Portland Metro Area

BLACK HISTORY
FESTIVAL NW 2024

A Celebration of Culture and Heritage.

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Although the month has been recognized in the United States of America since 1976, surprisingly enough there are still people, especially students who think February is simply the second month of the year. In 1915, Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, and minister Jesse E. Moreland founded the Association for The Study of Negro Life and History (ASNHL). Now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

This organization was dedicated to researching and promoting the achievement of African Americans that were not being taught in the classroom. During the second week in February 1926, ASNHL sponsored the national Negro History Week to coincide with the birthday of Federick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Negro History week was intended to aid in teaching Black History in schools. It was growth and thanks to the Civil Rights Movement that brought attention to Black life and Black students and educators at Kent State University, Black History Week evolved into Black History Month and today is celebrated throughout the country.

For the past eighteen years World Stage Theatre has been educating communities about the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora through the arts. As the innovators of Black History Festival NW, the organization is elated about this year’s theme. From the Harlem Renaissance to the Black Arts Movement to Hip Hop and Afrofuturism, African Americans have been using art as a way to not only tell stories but use their platform to uplift the culture, shine a light on and challenge and environmental issues. Artists have been instrumental in bridging gaps, and bringing about change to make the world a better place.

All month long people are encouraged to make note of the fact that Black history is American history. There are numerous ways people can support and participate.

Make a donation
Support Black-owned businesses/organizations
Volunteer your time, skills, and resources
Be intentional about creating positive environments and opportunities to learn and share true American history.
Get involved

The Mission of Black History Festival NW

To celebrate, honor, and elevate the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora in the pacific northwest through arts, education, and advocacy.

BHFNW 2024 Calendar of Events

National Theme: African Americans and the Arts

“Art is an elastic sort of love. I love performing. I shall perform until the day I die.” ~Josephine Baker

Black History Festival NW is happy to support these events.

- FEB 01-29 |
  
  In The Classroom w/Ms. Shalanda
  
  Tune is every week to In the Classroom w/Ms. Shalanda podcast. History explored through heartfelt poetry and prose to the sound track of soul encompassing music, singing, and live performances.
  
  LISTEN HERE
- FEB 01 – FEB 29 |
  
  Shine A Light Sunday
  
  The video podcast from 2020 is back! Centering voices from the Diaspora that you don’t always see or hear from and may not otherwise know.
  
  WATCH HERE

- - FEB 04 |
    
    Artist Talk; Black Artists of Oregon and Africa Fashion Exhibition
    
    Honoring the pastEnjoy free admission all day with the programs that center connections between the Black Artists of Oregon and Africa Fashion exhibitions. Free admission tickets can be reserved online or available at the door for walk-in visitors.
    
    FREE EVENT
  - FEB 04 |
    
    Slick Rick and Vursatyl
    
    One early of hip hop’s foremost storytellers. Approaching the nascent art form of hip-hop with not just unique talent but a specific sense of style and presentation, the rapper established himself as an enigmatic emcee with his 1988 debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.
    
    Vursatyl is an MC, musician, songwriter, style junkie and hip hop connoisseur.
    
    PURCHASE TICKETS
- - - FEB 5 – FEB 9 |
      
      Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action
      
      From double dutch parties to rallies in front of the department of education, students, educators, families, unions, and community organizations participate both in and outside of the classroom.
      
      FREE EVENT
    - FEB 06 |
      
      Black Stories
      
      Be part of this cinematic journey. Engage with groundbreaking works, including films from local talents and even Prosper Portland’s Amplify Grant recipient Mischa Webley. Each screening is an opportunity to connect with creators, thinkers, and fellow film enthusiasts in a vibrant community setting.
      
      PURCHASE TICKETS
  - - - FEB 09 |
        
        Too Short w/Cool Nutz
        
        “Todd Anthony Shaw, better known by his stage name Too Short, is an American rapper and record producer. A pioneer of West Coast hip hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late 1980s.”
        
        “Terrance Scott, better known by his stage name Cool Nutz, is an American rapper, radio personality, entrepreneur, tour manager and record label owner.”
        
        PURCHASE TICKETS
      - FEB 10 |
        
        Fashion Show
        
        This event is a perfect opportunity to appreciate the rich heritage and diversity of the Black community through the art of fashion. Witness breathtaking outfits, stunning models, and a vibrant atmosphere that will leave you inspired. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening of fashion, culture, and celebration!
        
        PURCHASE TICKETS>
    - - FEB 17 |
        
        Black Girl You Are Atlas
        
        Join New York Time bestselling author Renee Watson on the Black Girl You Are Atlas tour.
        
        Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author of books for young readers. Her books have sold over one million copies. Her young adult novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor. Her children’s picture books and novels for teens have received several awards and international recognition. Many of her books are inspired by her experiences growing up as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest. Her poetry and fiction center around the experiences of Black girls and explore themes of home, identity, body image, and the intersections of race, class, and gender.
        
        Event starts at 3:00pm at Powell’s City of Books.
        
        FREE EVENT
      - FEB 23 & 29 |
        
        Portland Jazz Festival
        
        Come out and support local artists Eldon T. Jones, Lo Steele and Five-time Grammy winner DIANNE REEVES.
        
        Jones moves hearts through his profoundly genuine playing and an infectious groove he honed in Portland before becoming a nationally recognized smooth jazz artist and electrifying festival performer.
        
        Lo Steele is a singer, songwriter, and award winning actor from Portland, Oregon. Daughter of Portland’s “First Lady of the Blues” LaRhonda Steele , Lo combines the traditions of Soul, Gospel and Blues with a modern R&B influence. She will be a special guest with headliner Dianne Reeves.
        
        Dianne Reeves is the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world. As a result of her breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings – a Grammy first in any vocal category.
        
        PURCHASE TICKETS