February is Black History Month, and Black history and culture are essential parts of Montgomery County, Maryland’s heritage. Take the opportunity to honor and learn more about Montgomery County’s Black heritage through these in-person and virtual events happening all month long.
Take a Black History Road Trip
All month long throughout Montgomery County
Stories of the Underground Railroad are rich and rooted deep into Montgomery County. The multitude of historic sites and experiences make for an interesting self-guided road trip throughout the county to help understand the trials, tribulations, and heroism of the freedom seekers.
Sons of Mystro
Friday, February 2, 2024, at 8:00 pm
BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
Have you ever been serenaded by a musical duo, who plays over ten different genres of popular music, using the violin instead of their voices to literally express a song’s lyrics? If not, then you must not have heard of the violin virtuosos – Sons of Mystro!
Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement
Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Virtual events hosted by Montgomery Parks at Brookside Gardens
Speaker: Dr. Monica White, author and Associate Professor of Environmental Justice, University of Wisconsin
Join Dr. White as she expands the historical narrative of the Black freedom struggle to embrace the work, roles, and contributions of southern Black farmers. While many view agriculture as a site of oppression and exploitation of Black people, this lecture will reveal agriculture as a site of resistance. You’ll gain a historical foundation that adds meaning and context to the current food justice/sovereignty movements in America.
A Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Celebration with Wordsmith
Friday, February 23, 2024, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
Join BlackRock as we Celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop with WORDSMITH. Make a night of it! Come for WORDSMITH and add on a ticket to the after-party with THE mixtape pioneer, DJ Oso Fresh. Or purchase our Complete 50th Anniversary Celebration package to book both tickets at once and save!
BHM24 Concert
Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 7:30 pm.
Maryland Youth Ballet, 926 Ellsworth Dr. Silver Spring, MD 20910
This year’s concert brings together schools, organizations, and dance companies from throughout the DMV.
3:00 pm: Ballet Nouveau, Balitmore School for the Arts, Divine Dance Institute, Jones-Haywood Dance School, Morton Street Dance, MOVE|NYC|, MYB, Princess Mhoon Dance Institute, The VIVA School, The Washington School of Ballet @THEARC.
5:00 pm: Ballet Nouveau, Baltimore School for the Arts, Bowie State, Divine Dance Institute, Full Circle Dance Company, Jones-Haywood Dance School, Morton Street Dance, ktm eXtreme dance project, MOVE|NYC|, MYB, Princess Mhoon Dance Institute, University of Maryland (College Park), The VIVA School, The Washington School of Ballet.
7:30 pm: Bowie State, Full Circle Dance Company, Jones-Haywood Dance School, ktm eXtreme dance project, MOVE|NYC|, MYB, University of Maryland (College Park), The VIVA School, The Washington School of Ballet Adult Program
Differing Historical Perspectives on Slavery
Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
This lecture series features local historians, educators, and more who will share their knowledge of local and regional history. Arrive early and take a self-guided tour of Josiah Henson Museum and Park. Appropriate for ages 12 and older. Doors open at 5 pm.
This program will take place at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park Visitor Center. Refreshments provided. Admission is $5 per person. Tickets available onsite.
Friday Night Dance Series
Every Friday in February, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Maryland Youth Ballet, 926 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Join the Maryland Youth Ballet for a free class every Friday, ages 10+.
Feb. 2: Umfundalai with Miriah Auth: Contemporary African dance technique that includes movement vocabulary from dance traditions throughout the Diaspora presented in a way which makes it accessible for anyone to perform traditional African dances.
Feb. 9: Dunham with Shawna Williams: The Dunham technique involves the merging of polyrhythmic dance styles in continual motion. Katherine Dunham was the first to combine the individualistic dance movements of Caribbean and African cultures with European-style ballet.
Feb. 16: Afrobeat with Heinz Adjakwah: A fun and diverse style of dance originating predominantly from Sub-Saharan Africa. It is an evolution from traditional African dance styles following the creation of Afrobeats music. Afrobeats music is anchored in West African music styles, particularly Nigerian Afrobeat and Ghanaian highlife, with American jazz, funk, reggae, and dancehall added to the mix, creating a hybrid sound from across continents.
Feb. 23: West African with Jalia Inman: West African Dance is an exploration of the African diaspora through song, dance, and live drumming.
Screening and Panel Discussion
Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 2:30 pm.
Maryland Youth Ballet, 926 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Film: Black Ballerina
Discussion: A Seat at the Table, a Place on the Stage
For the fifth anniversary of MYB’s Black History Month celebration, we are taking it back to the beginning with a screening of the documentary, Black Ballerina, which tells the story of several black women who fell in love with ballet, some of whom were pioneers who were instrumental in discussion about the film as well as the topic “A Seat at the Table, a Place on the Stage” regarding whether or not the recent shift by many companies which will ultimately (hopefully) lead to them showing up on stage.
History Happy Hour: Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood
Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Sandy Spring Museum is proud to present our long-running History Happy Hour speakers series. Tickets include complimentary snacks and wine to enjoy throughout the program. Launched in 2020 at the White House Historical Association, the Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood research initiative seeks to identify and share the stories of the enslaved workers who built, lived in, and worked at the White House. Dr. Matthew Costello will provide an overview of the initiative’s findings, and highlight key figures and experiences, and ongoing research efforts.
Black History Month Family Day
Saturday, February 24, 2024, and Sunday, February 25, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Reverend Josiah Henson worked tirelessly throughout his life to advocate for freedom and education. This weekend, come visit the Josiah Henson Museum and Park for educational, hands-on activities that demonstrate what a child’s life was like in Dawn, the settlement he created after taking his family to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
The family-friendly event is appropriate for all ages. Free with paid admission.
Admission, $4 for children and seniors, and $5 for adults. Tickets available onsite.
Guest parking is 1.5 blocks away at the Shriver Aquatic Center in Wall Local Park, located at 5900 Executive Boulevard.
Black History Month Celebration
Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kid Museum, 3 Bethesda Metro Cente, Suite 140, Bethesda, MD 20814
Join the Kid Museum to celebrate Black History Month with an array of events to explore the heritage of Nigeria. Events include hands-on making cowry shells, storytelling, and art activities.
MoCo Lore with Janice the Griot
Sunday, February 18, 2024, at 3:00 pm.
Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Janice Curtis Greene, performing as Janice the Griot, will deliver an immersive and engaging family program delving into our own local history and folklore through the African griot storytelling tradition. She will share stories of regional black history taken from materials from the museum archives and her own research. The program will also feature folktales connected to Maryland history and traditional African folktales translated to a Maryland setting. During the program, she will also lead the audience in games, chants, and songs.Â
This program will feature an intermission and refreshments will be available.
When the Stars Align: Celestial Navigation and the Underground Railroad
Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum & Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
