‘Special Museum Attractions, Tours, Performances, Film Screenings and More!’
Black History Month is celebrated annually in the month of February, reflecting on the roles that African Americans played and who continue to play in our history!
The city of Philadelphia and its many museums and other institutions recognize Black History Month with exhibits, film screenings, discussions, special events and performances and much more.
Here is our Guide of Black History Month 2020 in Philly!
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Underground Railroad Sites In Philadelphia
For thousands of enslaved Africans on the Underground Railroad, their goal was Freedom. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses, churches and farms that offered shelter and safety. Find notable Philadelphia sites and learn about Philadelphians who bravely worked to keep the route running in the Greater Philadelphia area. For more details, click here.
When: February 1 – March 1
Cost: Adults $14 | children ages 4 – 12 $10 | Students $10
Location: Various Locations Throughout Philadelphia
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Women Photographers of the African Diaspora presents In Conversation: Visual Meditations of Black Masculinity
This two-gallery exhibition is of photography that explores the construct of Black masculinity, through the lenses of 55 women and non-binary photographers of African descent. Through an array of photographic genres including documentary, fashion, portraiture and conceptual, these image makers share interpretations, observations and their own experiences concerning the notions of Black men, masculinity, sexuality and gender identity. This exhibition is guest-curated by MFON co-founders Laylah Amatullah Barrayn and Adama Delphine Fawundu. For more details, click here.
When: February 1 – March 1
Cost: Adults $14 | children ages 4 – 12 $10 | Students $10
Location: African American Museum – 701 Arch Street
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Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776 – 1876
This exhibit recounts the stories of and contributions made by people of African descent in Philadelphia during the tumultuous years following the founding of our nation. Through this exhibit visitors will learn who the people were, how they lived and worked, and their unheralded impact on our nation. ~ Info ~
When: Permanent Display
Cost: Adults $14 | children ages 4 – 12 $10 | Students $10
Location: African American Museum – 701 Arch Street
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Black History Month at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Enjoy poetry, workshops, book discussions, movies screenings, trivia, bingo and more. For many of the activities & events, click here.
When: February 1 – 29
Cost: Free
Location: Free Library of Philadelphia – 1901 Vine St
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Black History Month at the National Constitution Center
February 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which said the right to vote could not be denied based on race. The National Constitution Center will honor that milestone all month long with special educational programs and performances in conjunction with the new Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit, including “The Road to Freedom” show, the “Four Harriets” program, and theatrical performances of Frances E. W. Harper: The Great Problem to Be Solved and FOURTEEN. Visitors can also take a self-guided tour of the museum’s The Story of We the People exhibit to discover key milestones in African American history, and then test their knowledge at the Center’s giant game board activity.
NOTE: FREE admission on President’s Day, Monday, February 17!
When: Whole Month of February
Cost: Adults $14.50 | Children ages 6 – 18 $11
Location: National Constitution Center ~ 525 Arch Street
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Witness to History: Selma Photography of Stephen Somerstein at Brandywine River Museum of Art
The museum displays stunning photos of the historic 54-mile march for Black voter rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, that took place in March 1965. The exhibit features 55 photos to include pics of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, James Baldwin and more by Stephen Somerstein, who was then a 24-year-old student photographer. ~ More Info ~
When: February 1 – June 14
Cost: Adults $18 | Children ages 5 & under FREE | Students w/ ID & Children 6 – 18 $6 | Seniors (65+) $15
Location: Strawbridge Family Gallery at Brandywine River Museum at 1 Hoffmans Mill Road
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African American Children’s Book Fair at Community College of Philadelphia
The 28th annual African American Children’s Book Fair is one of the oldest and largest single-day events for African American children’s books in the country. The event features nationally known authors and illustrators, representatives from the multicultural literary community, enriching children’s books, and activities that promote the power and joy of reading.~ African American Children’s Book Fair at Community College of Philadelphia ~
When: February 1
Time:1 pm – 4 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Community College of Philadelphia at 1700 Spring Garden Street.
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Family Festival: People, Paintings, Places at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Celebrate Black History Month with a painting party featuring When: February 2
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: FREE with Pay-What-You-Wish
Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art – 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
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The Black Generational Wealth Series
The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement hosts three financial empowerment events throughout the month aimed at providing the city’s Black men with resources to build and maintain generational wealth. For more details & registration, click here.
When: February 4, 11 & 18
Time: All events 6 pm – 8 pm
Cost: FREE with registration
Location: Feb 4 at Community College of Philadelphia West Regional Center, 4725 Chestnut St
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Mykal Kilgore at World Cafe Live
Singer Mykal Kilgore, who has performed in Motown the Musical, The Book of Mormon and Hair on Broadway and is the artist behind the viral song and video Reclaiming My Time, stops at World Cafe Live during his tour for the release of his debut album, A Man Born Black. For more info, click here.
When: February 7
Time: 9 pm
Cost: $10 – $12
Location: World Cafe Live – 3025 Walnut St
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Family Fun Day
Enjoy an exciting lineup of interactive workshops & art making activities for the entire family to enjoy! ~ Info ~
When: February 8
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Cost: Adults $14 | children ages 4 – 12 $10 | Students $10 | The first 250 people will receive FREE entry to the museum for this event! Need to register!
Location: African American Museum – 701 Arch Street
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African American Iconic Murals Trolley Tour
In honor of Black History Month, experience a special mural trolley tour that explores civil rights, freedom, and equality. This rich collection of images highlights iconic African American figures within Philadelphia’s visual autobiography. An experienced tour guide will discuss each mural, the artists, and the mural-making process. For details, Click Here.
When: February 9
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Cost: $28 – $32 | Get Tickets
Location: Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building ~ 128 N. Broad Street
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The 85 South Show Live
The folks from The 85 South Show, which host a podcast showcasing improv and freestyle works by comedians from the South, bring their live show to Philadelphia. Enjoy performances by DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, Chico Bean and more during the event, which will be turned into an episode of the podcast. For more details, click here.
When: February 9
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Cost: $38.75 – $68.75 | Get Tickets
Location: The Liacouras Center at 1776 N. Broad St
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History After Hours: Black History Untold
This event examines the concept of revolution through the lens of Black history. Award-winning journalist Sofiya Ballin presents the latest installment of her annual Black History Untold series — a short film which features Black individuals telling their own stories of resistance and revolution. Other activities during the event include make-and-take crafts and live music. Details, Click Here.
When: February 11
Time: 5 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $10 General Admission | Free for members
Location: Museum of the American Revolution ~ 101 S. 3rd Street in Old City
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The Black Generational Wealth Series
The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement hosts two more financial empowerment events throughout the month aimed at providing the city’s Black men with resources to build and maintain generational wealth. For more details & registration, click here.
When: February 11 & 18
Time: All events 6 pm – 8 pm
Cost: FREE with registration
Location: Feb 11 at Philadelphia City Archives at 548 Spring Garden St,
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Collecting African American Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Halima Taha, author of Collecting African American Art: Works on Paper and Canvas and has a lively discussion about how and why fine art created by Black artists has become so widely sought after by art collectors and museums in the past two decades. For details, click here.
When: February 12
Time: Noon – 1 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ~ 118 – 128 N. Broad St
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The Slave Narratives
Take a look at eleven former slaves accounts about their experiences during and after slavery. All but one former slave; Siney Bonner (Alabama) is from North and South Carolina. During the Great Migration a lot of former slaves or children of former slaves migrated North a lot of them to Philadelphia from the Carolinas. For more details, click here.
When: February 14 – 16
Time: Feb 14 & 15 at 7 pm | Feb 16 at 2 pm
Cost: General $15 | VIP $20 | Children $10 | Get Tickets
Location: Venice Island at Performing Arts Recreation Center – 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia
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The Philly POPS Present Aretha: Respect at the Kimmel Center
To honor the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, The Philly POPS features Broadway powerhouse Capathia Jenkins and R&B singer Ryan Shaw in a program that includes renditions of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Respect and Chain of Fools. For details, click here.
When: February 14 – 16
Time: Feb 14 at 8 pm | Feb 15 & 16 at 3 pm
Cost: Starting at $35 | Get Tickets
Location: The Kimmel Center – 300 S. Broad St
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CultureFest! African & Diasporic Cultures Celebration at the Penn Museum
Celebrate traditions from Africa and the African diaspora. Guests can enjoy live musical performances, an African marketplace, storytelling circles and mask-making workshops. ~ Details.
When: February 15
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: $13 – $18 | Get Tickets
FREE for Museum members, active U.S. military personnel and veterans with ID, children 5 and under, teachers with ID, and PennCard holders (Penn faculty, staff, and students)
Location: Penn Museum – 3260 South St in University City
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Black History Month Performances at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts celebrates Black History Month with an incredible performance by Alicia Olatjua singing songs from her latest album, In Intuition: Songs From The Minds Of Women. Alicia performed at the 2013 presidential inauguration, making her Philadelphia debut. For more details, click here.
When: February 16
Time: Starts at 7:30 pm
Cost: $29 – $45 | Get Tickets
Location: Harold Prince Theatre at 3680 Walnut St
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The Black Generational Wealth Series
The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement hosts financial empowerment events throughout the month aimed at providing the city’s Black men with resources to build and maintain generational wealth. For more details & registration, click here.
When: February 18
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Cost: FREE with registration
Location: Held at Quorum at 3675 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Voices of Hope: A Black History Month Celebration at the Please Touch Museum
The free Voices of Hope Black History Month Celebration features performances by PHILADANCO, Philadelphia Heritage Chorale, Monique Brooks Roberts, Sister Cities Girlchoir and CAPA String Quartet. Registration is required for tickets to the event. For details, click here.
When: February 20
Time: 6 pm
Cost: FREE | Must Register, click here.
Location: Please Touch Museum – 4231 Avenue of the Republic
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Yolanda Wisher’s Rent Party at The Rosenbach: Black Beats Edition
The Rosenbach’s seventh edition of Yolanda Wisher’s Rent Party is an event paying homage to the Harlem Renaissance tradition of artists and musicians throwing house parties to pay their rent. This performance focuses on the lives of four African American poets who were part of the beat poetry movement of the 1940s and 1950s. The event features vocal and drum performances, Beat poetry classics and more. For more details & tickets, click here.
When: February 20
Time: 7 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $12.50 – $25
Location: The Rosenbach – 2006 Delancey Place
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Black History Month Performances at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts celebrates Black History Month with an incredible performance by four-time Grammy award winner artist Angélique Kidjo, who was dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine, wows the crowd with her striking voice and radiant charisma. Get more details, click here.
When: February 20
Time: Starts at 7:30 pm
Cost: $29 – $74 | Get Tickets
Location: Zellerbach Theatre at 3680 Walnut St
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Awakened in You: The Collection of Dr. Constance E. Clayton at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
This collection displays more than 75 works by African American artists from the collection of educator and arts advocate Dr. Constance E. Clayton. It features mostly paintings and works on paper, and also include sculptures by Richmond Barthé and Augusta Savage. For details, click here.
When: February 21 – July 12, 2020
Time: Museum Hours | Tuesday–Friday 10 am – 5 pm | Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Cost: $8 – $15
Location: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ~ 118 – 128 N. Broad St
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True Justice: Film Showing and Discussion at Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church
The Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church hosts a screening of the HBO documentary True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, about Stevenson’s work to bring justice to wrongly convicted individuals. After the film, guests can join a panel discussion about race in regards to the criminal justice system. For more details, click here.
When: February 22
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $10 | Tickets
Location: Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church at 980 Madison Ave in Norristown, PA
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Ladies Night Out: Comedy Tour at The Met Philadelphia
Enjoy this hilarious evening featuring some of the funniest Black women in America. NeNe Leakes hosts the event with guests Loni Love, Adele Givens, Sherri Shepherd, Kym Whitley and B Simone. For details, click here.
When: February 22
Time: 8 pm
Cost: $29.50 – $225 | Tickets
Location: The Met Philly – 858 N. Broad St
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African American Iconic Murals Trolley Tour
In honor of Black History Month, experience a special mural trolley tour that explores civil rights, freedom, and equality. This rich collection of images highlights iconic African American figures within Philadelphia’s visual autobiography. An experienced tour guide will discuss each mural, the artists, and the mural-making process. For details, Click Here.
When: February 23
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Cost: $28 – $32 | Get Tickets
Location: Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building ~ 128 N. Broad Street ~ 128 N. Broad Street
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Jazz in the Planetarium at The Franklin Institute
Grab a cocktail, sit under the stars and enjoy live jazz courtesy of Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble inside The Franklin Institute’s Fels Planetarium. Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at The Franklin Institute, joins the festivities by narrating a special version of The Sky Tonight, an interactive tour of the constellations and planets visible from the planetarium. For details, Click Here.
When: February 25
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Cost: $15 members | $20 non-members
Location: The Franklin Institute ~ 222 N. 20th St
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