Black History Month
Education, Celebration, and Inspiration

We invite you to explore readings, discussions, art, and performances being shared by organizations and individuals across many media and educational settings.

We’ve included some highlights from our explorations on this page, and we’ll update it throughout the month. Please share resources, songs, images, or your own stories to be added. Send links or files to info@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603 to offer ideas or feedback or just to talk.

Events

Friday, February 3rd – MLK Celebration @ Dartmouth – Hop Film: Wakanda Forever
from 7-9:30pm at the Black Family Visual Arts Center

Saturday, February 4th – Black Homesteaders of the South with Bernice A. Bennett
from 12-1pm, an online Smithsonian event

Saturday, February 4th – MLK Celebration @ Dartmouth – Hop Film: Bad Axe
from 7-8:45pm at the Black Family Visual Arts Center

Wednesday, February 8th – Through the African American Lens: Afrofuturism
from 7-9pm, an online Smithsonian event

Tuesday, February 21st – In-Depth On Inclusion: New Hampshire Black History. Viewing of the short film Shadows Fall North, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. 7-8pm online Zoom program. A UNH Alumni Community Program.

Thursday, February 23rd – Black Women’s History Pop-Up!
from 4-5pm, an online Smithsonian event

Friday, February 24th – Sunday, February 26th – “Black Brilliance” A Classicopia Project

  • Friday, Feb 24, 2023 @ 7:30pm  |  Old South Church • 146 Main Street, Windsor, VT
  • Saturday, Feb 25, 2023 @ 7:30pm  |  Piano Prodigies Studio • 250 Bank Street Extension, Lebanon
  • Sunday, Feb 26, 2023 @ 2:00pm  |  First Congregational Church of Lebanon • 10 South Park St, Lebanon

Monday, February 27th – Indie Lens Pop Up: Storming Caesars Palace
from 6:30-8:30pm, at the Little Theatre in Rochester, NY

Noteworthy

Coach Autumn Lockwood is the first Black woman to coach during a Super Bowl. Learn more here, from The Story Exchange.

Tickets are on sale now for JAG Productions’ Every Brilliant Thing, starring Jarvis Antonio Green, JAG’s founder. More information and tickets here. This production is just one way Jarvis Green is making history. Learn more about him here.

US Census Bureau Director’s blog “Recognizing 2023 Black History Month”, by Robert L. Santos. Here’s a thoughtful piece, from a federal department that’s most often associated with data, rather than people. Here’s a snippet: “I’ve always professed that I am a work in progress. So are you. And so is our country. In recognition of Black History Month, let’s commit to doing our part to help our nation come together as the great nation we aspire to be …. Helping others is a tangible way for us to come together and to build a more perfect nation, community, and workplace.” Read the whole message here.

Music/Dance

Classicopia is hosting a series of concerts: “Black Brilliance”: A Celebration of Black Composers. Three concerts throughout the Upper Valley will feature wonderful works by neglected black composers, including some fun ragtime arrangements by Scott Joplin, two Suites of Spiritual arrangements by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Undine Smith Moore, and Blues-inspired pieces by Florence Price and William Grant Still. See above for dates and times.

The Nicholas Brothers, the Tap Dancing Geniuses. “Some call it the greatest dance sequence ever filmed; for me it’s also a moment to look on the genius of Fayard and Harold Nicholas and think of why they aren’t as as well known today as Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire.” – Rhiannon Giddens, on her Facebook page.

Shared by a friend, here’s an uplifting and star-studded 1985 version of Lift Every Voice and Sing, featuring Al Green and Deniece Williams and produced by Deborah McDuffie. The video is about 10 minutes long, including behind the scenes takes as the performance comes together.

Less uplifting, but beautiful and important, is very special offering from Rhiannon Giddens. Her new children’s book, Build a House, inspired by her song written for Juneteenth and performed with YoYo Ma. The link on her website includes a musical performance of the book, along with more information. 

If you use a streaming service (like Spotify or Pandora), we recommend searching “Black History Month” and choosing a playlist or two to listen to.

Curated resources and programming

Nationally for Black History Month, “The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.” The site includes links to exhibits and collections (with current special online exhibition Afrofuturism – the History of Black Futures), audio and video clips and productions, resources for teachers, and more.

At Dartmouth, Black Legacy Month (BLM) is lifted up through the Office of Pluralism and Leadership. It is the “celebration and recognition of Black culture at Dartmouth College, dedicated to the education, awareness, and commemoration of Black heritage and people.” This year’s theme is “Black Joy”, and there is a full calendar of events. 

Local Eats

We’ll always take as inspiration historically good food from Black-owned businesses! Here are a few, shared by Tracy Hutchins of the Upper Valley Business Alliance:

Munchie Rollz in Windsor
The Karribean Restaurant in Lebanon
Samosa Man in Hanover  

Please contact us to share others!