CLEVELAND (Jan. 28, 2022) – As Black History Month gets underway, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about how the Black community in Cleveland and nationwide has created change and fostered innovation through influence, creativity and perseverance. Locals can further their knowledge and understanding of the city’s Black history and notable contributors in February and beyond through a variety of special events as well as year-round learning opportunities and commemorations.
HEALTH & SAFETY ALERT: Safety protocols vary by venue and, in some cases, by event at venues. Residents are encouraged to review both venue and event-specific protocols before arriving at an event.
EDUCATIONAL & ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES
With virtual programming, in-person performances and a Black business expo all on the calendar, along with a virtual passport celebrating Black art in #TheLand, there are multiple opportunities to celebrate Black culture and heritage during Black History Month.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Families can discover more about the intersection of Black history and music through a Virtual Fam Jam event taking place on Feb. 12. The free digital event on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel will include educational activities, live music, crafts and stories for families. Clevelanders can also visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s library and archives online for resources on Black History Month and African American music and inductees, or plan an in-person or virtual walk through of “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment,” an exhibit highlighting Black artists’ use of music to respond to racism, fight for human rights and promote social justice.
- 1100 E. 9th St., Cleveland
- Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Thursdays; Closed Feb. 16
- Advance tickets for in-person visits required; available online
Cleveland Pops Orchestra
The music of some of history’s most notable Black composers will fill Mandel Concert Hall at Severance during
“In Celebration of Black History Month” on Friday, Feb. 18. The Cleveland Pops Orchestra will be joined by vocalists Evelyn Wright and Michael Preacely as they perform the music of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Scott Joplin. It will also feature a performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” by Yaron Kohlberg, president of Piano Cleveland.
- Friday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m.
- Mandel Concert Hall at Severance: 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
- Tickets start at $28, available online
Cleveland History Center
Clevelanders can learn about Black history from a major historical figure when they attend the
Meet Frederick Douglass event at Cleveland History Center. Author, poet and Frederick Douglass historian Nathan Richardson will capture the physical and spiritual essence of the abolitionist during this living history performance for children and families. Residents can also learn more about notable Black Clevelanders through the History Center’s
“History at Home” archives.
- Meet Frederick Douglass Event: Feb. 19, 1-2 p.m.
- Cleveland History Center: 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland
- Tickets ($15) available online; include admission to Cleveland History Center
Cleveland Public Theatre
“
Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation" from Cleveland Public Theatre will take the stage with performances throughout Black History Month. The show follows one woman’s journey to self-discovery through the stories of three prominent women who were members of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Movement. Using poetry, monologues, song and dance, the show explores the dilemmas, obstacles and joy of African American women.
- Feb. 4-26; full performance schedule available online
- Gordon Square Theatre: 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
- Tickets available at “choose what you pay” pricing; can be booked online in advance
Karamu House
Cleveland is home to the nation’s oldest, producing African American theater,
Karamu House, and residents can experience the historic institution during Black History Month with a performance of Katori Hall’s
The Mountaintop. The play is a reimagination of events from the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., set entirely in the Lorraine Motel after Dr. King delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon.
- Thursdays-Sundays, Feb. 10-March 6 (except Thursday, Feb. 17)
- Karamu House: 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland
- Tickets ($20-$45) available online
NBA All-Star Weekend
Cleveland will once again be on the international stage as host to the 2022 NBA All-Star. The weekend will offer multiple ways for residents and visitors to support local Black-owned businesses and celebrate diversity in sports.
The Real Black Friday Business Expo on Saturday, Feb. 19 will feature more than 100 Black-owned businesses, live entertainment and a kid’s zone. The inaugural
HBCU Classic will also be held that day at the Wolstein Center, featuring a match-up between Howard University and Morgan State. And, the
Cleveland Power of Sport Summit – a celebration of diversity, equity and inclusion, demonstrating the power of sport as a catalyst for change – will also be happening all weekend.
- Real Black Friday Business Expo: Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Tower City Center
- HBCU Classic: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m. at Wolstein Center; tickets available online
- Cleveland Power of Sport Summit: Feb. 18-20 at Cleveland Metropolitan Conference Center (1375 E. 9th Street); free admission but advance registration required
Cleveland Public Library
The Cleveland Public Library will host various programs and activities to help locals commemorate Black History Month. In addition to two virtual discussion series, there will also be a virtual three-part genealogy workshop. A variety of programming for kids, teens and families will be offered at various library branches throughout the month, and residents looking for a great read for Black History Month can also check out the library’s recommended reading list, all of which are highlighted in the library’s Black History Month guide.
Expressions of Black Culture Public Art Passport
Giving Clevelanders a chance to explore the city while taking in some art, Destination Cleveland’s ‘Expressions of Black Culture’ Public Art Passport features 35 unique public art installations celebrating Black culture and commemorating contributions of Black Clevelanders. The passport features pieces by both local and national artists that can be viewed from public access points. Users who check in at 25 of the 35 sites will be entered in a quarterly drawing for a $200 gift basket filled with items from local businesses owned by residents of underrepresented communities.
BEYOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Clevelanders looking to continue their education and celebrate the contributions and influence of the Black community throughout the year have many options.
African American Cultural Garden
One of 33 gardens celebrating the cultures that make up Cleveland’s diverse population, the African American Garden in Rockefeller Park represents the past, present and future of the African American community while encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to celebrate Black culture and heritage. Three pavilions, one of which is already complete, will eventually tell the story of the Black journey, beginning with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
- 890 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Cleveland
Cozad-Bates House
Locals can learn about Cleveland’s history in the abolitionist movement with a visit to
Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center. The building is the only surviving pre-Civil War structure in University Circle and now houses an interpretive center highlighting the neighborhood’s role in the fight to end slavery. Exhibits are organized in three areas: the national and local context for slavery leading up to the Civil War, stories of anti-slavery activists and freedom seekers and a space that examines the impacts of slavery still seen today.
- 11508 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
- Open Saturdays beginning Feb. 5 from noon – 4 p.m.
Cleveland Museum of Art
Art lovers can visit the always-free Cleveland Museum of Art, where the
Arts of Africa gallery currently features 17 new or rarely seen works from Africa, which will be on display through the end of the year. Beginning Feb. 20 through June 26, the Museum will also host
Currents and Constellations: Black Art in Focus, which includes works from major Black artists along with emerging and mid-career Black artists, all pulled from the museum’s permanent collection. Another exhibit,
The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion, will open in May and run through September.
Experience the Cuisine
Black-owned restaurants and businesses are part of the backbone of the Cleveland community, and locals looking to lend their support in Black History Month and beyond have plenty of delicious options. Local foodies can feast on authentic West African food at the newly opened
Primo African Quisine in Downtown Cleveland, visit
Zoma on Lee Road for a taste of Ethiopian dishes or check out the many other
Black-owned restaurants in The Land.
DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s Concierge Team is available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region during Black History Month and all year long. Contact the team via email ([email protected]), live chat at thisiscleveland.com, or stop at the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) Tues. - Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for planning assistance.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic reduced visitation by 30 percent, with 13.8 million visits occurring. Prior to the pandemic, Cleveland hosted 19.6 million visits annually, with the County experiencing annual visitation increases that surpassed the domestic travel growth rate for nine consecutive years. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.