21 Black History Month Events in Westchester

February kicks off Black History Month (BHM), during which people take time to reflect on Black history and celebrate Black culture.  Arts groups throughout the county are hosting their own BHM events, from a display of ceramic artworks to a play reading under the planetarium sky.  ArtsNews rounded up some of these events as a resource for readers.

Through February 28
Perspectives: Earlene Cox and Gloria Nixon-Crouch
Presented by Clay Art Center
This exhibition. on view in the gallery and online. showcases the clay works of two Clay Art Center artists, Earlene Cox and Gloria Nixon-Crouch. The artists reflect on their experiences as Black women through themes such as human pain, fragility and resiliency. An artist talk and studio tour will take place on February 16.

Through February 29
Black Artists in The Spotlight: Currents of Creativity
Presented Rye Arts Center
This exhibition in Rye highlights 20 emerging and established Black artists and their significant contributions to the global arts scene. The Center has extended its gallery hours until 5pm on Saturdays during the exhibition, which includes Alvin Clayton, Barry Mason, Lance Johnson, Emlyn Taveras, Evan Bishop, and more.

Through March 8
Black History & Culture: BLACK PRESENCE. PROFOUND INFLUENCE.
Presented by Bethany Arts Community
Bethany Arts Community presents its Black History & Culture: BLACK PRESENCE. PROFOUND INFLUENCE. exhibition through March 8. The show, curated by curator Joyce Sharrock-Cole, utilizing oral history accounts and genealogical research, each gallery highlights a period in American History during which the black presence made a profound impact on the community. A “walk and talk” tour with Sharrock-Cole on February 7 and 28.

February 1
Driving While Black:  Race, Space and Mobility in America
Presented by David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico
Historian Gretchen Sullivan Sorin will discuss her book, Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights, before presenting clips from the award-winning PBS documentary that was based on it. The book discusses how the automobile positively and negatively affected the lives of African Americans.

February 2-4
Music, Breakdancing, Hip-Hop Exhibition & Tour and Family Crafts
Presented by Hudson River Museum
Hudson River Museum will host several Black History Month events the weekend of February 2-4,. On February 2, River’s Edge Theatre Company presents a staged reading of Constellations by Nick Payne under the planetarium dome. Meanwhile DJ Sunny Cheeba presents songs about love and intimacy by Black artists. On February 3 includes a talk and demonstration of breakdancing and a family collage workshop using quotes from Black icons. This workshop is also available the following day (as well as February 19-25), as well as a curator tour of the Museum’s Hip Hop Heroes exhibition.

Beginning February 3 / Performance February 24
Bokandeye African Dance Workshop & Performance
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
This month, a six-week Bokandeye African Dance Troupe’s workshop series, which leads to a special performance, features both students and accomplished Bokandeye artists. At the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library.

February 4
Documentary Screening: Presumption of Guilt
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
The New Rochelle Public Library is hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary film THE PRESUMPTION OF GUILT. Based on Harvard law Professor Charles Ogletree’s bestselling book, the film examines the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., and explores the complexities of race, class and crime in America. Following the screening will be a discussion with the film’s creative team, Hafiz Farid and Shelley Grodner Seidenstein, moderated by community advocate Linda Tarrant-Reid. At the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library.

February 5
Madam C.J. Walker: The First Black Female Millionaire
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library
This virtual presentation delves into the history of Madam C.J. Walker, the inaugural black female millionaire. Born in 19th-century rural Louisiana to ex-slaves, Sarah Breedlove ascended to become the first self-made African-American female millionaire. Operating under the name Madam C.J. Walker, she pioneered beauty care products, establishing a factory, salon, mail-order business, and a beauty school that trains 20,000 agents.

February 8
Race in American Education & the Power of the Presidency
Presented by Arts Westchester, African American Men of Westchester, American Women of African Heritage
This year is the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, a case that marked the end of racial segregation in schools. On February 8, renowned educator Dr. LaRuth Gray will discuss her book, Race in American Education & the Power of the Presidency in a conversation moderated by education policy expert Michael A. Rebell.Dr. Gray’s book offers a unique perspective on the role of U.S. presidents in this historic decision. A copy of Dr. Gray’s book is included in the ticket price.

February 10
The Death of King Shotaway
Presented by Axial Theatre
Axial Theatre continues its new monthly series, SAFEHOUSE, a program for play development readings, for a Zoom reading of The Death of King Shotaway by Samuel Harps with special guest moderator Dominic Hoffman.The play is based on the true story of The African Grove Theater (AGT), the first African American Theater established in Lower Manhattan in 1821. The AGT was the first theater to perform Othello with a Black actor in the title role, and received threats and bombings as a result. A feedback discussion after the reading will discuss the play and its themes.

February 11
Young Musicians of Westchester Concert: An Afternoon with Amadi and Mikael
Presented by New Rochelle Public Library and Young Musicians of Westchester
An afternoon concert featuring Amadi Azikiwe and Mikael Darmanie showcases works by David Baker, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Jessie Montgomery and Ludwig van Beethoven. Azikiwe, a renowned violist and violinist, is also a faculty member at NYU and the Mannes School of Music, while Darmanie, a versatile pianist, has performed globally, including at Carnegie Hall and Rachmaninov Hall. At Ossie Davis Theater.

February 12
Black History Month Celebration 2024
Presented by Luangisa African Museum and Cultural Arts Center
Luangisa African Museum and Cultural Arts Center will have artifacts and royal attire for a display themed as We Come From Queens & Kings, along with local African drummers. From 11am-2pm at the Traphagan School, Mt. Vernon.

February 12
Black History Celebration in White Plains
Presented by Westchester County Executive George Latimer
County Executive George Latimer will host a celebration for Black History Month at the Michaelian Office Building, the office building of Westchester County Government.

February 16-25
The Execution of Helen Ray Fowler
Presented by Bethany Arts Community Inc.
Bethany Arts Community presents The Execution of Helen Ray Fowler, a stage play based on actual events. In a notorious Niagara Falls red-light district during WWII, Helen Ray Fowler ran a boarding house while her husband served in the war. Her involvement with a hot-headed boarder, George Knight, led to fatal consequences. Tried, convicted, and sentenced to Sing Sing Prison and Helen made history as the only black woman legally executed in New York. This production, written by Misha T. Sinclair and directed by Mel Hancock, is recommended for mature audiences only. Top of Form

February 17
West African Dance Performance with Amanda Armenteros
Presented by White Plains Public Library
A traditional West African Dance class with Amanda Armenteros will explore the history, rhythms and stories behind the movements. Armenteros encourages self-expression through rhythm, helping students discover their unique dance movements.

February 19
Cleopatra Jones Movie Screening + Book Talk
Presented by Jacob Burns Film Center
Screened on 35mm, this 1973 “blaxploitation” action film is about Cleopatra Jones, a special agent for the United States government who goes undercover as a model overseas to crack a drug ring. The screening is followed by a book talk with author Odie Henderson will discuss his new book, Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema 

February 19–25
Family Art Workshop: Black Pearls of Wisdom
Presented by Hudson River Museum
In this family art workshop aimed at children as young as four years old and their families, participants will make collages from quotes of well-known Black icons.

February 20–March 19
Documentary – His Song: A Harry Belafonte Retrospective
Presented by Jacob Burns Film Center
This retrospective documentary about Harry Belafonte, who died in April at 96, takes a look at his singing and movie career as well as his impact on Civil Rights Movement and Black rights in the movie industry. His Song: A Harry Belafonte Retrospective surveys his career from the 1950s through his last role (BlacKkKlansman) in 2018.

February 25
Yonkers: The Lost City of Hip Hop
Presented by Hudson River Museum
This program highlights the diverse history of hip-hop in Yonkers. It will feature a reading and discussion of Yonkers: The Lost City of Hip-Hop with author Jerome Enders, graffiti specialist Ken Davis, and DJ Beat Master Gene. The program is in conjunction with the museum’s  Hip Hop Heroes exhibition.

February 29
Trailblazers: Preserving Our Legacy
Presented by Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Westchester County Board of Legislators and Westchester County African American Advisory Board
This reception and ceremony awards Dean Horace Anderson with the Civil Rights Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. award, Commissioner Deborah Norman with the Civic Engagement award and the Humanitarian Award for Contribution to School Desegregation to Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark (posthumously). In person at SUNY Westchester Community College (RSVP Feb 22) or online at facebook.com/westchestergov.

In addition to these events, Historic Hudson Valley will be providing insights throughout the month from its educators and scholars on the African American experience in our country.

Photo credit: Banner: Bokandeye African Dance (courtesy of New Rochelle Public Library); All Balled Up by Earlene Cox, on view at Clay Art Center (courtesy of Clay Art Center); Afro Lady by Sandra White, on view at Rye Arts Center (on view at Rye Arts Center); DJ Sunny Cheeba (courtesy of Hudson River Museum); Madam C.J. Walker; Dr. LaRuth Gray; Cleopatra Jones (courtesy of Warner Bros.).