Arizona is hosting a variety of events this year in honor of Black History Month. The valley will be hosting everything from specialized movie showings to college lectures on important cultural topics.

College Lectures

Arizona State University is hosting a series of lectures on important cultural topics and issues in the community. ASU is also hosting some lighter events such as Black History month trivia happening online on Feb 26 from 5-6pm. ASU will also be hosting the State of Our Nation Panel in collaboration with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on Feb 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm via a virtual meeting. The full calendar of the events can be found here. 

Estrella Mountain Community College is also hosting several virtual events over the course of the month. The upcoming events include the Black Business Forum at 12pm, and on the 26th there will be a Black History Month wrap up at 1pm. Estrella mountain is covering important topics that are more relevant than ever. 

Arts and Culture

Harkins is showing a selection of handpicked movies for the month which display African American history or culture. The showings will feature classics like Remember the Titans and newer films like Best of enemies. The full list includes: Amistad, Best of enemies, Dreamgirls, Fences, Remember the Titans, Selma, 42. Films will be showing throughout the month at different times based on the theatre.

Central Phoenix is receiving 28 new murals this year which will feature famous figures as well as some African American pioneers which often go unappreciated. The art will recognize important trailblazers like the Tuskegee Airmen and Malcom X as well as icons in African American musical history like Whitney Houston and Grandmaster Flash. As a closing to the event there will be a guided tour to all the murals in Central Phoenix on the 28th. 

West Valley Arts Council in Surprise is putting together an exhibition called “Imprint: African Americans in the arts,” which will showcase African American contributions to the art world. The showcase will feature a variety of art styles and mediums including sculptures, photographs and paintings. The gallery has been running since January 22nd and will continue to run until March 5th and was organized by Sandra Bassett, who won the economic empowerment legend award last year.

Black History Month is full of amazing opportunities to celebrate the culture and diversity of the African American community. The community continues to embrace Black History and this year it is showing more than ever through the events put on this February.