Celebrate Black History Month in Minneapolis
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the past, present and future of the Black experience throughout history. In Minneapolis we have many different ways to celebrate and learn about Black culture all month long. From special virtual events and discussions to musical performances, museum exhibits and more, here are some ideas for things to do during Black History Month.
Museums/Exhibits
Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
This museum is dedicated to celebrating the history of African Americans by giving visitors a look at the achievements, contributions and experiences of Black people throughout the history of Minnesota.
to have never known
An exhibit by Kehayr Brown-Ransaw that presents quilts based on research about the trans-Atlantic slave trade that revealed the names of 43,191 children abducted and illegally sold into slavery from 1807-1870. Quilts are made by Brown-Ransaw, an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and curator based in Minneapolis.
Unbreakable
Celebrate the resilience of African Americans in Minnesota with this exhibit which explores African American early settlers and pioneers in the 1800s. Here you can learn about the struggles and successes of African Americans who moved to Minnesota from the South during the "Great Migration."
Abstracproseality: Visual Notations from Dark to Light
An exhibit of acrylic paintings and mixed media that documents various aspects of the African American existence and experience in america. Created by seangarrison, the paintings and prose reflect pain, anger, joy and love with the intent to both agitate and allow us to breathe from the “heaviness” of it all.
Somali Museum of Minnesota
The Somali Museum of Minnesota celebrates the traditions and heritage of the Somali people in a collection of more than 700 pieces of craftwork, paintings and sculptures, ranging from nomadic objects and a model nomad’s hut to contemporary art. This space gives young Somalis who have grown up in the United States a way to connect with their culture, as well as Minnesotans of other ethnic heritage to encounter Somali art and traditional culture for the first time.
The Dirios Exhibit
Showcasing many works from collector and preserver of Somali ethnography, Dr. Mohamud (Dirios) Mohamed's. The exhibit will feature his personal collections and artifacts from Somalia & the Somali Culture and Research Center.
Mia Exhibits/Galleries
An audio-visual experience, Rituals of Resilience is co-curated by the Twin Cities-based musician and community organizer Chaka Mkali (aka I Self Devine). It explore themes of identity, culture, spirituality, and power through the embodiment of Black lived experience and creates dialog between works by Black visual artists from the United States, Africa, and the greater African Diaspora and new music created for the exhibition by Mkali and his collaborators.
Racism as a Public Health Crisis: Youth and Professional Artists Respond
See works created by high school students in Minneapolis and St. Paul that address the racism in their lives and on the health of their families, communities, and beyond. This exhibit runs until February 6, 2022.
Events
How it Feels to Be Free
Presented by: MSP Film Society
When: February 3, 2022
Come to the Capri Theatre to see the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and transformed themselves and their audiences in the process. A Post-screening community discussion with MSP Film Programmer Craig Laurence Rice and director Yoruba Richen will follow the screening.
Erase: The Movement To Exclude Black People From History
Presented by: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
When: February 3, 2022 (Online)
Join the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum for this enlightening discussion with Dr. Keith Mayes and Dr. Yohuru Williams about the importance of Black history education, the misinformation about Critical Race Theory and reimagining the public square with the rise of Black institutions.
The History of African Americans in Southeast Minnesota
Presented by: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
When: February 7, 2022 (Online)
Mica L. Anders, MAAHMG History Fellow, will discuss her research and exhibit about African Americans in Southeast Minnesota.
Artist Talk With seangarrison
Presented by: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
When: February 17, 2022 (Online)
seangarrison talks about his new exhibit "Abstracproseality: Visual Notations from Dark to Light" which is a collection of acrylic paintings and mixed media that document various aspects of the African American existence and experience in america.
Local Black-Owned Businesses
Black-owned businesses need your support and Minneapolis is filled with plenty of opportunities to do so.
