It's Black History Month. Here's where to celebrate in Polk County

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·2 min read
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February is Black History Month - a national celebration recognizing the cultural and historical contributions of Black people since the founding of the nation.
February is Black History Month - a national celebration recognizing the cultural and historical contributions of Black people since the founding of the nation.

February is Black History Month - a national celebration recognizing the cultural and historical contributions of Black people since the founding of the nation. Also known as African American History Month, the observance became federally recognized in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.

The following is a list of events commemorating Black History Month scheduled to take place across Polk County:

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  • Polk State College kicks off a series of Black History Month events with "Promoting Unity in Our Community" on Feb. 2 at noon at its Lakeland campus' Technology Building. The luncheon is open to the public and will feature a keynote speech by Anthony Gordon, co-owner of Jarrett Gordon Ford. Musical and dance performances will also be part of the event as well as a scholarship presentation. The campus is located at 3425 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland.

  • On Feb. 4, Polk County History Center will host an Evergreen and Palm cemeteries tour at 11 a.m. The cemetery, designated as a Polk County Heritage site in 2022, documents the legacies of Black pioneers in the county who endured slavery, promoted agriculture and served in the nation's military. The cemetery is accessible via Highway 60 W, past the intersection of Baker Ave. and West Main Street. It is adjacent to Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, located at 1425 W. Main St. in Bartow. A museum curator will be on site to direct parking.

  • The City of Lakeland will host its annual Black History Festival on Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Jackson Park, located at 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The event will feature dance performances by Crystal's World of Dance, artisan vendors, food trucks and bounce houses for the children. A neighborhood history exhibit will be set up inside the Coleman Bush building and feature pioneers of Lakeland's Black communities put together by the Lakeland History and Cultural Center.

  • Polk History Center's Genealogy Speaker Series will feature Dr. Deborah Abbott at 10 a.m. Feb. 25, who will speak to "Strategies and Techniques: Reconstructing an African American family from slavery to freedom." Abott will outline the methodology used in reconstructing the ancestry and migration of an African American family whose roots reach back to the era of enslavement in Kentucky. The presenter will appear virtually via Zoom, but those interested are asked to join the History Center to participate. The center is located at 100 E. Main St. in Bartow.

Know of a public event we missed? Contact Sara-Megan Walsh at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545 to be added.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here's where to celebrate Black History Month in Polk County