the most celebrated movies in Lee's cinematic collection. The critically acclaimed 1989 comedy-drama chronicles a multiracial Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood navigating rising racial tensions.
The Soapbox Presents: Welcome In, Communion
Date: Sunday, February 23 | 7:00 PM
Location: 274 Lenox Avenue New York, NY 10027
Known for their electrifying brownstone stoop concerts in Harlem, The Soapbox Presents has unapologetically celebrated Black and brown creativity. This Black History Month, the collective will host an event that centers on the restorative power of the arts. Dubbed 'Welcome In, Communion,' the event will feature a lineup of performances by poets and singers and a communal mediation session led by Tara Nicolas and her wellness brand Tea Time Community. Among the creatives and artists slated to perform are Jillian Grace, Paul Beaudry, Elisee Ngbo, Joshua Green, Felicia Cade, Cito Blanko, Katherine George, and Donat De La Cruz.
Uptown Exhibition: ‘Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100’
Date: On view now through July 20, 2025
Location: 1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
Explore the life and times of political pioneer Shirley Chisholm at the Museum of the City of New York’s Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100 exhibition. From her early beginnings in Bedford-Stuyvesant to her rise in the realm of politics, the exhibition features rare artifacts, photos, videos, and artwork inspired by Chisholm’s legacy; collectively providing a comprehensive lens into her trailblazing journey.
Among the pieces featured in the exhibition are 1970s paintings by late Harlem-born artist Faith Ringgold, vintage campaign pins and posters from Chisholm’s historic presidential run in 1972, and interviews with other social change agents that include Gloria Steinem and Sonia Sanchez. Changing the Face of Democracy is the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the first Black United States congresswoman.