Celebrate Black History Month with these events in Knoxville

Every year, Knoxville celebrates Black History Month, an opportunity to educate and highlight the accomplishments of African Americans, through a variety of events.

Here are some of the local Black History Month events scheduled throughout February.

'Roots of America, Roots of American Black History'

Feb. 3 – Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning

This discussion will be centered around the roots of American Black Music and its influence on American culture. It's at 5 p.m. at CNS New Hope Center, 602 Scarboro Road, Oak Ridge. The speaker will be John Fleming of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

'The Black Agenda'

Feb. 4 – University of Tennessee Office of Multicultural Student Life

The UT Office of Multicultural Student Life's annual conference theme is "The Black Agenda." The program will host insightful, solution-based workshops and a best-selling author and well-known researcher as a keynote speaker.

The conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Union and is free to all students, faculty and community members. Registration is available at tiny.utk.edu/BIC23.

'Trouble in Mind'

Feb. 8 – 26 – University of Tennessee Knoxville

"Trouble in Mind" will be presented from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage.

Picture this: Broadway in 1957. An integrated theater company gathers to rehearse a new play — the one they hope will be the next big hit on the Great White Way. Against the backdrop of misperceptions and stereotypes within the company, veteran actress Wiletta Mayer grapples with the choice between a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play the lead role in a Broadway show, and the cost of compromising her principles. Alice Childress’ Tony-nominated masterpiece “Trouble in Mind” will play on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage. UT students can see performances for free. UT faculty/staff receive a 15% discount. For tickets, visit clarencebrowntheatre.com/plays/trouble-in-mind.

'Frederick Douglass Day Plenary Address'

Feb. 13 – University of Tennessee Knoxville

The University of Tennessee Knoxville's Frederick Douglass Day Plenary Address will be "We Should Do More and Talk Less": Mary Ann Shadd Cary at 200" by Dr. Nneka Dennie. The presentation will be held at 3:30 pm. at the  John C Hodges Library, Auditorium, 101.

Nneka D. Dennie is an assistant professor of History, core faculty in Africana Studies, and affiliate faculty in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington and Lee University. Currently, she holds a Mellon Just Transformations Fellowship in the Center for Black Digital Research at Pennsylvania State University. Dennie is also co-founder and president of the Black Women’s Studies Association. Her research interests include Black feminism and Black intellectual history, with a particular emphasis on nineteenth-century Black women thinkers. Dr. Dennie is currently developing two book manuscripts. Her monograph, (Re)defining Radicalism: The Rise of Black Feminism and the Politics of Respectability in the Nineteenth Century, is a study of Black women’s radical thought. She is also editing a primary source collection titled Mary Ann Shadd Cary: Essential Writings of a Nineteenth-Century Black Radical Feminist.

'Frederick Douglass Day Celebration and Transcribe-a-Thon'

Feb. 14 – University of Tennessee Knoxville

Celebrating Frederick Douglass and his birthday as well as holding a transcribe-a-thon with other universities who are participating in the event. We will be logging on to DouglassDay.org to help transcribe records from famed newspaper editor and activist, Mary Ann Shadd Cary. It’s a way to celebrate Black History Month with a digital twist! The event will be 12-3 pm. at the Frieson Black Cultural Center.

'The African American Moviegoing Experience in Knoxville's Segregated Era'

Feb. 15 – East Tennessee History Center

Robert J. Booker will present the history of the African American moviegoing experience in Knoxville in a conversation with Knoxville History Project Executive Director Jack Neely at noon at the East Tennessee History Center. Booker will discuss the city’s segregated Black theaters from the early 1900s to the 1960s, as well as his experiences at the Bijou Theatre, where African Americans were required to view movies from the balcony.

'Black and Boujee'

Feb. 16 – University of Tennessee Knoxville

The Black Musicians Alliance show is a celebration of music and other mediums of art by Black artists at 5:30 p.m. at the Natalie Haslam Music Center, Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall. All UT students are welcome to attend or perform. Livestream information can be found at music.utk.edu/events/live.php. Performers reserve the right to change their program without notice. Not all programs are determined prior to the performance. To view programs that have been set, go to audienceaccess.co/NEO.

'Black History Month Talent Show'

Feb. 24 – Beck Cultural Exchange Center

A showcase of talent featuring themes of Black History Month presented by Dradaisha Suber. Doors open at 6:30 pm., show will start at 7 pm. and is located at the Central Collective.

'Althea and Angela'

Feb. 25 and Feb. 28 – WordPlayers Theatre Company

Free and open to the public, this performance by Todd Olson will be held at Walter State Community College, Morristown Campus, and is based on the lives of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton. In 1955, Gibson and Buxton were world-ranked tennis players, yet no one wanted to partner with them in women’s doubles. In fact, few even wanted to talk with them. Post-war America was still very segregated and the tennis world was still very anti-Semitic. Eight years after Jackie Robinson had broken the color line in major league baseball, the tennis world lagged behind, clinging to its country club roots. Althea, a black woman from Harlem, and Angela, a Jewish woman from Liverpool, were outcasts in two nations. So they decided to join forces outside their own country. The Feb. 25 show will be at 1 p.m. at the William H. Inman Humanities Theatre. The performance will be presented free and open to the public The Feb. 28 show is at 12:30 p.m. at Roane State, O’Brien Theatre, 276 Patton Lane in Harriman.

'Black History 101 Mobile Museum'

Feb. 25 – Beck Cultural Exchange Center, in partnership with UUNIK Academy

Free and open to the public, the Black History Mobile Museum UUNIK Academy, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and the S.M.A.R.T. Institute present an exemplary national and international Black history traveling exhibit showcasing various artifacts of Black history. Exhibit facilitator is Professor Griff of Public Enemy. The traveling museum will be presented 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.

'A Guide to Understanding & Tracing African American Lineage'

Feb. 25 – East Tennessee Historical Society

A genealogy workshop will ne held titled Historic Roots–A Guide to Understanding & Tracing African American Lineage. This program will explore strategies for tracing African American lineage and identifying accurate sources, such as the 1870 US Census, deeds, probate files and Freedman’s records. Discussion will also center on how DNA testing, maps, oral interviews, family reunions, church records and research trips may assist in your historic journey. This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Instructor is Dationa “Day” Mitchell, a history researcher. The event will be located at the East Tennessee History Center from 1 to 3 p.m.

'The Dream'

Feb 27 – Beck Cultural Exchange Center at the Bijou Theater

Beck Cultural Exchange Center will showcase their production honoring Black History. The event will be at the Bijou Theatre in Downtown Knoxville. Doors open at 5:30 pm., show starts at 6:30 pm.

'Austin-East Magnet High School Black History Celebration'

Feb. 28 – Austin-East Magnet High School

Austin-East Magnet High School will be honoring and celebrating Black History Month through a lively presentation. The event will be located in the Performing Arts Auditorium and is open and free to the public. The showcase starts at 6 pm, with doors opening at 5:30 pm.

'Conversation with the Rev. Harold Middlebrook'

Feb 28 – Pellissippi State Community College, Hardin Valley Campus

Pellissippi State Community College Hardin Valley Campus will host a discussion with Rev. Harold Middlebrook, a longtime civil rights activist and friend and colleague of Martin Luther King Jr. The event will take place at 2 p.m. at the Goins Auditorium.

'The Sculpture of William Edmondson: Tombstones, Garden Ornaments and Stonework'

Throughout February – University of Tennessee Knoxville

View the exhibit the Sculpture of William Edmondson: Tombstones, Garden Ornaments and Stonework from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout February at Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. William Edmondson (1874–1951) was the most notable sculptor active in Tennessee during the 1930s and 40s, and today he remains one of the most important American folk artists of the 20th century. During his life he was well known for his yard art, such as whimsical birdbaths and “critters” of real and imaginary provenance, sculptures of everyday people and the grave markers he carved for African American families. The Sculpture of William Edmondsonis the first museum examination of artist's career in over 20 years. Featuring 12 of his sculptures, photographs by noted photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe and ephemera, the exhibition draws upon new scholarship to contextualize Edmondson’s sculpture. This exhibition was organized by Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art in Nashville and curated by Marin R. Sullivan.

'Black History & Culture Conversations Series, Racial Justice'

Every Friday in February – Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Beck Cultural Exchange Center will host in person lectures at the center every Friday in February from 4 to 6 p.m., featuring conversations on Black history, cultural and racial justice.

Beck Cultural Exchange Center will present Black history and culture everyday in February through their free daily e-newsletter. Subscribe to the receive the e-newsletter or learn more about the organization and Black History Month at beckcenter.net.

If you would like to see your Black History Month event featured on this list, email Hayley.Choy@Knox.News.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Celebrate Black History Month 2023 with these Knoxville events