Black History Month Events Around Lincoln Square

February is Black History Month, and there are many events in and around Lincoln Square throughout the month that will be honoring the triumphs and struggles of Black Americans throughout U.S. history.

Join the New York Philharmonic at Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (165 West 65th Street) on Friday, February 4 for Beauty in the Abyss, part of their Authentic Selves: The Beauty from Within series. Delve deeper into the exploration of identity with this evening of performance and conversation curated by National Black Theatre, and conceived and directed by Dominique Rider. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

Additionally, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is sharing a collection of performances and talks highlighting the history and experience of Black individuals from a multitude of cultures and contexts. Spanning new, recent, and archival pieces, the works include dynamic commissions that address pressing social issues, educational pieces that bring history to life, and compositions that fuse a rich array of influences—all rendered with breathtaking artistry. These beautifully varied, multifaceted performances and conversations amplify the stories and perspectives of Black people, spanning the spectrum of joy, pain, reflection, and hope. Click here to view Lincoln Center’s Spotlight On: Black History Month.

Families with children ages 4 and up are invited to a special online Families and Folk Art program at the American Folk Art Museum on Saturday, February 12 at 10:00am. Join noted playwright, author and artist Calvin Ramsey as he reads from his book: Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend: A Civil Rights Story. Following the reading will be an art-making workshop for all, related to the themes explored in the story and quilts from the AFAM collection. This program is free, but registration is required. Learn more and register here.

On Sunday, February 13 at 1:00pm, join the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to learn about the lives of Seneca Village’s residents in the 1800s and the community’s place in pre-Central Park. The event is free and will be held at 81st Street and Central Park West. Learn more here.

To celebrate Black History Month, Fordham University is offering a variety of events and programs on both its Lincoln Center campus and Rose Hill campus in the Bronx. Some programs are also offered virtually. Click here to view Fordham's programming for Black History Month. 

New York Society for Ethical Culture is hosting two events that coincide with Black History Month. On February 13 at 11:00am, bring your kids to Young Ethical Explorers – Exploring Important New Books about Racial Justice. And on Sunday, February 20 at 11:00am, Ethical will be hosting an in-person and online hybrid Sunday Platform with Joe Chuman on “The Radical Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We Do Not Know.”

While in-person programming is on pause at The New York Public Library through Sunday, February 13, the Library is hosting various Black History Month events online. Click here to see all of the Black History programming at NYPL.

Looking for ways to get your children involved with Black History Month? New York Historical Society is hosting a number of family-oriented virtual Black History month events throughout February. Click here to view the upcoming events. 

Celebrate Black History Month by supporting Black creators and brands at Target (1865 Broadway at West 61st Street). Target has highlighted a number of products that are from Black-owned brands, and has even launched five limited-time fashion collections with Black-owned brands for Black History Month. Click here for more information.

And Nordstrom is also honoring the Black community, rejoicing in Black culture and amplifying Black voices—past, present and future. In February and beyond, look for opportunities to shop Black-owned, -founded and -designed brands. Click here to learn more.  

Photo credit: American Folk Art Museum - "Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend: A Civil Rights Story" by Calvin Ramsey