For more than 90 years, February has been a time to focus on the achievements, contributions, and history of African Americans. The celebration now known as Black History Month began in February 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) started a week-long celebration to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976, it was expanded to a month-long event, and President Gerald Ford issued a presidential proclamation, a practice followed by subsequent presidents. To see the proclamations, visit the Library of Congress.

Join Broadway Stages as we celebrate Black History month! There will be numerous events (many free) around NYC throughout February. Here are some suggestions:

● The NYC Parks calendar lists many events, including some in Brooklyn.

● The NYMetro Parents calendar features kid-friendly events in the NYC area.

● The Paley Center is featuring exhibits, events, screenings, and family activities in “A Salute to Black Achievements in Television,” presented by Citi, with a special spotlight on comedy and BET’s 40 th anniversary. If you are unable to attend a local event in person, check out Black History Month information online. For a fun take on history, see “The Most Searched,” Google’s Black History Month website that celebrates the most searched Black American achievements according to Google Trends Data in the US between January 1, 2004 and July 1, 2019. (Fun fact: The most searched drag queen is RuPaul, who has filmed at Broadway Stages!)