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. Read on for some inspiration.
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 and culture that spotlights Black creators. The program includes various events, including workshops, performances, and more. You can visit the Main Library’s African American Center to see the new exhibition Malik Seneferu: A Retrospective through April 20th, or look into their curated selection of books for some great reads.
🌐 Learn more: SF Public Library
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. This February brings open mic nights, performances, and more. Make sure you also look into their current exhibitions including Liberatory Living, Cosmic Ceremony, and Love + Basketball.
🌐 Learn more: Museum of the African Diaspora
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. Past years’ events include a genealogy resources workshop for African Americans, a book club, and various exhibits. 2025’s festivities kick off on Friday, Feb. 7th at City Hall, but keep an eye on their website for more details.
🌐 Learn more: SFAAHCS
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 was the last time you visited this profound monument?
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about SFs’ MLK Jr. memorial
5. Check out this month’s events at the Ruth Williams Opera House
The Ruth Williams Opera House dates back to 1888 in the Bayview Hunters Point district, which is the most ethnically diverse community in SF. Events for this month include a Shakespeare Showcase, Jabulani Celebration, and fashion show.
🌐 Learn more: Ruth Williams Opera House
6. Explore the African-American Freedom Trail
SF Travel put together a fantastic map marking local spots with connections to African-American history. It takes you through community centers, restaurants, gathering points, libraries, hotels, and more. Download the map to learn about significant locations in local Black history you may not have known about.
🌐 Learn more: SF Travel
7. 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!
8. 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.
9. Attend the Black Joy Parade in Oakland
The 8th annual Black Joy Parade is coming back to Oakland on February 8th, 2025. Join over 30,000 people in a massive community celebration that kicks off at 12:30pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza. The event features 200+ Black-owned vendors, 2 stages with performances all day long, and tons of family activities.
🌐 Learn more: Black Joy Parade