Where to celebrate Black History Month in Philly

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, who believed that if a race had no recorded history, it would lose its traditions and risk having its accomplishments and culture erased. Initially started as Negro History Week, it’s now celebrated throughout February, as we hold space to honor Black traditions, contributions, and history.

Philadelphia is a city rich in Black history — it was once home to stops on the Underground Railroad, it’s where the country’s first African Methodist Episcopal church was founded, and has been home to Black leaders throughout history. Many of our city’s accolades and accomplishments would not have been possible without the contributions of Black people.

This Black History Month, you can learn about the contributions of Black Philadelphians throughout history while celebrating current Black leaders. Here’s how.

(Community / virtual and in-person) You can stop by your local library to create a paper quilt square featuring quotes by Black authors or Black historical figures. If you’re celebrating from home, you can tune into virtual book clubs, pick up Black history book bundles, or create delicious recipes from the Black diaspora at a virtual cooking class. (Free, Feb. 1-28, freelibrary.org)

(Community / in-person / multiday / free) Smith Memorial has set up a sequel to last year’s outdoor exhibit of photos and biographies of big-time Black change-makers from Philly, including Temple coaches John Chaney and Tina Sloan Green, pioneering M.D.s Ala Stanford and Edith Mitchell, Philadanco founder Joan Myers Brown, The Philadelphia Tribune’s Robert Bogle, 18th-century civil rights activist Octavius Catto, newsguy Ed Bradley, opera icon Marian Anderson, and Justice Juanita Kidd Stout. All ages. (Free, through Feb. 28, 3500 Reservoir Dr., smithplayground.org)

(History / in-person / free) Frances Harper was a poet, writer, abolitionist, and prominent Black figure in Philadelphia. At the Betsy Ross House, you’ll hear personal accounts of Harper’s life, including how she became one of the first Black women in the country to become a published author. (Free, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St., historicphiladelphia.org)

(Theater / in-person / history) Watch a first-person performance on the life of James Forten — an abolitionist, sail maker, and free Black Philadelphian — at the Museum of the American Revolution. Actor Nathan Alford-Tate is Forten in this 20-minute theater piece about Forten’s formative years. After the performance, Alford-Tate will be joined by Michael Idriss, the Museum of the American Revolution’s African American Interpretive Fellow, for a discussion on the significance of Forten’s story. ($15, Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 101 S. Third St., amrevmuseum.org)

(Community / in-person / history) Examine the links between the past and present at this conversation on racial understanding in America. At this year’s forum, titled Race in the United States: Connecting the Dots between 1776 and Today, you’ll hear from a full panel including Jen Janofsky of Rowan University and Michael Idriss, the Museum of the American Revolution’s African American Interpretive Fellow. (Free, Feb. 12, 1-3:30 p.m., Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St., amrevmuseum.org)

(History / in-person / free) Learn about the life of the Rev. Richard Allen, a minister, educator, writer, and one of America’s most influential Black leaders. Allen was the founder of Philadelphia’s Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, the first A.M.E. church in the country. Taking place at the Betsy Ross House, this program will teach you about Allen’s journey from an enslaved person to powerful leader and abolitionist. (Free, Feb. 12, 19, and 26, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St., historicphiladelphia.org)

(Theater / in-person / history) The Letters documents the relationship between iconic Philadelphian, opera singer, and civil rights leader Marian Anderson and her husband, Orpheus Fisher. The performance at the Penn Museum includes classical solos as well as musical selections from the Marian Anderson Scholar Artist Program. Ticket price includes admission to the Penn Museum, including its new exhibit The Stories We Wear, which features a well-known merlot velvet gown worn by Marian Anderson throughout her career. ($30-$50, Feb. 13, 4-5 p.m., Penn Museum, 3260 South St., penn.museum)

(Community / virtual / free) The African American Museum in Philadelphia partners with Harriett’s Bookshop to host an online conversation between author Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts and Anyabwile Love, a professor of history and Black studies at the Community College of Philadelphia. They will discuss both the book Black Joy, Lewis-Giggetts’ collection of essays and the evolution of Black joy itself. While this event is free to the public, a $5 donation is recommended. (Free, Feb. 17, 6-8 p.m., 701 Arch. St., blackbaudhosting.com)

(Black History Month / in-person / kid-friendly) Explore some of the amazing Black-women-owned businesses Philly has to offer aboard a trolley tour that starts at Harriett’s Bookshop in Fishtown. The tour includes stops at Marsh + Mane, Yowie, Freedom Apothecary, Franny Lou’s Porch and tour starting point Harriett’s Bookshop. Come ready to shop, browse, and support these shops. ($50, Saturdays, Feb. 19-March 26, wearemuchdifferent.com)

(Museum / in-person / museum / comics) Ariell Johnson of Amalgam Comics leads two discussions (at 1 and 2:30 p.m.) about the power of Storm, Black Panther, and more Black superheroes. Participants get to make their own capes, masks, buttons — and comics. Ages 3+. ($12 adult, $10 senior, $8 student, $6 ages 6-17, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free 5 & under, Feb. 19, noon-4 p.m., 321 Chestnut St., libertymuseum.org)

(Community / in-person / kid-friendly) The African American Children’s Book Fair returns for its 30th year with an in-person book sale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event bills itself as one of the largest and oldest one-day children’s book fairs in the country and promises a wide array of children’s books by Black authors and about the Black experience. Additional events include games and giveaways. (Feb. 26, 1-4 p.m., 1101 Arch St., theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org)

(Art / in-person / outdoors) Plan a visit to City Hall to see the temporary Harriet Tubman — The Journey to Freedom sculpture, which will be on view through the end of March in celebration of Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Tubman’s 200th birthday this March. Along with the sculpture, the city celebrates Tubman’s role in Black history with events including a screening of Harriet at the African American Museum on Feb. 5; an online discussion about the power of public art with Wesley Wofford, the artist who created the sculpture on Feb. 23; and a culture trolley tour led by Harriett’s Bookshop on select Saturdays in March. (Free, through March, 1401 JFK Blvd., creativephl.org)

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Lauren McCutcheon contributed to this calendar.