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Black History Month celebrations around Miami 2024

February is Black History Month and there are free and cheap festivities honoring the achievements of African-Americans throughout South Florida in 2024. Here are some of the many celebrations of Black History Month in Miami-Dade.

Achievements of African Americans are also being celebrated with Black History Month events in Broward and Black History Month events in Palm Beach County.

Please keep checking this post, as it will be updated frequently.

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$5 concert celebrating a leading lady of jazz

New World Symphony chamber ensemble concert celebrating a leading lady of jazz

In the early 1940s, a small Brownstown apartment in Harlem served as a salon for artists like Dizzie Gillespie, Billie Holliday and Thelonious Monk. Soon to be household names of jazz, these young artists made a nightly pilgrimage to the living room of pianist Mary Lou Williams.  Led by Mary Lou, a new generation of jazz musicians would explore a radical new sound and form what we now know as bebop.

This February, New World Symphony’s I Dream a World festival returns to celebrate the life of pianist, activist, arranger and composer Mary Lou Williams.

Photo: Mary Lou Williams, courtesy of New World Symphony

As part of the festival, a chamber ensemble of New World Symphony Fellows will perform jazz and classical music written and inspired by Mary Lou Williams at The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown. The concert, called “In the Land of Oo Blah Dee,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024.

Tickets for this pay-what-you-wish performance start at $5, making for an affordable and glamorous night out with New World Symphony and the Historic Lyric Theater.

Celebration of Haitian heritage in the Park

Black History Month Celebration in the Park 

Black History Month in Connection to Haiti every weekend in February experience the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Haitian and American community through artwork, literature, crafts, music and traditional Haitian food for sale. Friday through Sunday, from Feb. 2 through 25 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Miami International Voodoo Museum, 1145 NE 135 St., North Miami. Free but RSVP required.

Music, spoken word and fashion

Celebrating Blacks in the Arts: Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future is a cultural experience with musical performances, spoken word plus an art and fashion showcase. Friday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., Sandrell Rivers Theater, 6103 NW 7 Ave., Miami. Free but RSVP required.

Black History events at MOCA in North Miami

miniMakers: Wearable Sculptures where 6-12 year olds learn to create wearable sculptures inspired by artist Nick Cave. Saturday, Feb. 3 from 2-4 p.m., 770 NE 125 St.

Sunday Stories: Jake Makes a World storytelling for kids ages 1-5 on black painter Jacob Lawrence. Sunday, Feb. 4 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., 770 NE 125 St.

Installation at MOCA Plaza, “Narcissist,” the Chris Friday installation of a young black woman in a state of reflection. Part of the museum's Art on the Plaza series.

Ancient Future, current exhibition featuring works by Jamea Richmond-Edwards featuring large-scale assemblages and immersive installations exploring themes of Afro-Futurism and mythologies.

Bound/Unbound, an immersive site-specific installation by Alexandra Fields O'Neale where visitors journey between two structures that symbolize enslavement and freedom via the use of sonic narratives. Opens on Feb. 23 as part of the museum's Welcome to Paradise series.

Jazz at MOCA featuring Nadirah Naima an R&B and neo soul performer. This performance is part of the Arsht on the Road program. Friday, Feb. 23 from 7-10 p.m., 770 NE 125 St.

Black History events on Miami Beach

Black History Night 2024 with performances by after school program participants, Miami Big Sound Orchestra, food trucks and unlimited carnival rides for $5. Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., North Shore Park Youth Center, 501 72 St., Miami Beach.

8th Annual Soul Vegan Festival presented by The Hungry Man with vegan chef creations of soul food and Caribbean, Afro-Hispanic, Cajun, Creole and low country cuisines for sale. Saturday, Feb. 10 from 1-6:30 p.m. at Lummus Park, Between 6th and 7th St. on Ocean Drive. Click here to get free admission ticket.

Black History themed Storytime on Friday, Feb. 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Muss Park, 4300 Chase Ave.

Celebrate our Families Festival presented by Fantasy Theatre Factory is a fun-filled day of family activities celebrating South Florida's diversity. The FTF performers will host a dance performance, magic show, karaoke and other entertainment and kids can get their face painted, make arts & crafts and take home a balloon animal. Saturday, Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Shore Park & Youth Center, 501 72 St., Miami Beach. Click here to get free admission ticket.

More Miami-Dade events celebrating Black History

Noche de Arte in honor of Black History Month with artist in residence Jimmy Camille. Every Monday in February from 5-7 p.m. at InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza. Click here for info.

Unveiling Truths: Stamped from the Beginning Film Screening & Dialogue a documentary that explores anti-Black racism's roots. Saturday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brockway Library, 10021 NE 2 Ave., Miami Shores. Free. Click here for info.

AfriKin Art Black History Month with Mutabaruka: Perspectives, Poetry & Prose featuring the Jamaican Dub Poet and Host in an evening of razor sharp poems and social commentaries set to the sound of reggae. Sunday, Feb. 18 at 6-9 p.m., Scott Galvin Community Center, 1600 NE 126 St., North Miami. Free admission but RSVP required.

Unveiling Her Vision: A Celebration of Black Women Artists featuring the exhibitions “Our Shadow Remains” by Kandy G. Lopez featuring her monotype prints, mixed-media collages and more in a show about marginalized individuals and “An Oasis of Peace and Joy” by Reyna Noriega featuring her acrylic on canvas and print pieces all evoking the female spirit. Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 6-9 p.m. at Arlo Wynwood, 2217 NW Miami Ct., Miami. 

Harmony of Heritage: A Black History Celebration an event celebrating the legacy of black composers. Saturday, Feb. 3 from 3-5 p.m. at Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater, 17011 NE 19 Ave., North Miami Beach. Free. Click here for info.

Harmony of Heritage: A Black History Month Jazz Celebration featuring a musical performance by the Lenard Rutledge Quintet with Rutledge's church choir roots leading the vocals. Friday, Feb. 23 from 7-9 p.m. at Euclid Oval, 690 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. Free. Click here for info.

Black History Month Exhibition “Echoes of Overtown: A Legacy Preserved” presented by The Black Archives is an immersive exhibit that unveils the vibrant history and profound contributions of key landmarks in Overtown, Miami. On display starting Jan. 31 at Brightline Miami Central Station, Premium Lounge Mezzanine Level, 600 NW 1 Ave., Miami. 

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More Black History Month events in South Florida

 

 

Josie Gulliksen

About Josie Gulliksen

Josie Gulliksen is a freelance writer and major arts advocate and enthusiast who loves everything cultural and is excited to live in such a thriving community as Miami. A Miami native, aside from Miami on the Cheap, she currently writes for Artburst Miami and contributes to Edible South FL and Miami Media Group. She has contributed to Miami.com, Biscayne Times and Miami New Times. She worked for nearly a decade at Miami Today as Calendar Editor and arts writer and then worked for 13 years in public relations. She has her own blog Scene Around South FL at josiegulliksen.com

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