This February marks a century of Black history commemorations at the national level, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. 

In honor of Black History Month, here’s a list of events in Milwaukee this month that focus on Black history, culture and community. 

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(Did we miss an event? Email details to mmelland@milwaukeenns.org.)

Milwaukee Public Library events

In honor of Black History Month, the Milwaukee Public Library is hosting a monthlong reading and bingo challenge and a variety of activities. Programming includes a kickoff event on Saturday, Feb. 7 and a series of Black history documentary films at the Washington Park Branch, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd., on Wednesdays. The library system will also host a program on Milwaukee architect Alonzo Robinson on Saturday, Feb. 14 and a display of historic Black hair and beauty artifacts from the Whatnot Museum at the Atkinson Branch, 1960 W. Atkinson Ave. More information here.

America’s Black Holocaust Museum

The museum is hosting several events during February, including a Founder’s Day Celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. James Cameron on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20 and 21 at 401 W. North Ave. The museum will also partner with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and THE CR8TV HOUSE studio to host interactive community workshops related to the themes in August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, March 4. More information here.

Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus events

Members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus are collaborating on a series of Black History Month events being held across the state. Milwaukee events include a Black Climate Justice Org Fair on Thursday, Feb. 19 and an event about literacy rates on Saturday, Feb. 21, both at the Martin Luther King Jr. Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library, 2901 N. King Drive. A community information session on pardons and reentry will take place on Monday, Feb. 23 at Infinite Church, 6750 North 43rd St. More information here.

Milwaukee Common Council’s Black History Month celebration: Tuesday, Feb. 10

Now in its 10th year, the Milwaukee Common Council’s 28 Days of Black History campaign celebrates local Black leaders nominated by residents. The initiative includes a public program from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the City Hall first-floor rotunda, 200 E. Wells St. The program will honor a living legend and emerging leader. There will also be a free power hour networking event at 5:30 p.m. More information here.

Milwaukee Art Museum Free Day + Celebration: The Heart Edition: Thursday, Feb. 12

Residents can enjoy free admission and celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day at 700 N. Art Museum Drive, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Featured activities related to Black history include the opportunity to create a visionary drawing inspired by African American artist Lois Mailou Jones, attend a community engagement fair and more. More information here.

Dancers and musicians from Ko-Thi Dance Company perform at the African American Environmental Pioneer Awards in February 2025 at the Washington Park Urban Ecology Center. (Photo courtesy of Yvonne Kemp)

African American Environmental Pioneer Awards: Monday, Feb. 16

The seventh annual award program honoring Milwaukee African American community members working for a better environment will be held at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, 1531 W Vliet St. Doors open at 4 p.m. with networking and food before the program begins at 5:30 p.m. Register in advance to attend in person or receive a livestreaming link. More information here.

Neu-Life Annual Black History Program: Thursday, Feb. 19

Neu-Life Community Development youths will be telling the stories of pioneers and connecting them to the present at the organization’s 20th annual program, “Living History: Gallery of Black Excellence,” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Youth Work Innovation Center, 2014 W. North Ave. Register here. More information here.

Milwaukee Youth “Movers and Shakers:” A Black History Month Celebration: Thursday, Feb. 26

Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope will celebrate Milwaukee youths from the past and present at 6 p.m. at Canaan Baptist Church Beecham Outreach Center, 2964 N. 11th St. Space is limited and registration ends on Feb. 21. More information here.

Milwaukee Black Business Expo: Saturday, Feb. 28

The Empowerment Group LLC is hosting a free expo with a vendor marketplace, business workshops, networking and Youthpreneur Zone, from noon to 4 p.m. Guests can register online or in person the day of the event at the Milwaukee Zoofari Conference Center, 9715 W. Bluemound Road. More information here.

Clayborn Benson, the founder and director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, gives a history presentation at the museum’s 30th anniversary celebration in 2018. The historical society will host a Black History Month event on Feb. 28. (NNS file photo)

Mapping Racism and Resistance in Milwaukee County: Thursday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 28

Professor Anne Bonds, chair of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Department of Geography, will discuss a mapping project documenting all racial covenants in Milwaukee County and how Black activists and allies resisted them on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. at the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex, Room 1150, 3135 N. Maryland Ave. Another event about the project will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, 2620 W. Center St. More information here.

Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

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