Celebrate Black History Month in Evanston

Every February, the City of Evanston and other partner organizations celebrate Black History Month with events, activities and lecture-series honoring the history and contributions of the Black community. Check out a listing below!

Evanston Public Library

Each February, the Evanston Public Library celebrates Black History Month by honoring the stories, voices, and achievements of Black communities through engaging exhibits, curated booklists, meaningful events, and hands-on activities for kids. 

Black History Month Karaoke Night!  |  February 4  |  6:30 p.m.  |  Double Clutch

Celebrate Black History Month with a fun, music-filled karaoke night at Double Clutch Brewing Co. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with time to mingle, followed by karaoke at 7:00 p.m. Guests can sing or cheer on others, enjoy food and drinks for purchase, and stay for karaoke hosted by Double Clutch through 11:00 p.m. This is a 21+ event. Learn more.

Teen Scene - Black History Month Party  |  February 13  |  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  |  Robert Crown Branch Library

Join us for an epic Black History Month party designed for students in grades 6–9. Activities include watching a movie, answering trivia questions for prizes, making fudge and chocolate-covered strawberries, enjoying snacks, and hanging out in a cozy atmosphere. Bring your favorite comfy clothes, blankets, and pillows and enjoy an afternoon with friends! The celebration also highlights books connected to the theme, including Poemhood, Illustrated Black History, Under the Neon Lights, and Nubia.

Black History Month Reading with Leslé Honoré  |  February 14  |  10 :30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  |  Main Library

Celebrate Black History Month with a live reading from Leslé Honoré, a Blaxican Poet, activist, and author. In her poetry and life, Leslé Honoré works to empower youth to find their voices through the arts. Her latest published work for children My Brown Boy is an affirming picture book that celebrates the brilliance and power of brown and Black boys to achieve their dreams. Copies of Leslé Honoré's picture books Brown Girl, Brown Girl and My Brown Boy will be on sale at the event. For children of all ages and their caregivers. No registration required. 

Community Art Exhibit  |  February 6-28  |  3rd floor of the Main Library

In celebration of Black History Month, the Evanston Public Library called on artists and creatives to submit an art piece that highlights and recognizes the lived experience and spirit of Black history and culture through the years. 

City of Evanston & Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

Black History 24/7/365: “That Art Thing We Do”, Part III of A Conversation With Black Evanston Artists  |  February 21  |  7 p.m.  |  Noyes Cultural Arts Center

The Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre presents Black History 24/7/365: “That Art Thing We Do”, Part III of A Conversation With Black Evanston Artists, an evening celebrating local Black creatives. Three Black Evanston artists will take the stage for a dynamic discussion moderated by Laurice Bell of the Shorefront Legacy Center, exploring their creative work, personal histories, and inspirations. The conversation will be followed by an Afterglow Party with wine and hors d’oeuvres in the first-floor art gallery. The free, all-ages event takes place on Saturday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre/Noyes Cultural Arts Center. Meet the panel: Dejah Gomez is an inimitable talent, accomplished and seasoned vocalist with a powerful history of achievement in music and entertainment; Melissa Blount is a textile artist, writer, and licensed clinical psychologist practicing her craft in Evanston; Ben Blount is an artist, designer, and letterpress printer who loves books, type, and putting ink on paper. 

Shorefront Legacy Center Lecture Series

We're Not Going Back: Community Democracy and Voting Event  |  February 7  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center

This session will offer voters the opportunity to directly speak with five congressional candidates, Bushra Amiwala, Phil Andrews, Daniel Biss, Laura Fine, and Mike Simmons. Some RSVPs from more candidates are still pending.

Fight For The Ballot: Reconstruction to Now  |  February 7  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center

This program will explore the lasting legacy of Reconstruction, voter suppression, and challenges facing voters today. We will have a discussion led by Willie Shaw and Carole Boone on the history of voting rights for African Americans through an analysis of historical documents, newspaper articles and census records. 

Reading is Resistances: A Presentation by Stacy Moss-Paul & Terri Shepard  |  February 15  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center

Join in for an incredibly relevant scholarly presentation by Stacy Moss-Paul and Terri Shepard. In their presentation, Moss-Paul and Shepard will discuss banned and challenged books, and the importance of centering Black stories and experiences during turbulent times, such as the present . Come see the presentation to find out more about the ongoing attempt at control of the educational narrative and modes of resistance. 

Young Archivists: Capture Your Story  |  February 14  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center

Shorefront Legacy Center is offering students between 6th and 12th grade the opportunity to learn a bit about collecting and preserving their own images. They will be lending disposable cameras to students who visit the Levy Center between noon and 2 p.m. Once the cameras are completed, folks can return them to Shorefront and they will be developed. 

Learning Hub and Housing Expo: Resource Sharing on Housing, Scholarships, Grants, and Financial Literacy  |  February 14  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  ETHS

The Evanston Reparations Committee Working Groups are bringing a range of resources to the Evanston community through its Learning Hub and Housing Expo. This expo will feature information on housing, scholarships, grants, school programs, businesses, and financial literacy. Open to all Evanston residents, the expo will offer practical advice, free giveaways, and a complimentary lunch. 

From Haiti to New Orleans: Creolization of Culture, Food, Language, Music, and People  |  February 28  |  Noon to 2 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center

After Haiti's independence on January 1, 1804, thousands of Haitians migrated to New Orleans, LA. These Haitians impacted the food, the music, the language, and creolized the population. Join us for a taste of the food, listen to the music, hear the similarity of language, and see some of the similarities between Mardi Gras and Haitian carnival. Panelists include: Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste, Entrepreneur Gabrielle J. Walker-Aguilar, Creole Chef Byron Glapion, Haitian Chef Daniel Desir.

Levy Senior Center

'Momma Kemba' Portrays Fannie Lou Hamer  |  Thursday, February 5  |  2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  |  Levy Senior Center & Virtual

Join the Levy Senior Center Foundation on Thursday, February 5, at 2:30 p.m. for a special hybrid Levy Lecture in celebration of Black History Month, held in person in Bobby’s Room at the Levy Senior Center and online via Zoom. Storyteller ‘Momma Kemba’ will present a fully costumed, dramatic portrayal of iconic civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, bringing to life her powerful legacy as a voice for desegregation, voting rights, and economic security for African Americans. This hybrid Levy Lecture is free to attend, but registration is required. Visit lscfevanston.org to register.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra: Black History Month Celebration—A Tribute to Miles Davis  |  February 5  |  7:30 p.m.  |  Galvin Recital Hall

The Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Miles Davis during the centennial anniversary of his birth with the music from his 1957 Columbia Records release Miles Ahead. The album featured Davis on flugelhorn as the only soloist, and it was his first collaboration with arranger Gil Evans following the Birth of the Cool sessions. Miles Ahead was met with critical praise and became recognized as one of the most successful examples of the Third Stream movement, drawing emotional sophistication from its fusion of modern jazz and classical influences.

Lecture on Black History (CCHS/Black Studies)  |  February 12  |  Harris Hall

Distinguished Black History lecture by Ula Yvette Taylor on Frances M. Beal and Black feminist thought. Free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.