LIST: Black History Month events in West Michigan 2024
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Lectures, performances, sing-alongs and art shows are just a few of the events going on around West Michigan in February to mark Black History Month.
The idea first came about in 1915, when thousands of African Americans traveled to Chicago from around the nation to see exhibits highlighting progress by Black people in the 50 years since slavery had been abolished. Inspired by this event, a man named Carter G. Woodson created an organization to “promote the scientific study of Black life and history,” according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Over the years, the idea grew and more organizations got involved. Weeks of study expanded into a whole month. February was chosen for “reasons of tradition and reform,” ASAALH said, and because of the birthdays of two Americans who “played a prominent role in shaping Black history” — President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass — on the 12th and 14th, respectively.
The traditions, learning and celebrations continue today. In West Michigan, many events are planned to commemorate Black History Month. Find one near you below:
GRAND RAPIDS
Downtown Grand Rapids Black History Tour by Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. | Anytime on GR Walks app. | Details
Over the Top Academy of Dance | All Black & Excellent: Music, Motown & Maurice Chestnut | Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. | Tickets $75 | Details
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, GRAAMA | The Songs That Healed A Nation with Reverend Robert Jones, Sr. | Feb. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Museum | Innovators: Celebrating Black History | Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Artist Talk with Octavia Ink | Feb. 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Black History Month Storytimes | Feb. 5 through Feb. 8 | Details
DeVos Performance Hall | GR Symphony Presents Symphony with Soul: Leela James | Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. | Details
DeVos Performance Hall | GR Symphony Presents Black Panther in Concert | Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | The Black Panther and Beyond: The World of Afrofuturism with Dr. Julian Chambliss | Feb. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Movies at Main: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Feb. 17 from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Teen Printmaking Workshop with Octavia Ink | Feb. 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details
Knapp Charter Academy | Black History Month Wax Museum | Feb. 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Canvas & Cookies with E’lla Webber | Feb. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Movies at Main: Soul | March 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details
Grand Rapids Public Library | Black Lives are Beautiful | March 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details
Coit Creative Arts Academy | Black History Performance | Feb. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details
Eta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | In Our Eyes: A Black History Event | Feb. 24 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details
CALHOUN COUNTY
Kellogg Community College | Community-wide Sing-along: Traditional Hymns and African American Spirituals | Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Meet the Greeks: A Panel Discussion | Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | African Drum and Dance Performance by Rootead | Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Quiz Bowl (Kahoot! Game) hosted by Terry Burleson and Tania Reese | Feb. 13 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Heart Healthy Fitness with Dr. Odell Miller | Feb. 14 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Lunch & Learn: Our Culture, Our Community | Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Vocal Performance with Carmen Bell | Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Soul Food Luncheon | Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | Black-owned Business Showcase | Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details
Kellogg Community College | From Motown to Mic Drop: A Karaoke Celebration of Black Music | Feb. 27 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Details
KALAMAZOO COUNTY
City of Portage at Air Zoo | Black History Month Presentation with Dr. Sian Proctor | Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. | Details
Kalamazoo Public Library | African Americans and the Arts Collage | Feb. 1 through Feb. 29 | Details
Kalamazoo Public Library | Celebrating Black Art | Feb. 8, Feb. 19, Feb. 22 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Details
Kalamazoo Public Library | Your Turn! African American Women and Men of Kalamazoo interactive history presentation | Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details
Kalamazoo Public Library | Black History Month with Arty the Art Detective | Feb. 13, Feb. 21, Feb. 27 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Kalamazoo Public Library | Kalamazoo History-Makers: Celebrating Black History Month | Feb. 21, Feb. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details
KENT COUNTY
Kentwood Library | Documentary Preview – Black History Month | Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. | Details
City of Kentwood, Woodland Mall | Unity Walk in Honor of Black History Month and African American Live Museum | Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m. | Details
MUSKEGON COUNTY
Hackley Public Library | Trivia Contest — Black History Month | Feb. 3 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | Open Mic Poetry Night | Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. | Details
Muskegon Community College | Guest lecture by Dr. Edward Lewis Hill Jr. | Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details
Muskegon Community College | Lecture Series: “Afros, Fades, and Razorblades” | Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details
Frauenthal Theater | Muskegon Civic Theatre presents The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls | Feb. 9 through Feb. 24, various times | Details
Shiya Ifa | Black History Month Aman Village Warrior Celebration | Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | Mac & Cheese Contest | Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | Sweet Soul Food Dessert Contest | Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | Sweet Soul Food Dessert Contest | Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. | Details
Muskegon Community College | “Restorative Pathways: Lessons from Rwanda” | Feb. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details
Queen Esther Missionary Baptist Church | “Soul Food Experience/Honoring the Past Celebrating the Present and Inspiring the Future | Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | The Mountaintop — Theater Performance | Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. | Details
Hackley Public Library | Black Hair Care Clinic | Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. | Details
Muskegon Community College | “African American Read-In” | Feb 28 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Details
OTTAWA COUNTY
Hope College | Black History Month Lecture with Dr. Sonja Trent-Brown | Feb. 15 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Details
GVSU | Film screening: Judas and the Black Messiah | Feb. 21 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Details
Patmos Library | Black History Art Class: Alma Thomas | Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. | Details
GVSU | For the Culture: Quiz Bowl | Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details
To add your organization’s event to this list, send us an email at ReportIt@woodtv.com. Be sure to include a link.
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