San Francisco is gearing up for Black History Month with some extra special programming! Read on to discover some ways to honor Black history during February and beyond.
February is Black History Month, and San Francisco is an excellent place to honor, uplift, and celebrate Black history on both a local and international level. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Black culture and contributions in San Francisco, this is a great place to start. Stay tuned for more articles about Black History Month in the coming weeks.
1. Check out More Than a Month at SF Public Library
Each year, the San Francisco Public Library puts on More Than A Month, a celebration of Black history spotlighting Black creators. This year will emphasize the importance of Black Health and Wellness, with free meditation and yoga classes offered all month long. Other events include film screenings, panels, craft programs, and more.
2. Visit the Museum of the African Diaspora for exhibitions and activities
San Francisco’s extraordinary Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) has served as a vital Bay Area institution since 2005. It’s one of the world’s few museums focusing solely on African Diaspora culture, and we are very lucky to enjoy it right here in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena neighborhood. Be sure to pay a visit before the end of February, because most of its current exhibitions come down at the end of the month. This month’s events also include poetry readings, film screenings, concerts in collaboration with SFJAZZ, and much more.
3. Look into the SF African American Historical & Cultural Society
The SFAAHCS is a great resource for programs, exhibits, and cultural events all year round. They’ll host a kick-0ff event for Black History Month on February 4th, followed by interesting workshops throughout the month including a genealogy resources workshop for African Americans, a financial health workshop, and a nutrition workshop.
4. Walk beneath a waterfall at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial
Yerba Buena Gardens is home to the country’s second-largest memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., an enormous sculptural waterfall fountain. Water cascades over a granite walkway, blocking out the city sounds and creating a tunnel in which visitors can contemplate inscribed quotations from Dr. King’s speeches. When’s the last time you visited this profound monument?
5. Enjoy a meal at these Black-owned restaurants
There are dozens of ways to honor Black culture in our city, and one of the easiest is to order from a local Black-owned restaurant. These amazing restaurants will keep you coming back!
6. Support these Black-owned businesses recommended by locals
We asked our Instagram followers for their favorite Black-owned businesses around the Bay Area and got some great suggestions. Check out this list of Black-owned businesses recommended by San Franciscans, for San Franciscans.
Featured image: Martin Luther McCoy’s Black History Month Celebration Concert in partnership with SF Jazz and Museum of the African Diaspora. Photo by Don Dixon, courtesy of the Museum of the African Diaspora