This Black History Month, there are lots of opportunities in the Pittsburgh region to learn about, honor, and celebrate black history. We hope you will find the events that speak to you and that spark an ongoing commitment to celebrating black history throughout and beyond the month of February.
We will continue to update this list throughout February. If you know of an event that we missed, please submit it to our community calendar or email katie@pump.org.
Ongoing Events
- Black History Month Library Display – Chatham University – February 1-14
- Black History Month – Pitt Community Engagement Center in Homewood – February 2-28
- “Enslavement & Freedom: Early African-American Life in Pittsburgh” – City of Pittsburgh exhibit celebrating Black History Month – City-County Building – February 5-28
- “Africans in India” Exhibition – University Art Gallery – February 15-March 21
- “Movements” Exhibition – University Art Gallery – February 15-March 21
- Black Bottom Film Festival 2019 – August Wilson Center – February 22-24
- Familiar Boundaries. Infinite Possibilities. – August Wilson Center – October 11, 2018-March 24, 2019
Events, Lectures, Performances, and More
- Coro Pittsburgh’s 20th Anniversary Gala and Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Awards – DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown – February 2
- K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month Program hosted by the Chancellor – University of Pittsburgh – February 5
- Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon – University of Pittsburgh – February 7
- Celebrating Remarkable Women Entrepreneurs During Black History Month: A Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series – Chatham University – February 8
- Fifth Annual Community Conversation on Race and Faith and the Kelso Lecture – Pittsburgh Theological Seminary – February 9
- 33rd Annual Urban League Sunday – Ebenezer Baptist Church – February 10
- University Lecture Series & MLK Keynote: Dr. Khalil Muhammad – Carnegie Mellon University Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion – February 11
- Casop: A Requiem For Rice Premiere – Unburied, Unmourned and Unmarked – Carnegie Music Hall – February 13
- Just Films Series: Whose Streets? Film Screening, Panel Discussion, and Q&A – Just Films Pittsburgh – February 13
- Spotlight On: African Americans in World War I – Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum – February 14
- Civil Liberties Ensemble – City of Asylum – February 17
- Gregory Porter – August Wilson Center – February 17
- In Search of Home: The Legacy of Black Women’s Migration Narrative – University of Pittsburgh – February 20
- Black Queer History Month Town Hall with the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council of Pittsburgh – Persad Center – February 20
- Tubman – August Wilson Center – February 21
- Park Place AME Church 14th Annual Black History Luncheon – Comfort Inn Conference Center – February 23
- Roger Humphries & The RH Factor: Tribute to Mary Lou Williams – Kelly Strayhorn Theater – February 23
- Black History Month Lecture: Black Power and Black Politics of the 1960s-’70s – Heinz History Center – February 28
Ferguson Voices: Disrupting the Frame Series at University of Pittsburgh
Pitt’s University Center of International Studies is partnering to bring the traveling Ferguson Voices exhibit to Pittsburgh. Ferguson Voices “tells the story of the people of Ferguson, Missouri, before, during, and after Michael Brown, a young black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer in August 2014.” The exhibit will be open to the public throughout the month of February, and there will be several events related to the exhibit:
- Ferguson Voices Opening Reception – February 1
- Black Lives Matter: intersectional and transnational perspectives – February 7
- Advancing Health Equity and the Human Right to Health: Social policy perspectives on public health – February 13
- Racial Regimes in Transnational Context: A conversation with Michael Hanchard – February 18
- Hands-On Community Workshop with Poet/Artists Saretta Morgan and Bekezela Mguni – February 25
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Black History Month Events
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) has multiple events throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month at all of its branches. We’ve highlighted a few CLP events here, but you can find more information about their events and programming here.
- Black History Month Kick Off Celebration! – Downtown & Business – February 2
- The Labs: Visualizing a Migrant’s Story – Beechview – February 5
- Black History Month – “The Mark of Cain,” by Roxane Gay Short Story Discussion Group – Downtown & Business – February 6
- Black History Month Special Artful Stories: Dave the Potter – Hill District – February 6
- Celebrate: Women in Black History – Main (Oakland) – February 7
- Artful Stories: Jacob Lawrence – Hazelwood – February 9
- Black History Month – HOW Workshop: Letter and Poetry Writing – Downtown & Business – February 9
- Celebrate: Black History Month – How We Got to Me – Main (Oakland) – February 10
- The Labs: Jazz in the Hill – Hill District – February 12
- Celebrate: Black History Month – Knoxville – February 12
- Black History Month: Presentations on History and Genealogy – Downtown & Business – February 16
- Book Club: Chapter Chat – Smoketown – Beechview – February 16
- Smithfield Critics Book Discussion Group: “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo – Downtown & Business – February 20
- Roberto Clemente Museum presents the Life of Roberto Clemente – Lawrenceville – February 20
- Black History Month – Diversity Entrepreneurship – Downtown & Business – February 23
- STEM: Black History Contributions – Homewood – February 23
- World Kaleidoscope Presents Jemiriye – Main (Oakland) – February 24
- Migrations, A Black History Book Club – East Liberty – February 25
- STEM: Honoring African-American Inventors – Hill District – February 27
Carnegie Library Film Screenings
- The Reel Story: “Amistad” – Downtown & Business – February 5
- Black History Month Movie: Selma – Hill District – February 9
- Page to Screen: “The Color Purple” – Downtown & Business – February 12
- Movie Matinee: Black Panther – Lawrenceville – February 16
- Saturday Silver Screen: “A Raisin in the Sun” – Downtown & Business – February 16
- The Reel Story: “The Tuskegee Airmen” – Downtown & Business – February 19
- Movie: Akeelah and the Bee – Hill District – February 20
- Saturday Movie Matinee: Fences – Woods Run – February 23
- Page to Screen: “Blackkklansman” – Downtown & Business – February 26
- Movie Night: Fences – Lawrenceville – February 27
Special Lyft Discount for Black History Month:
During the month of February, Lyft is offering one free ride up to $10 to Black history museums, memorials, and organizations. In Pittsburgh, the discount code BHM19PIT can be used anytime in February for a free ride up to $10 to the following locations:
- August Wilson Cultural Center
- Heinz History Center
- Hill House Community Center
- University of Pittsburgh and Cathedral of Learning’s Africa Room
- New Horizon Theater