Long Island Black History Month events: Feb. 9-Feb. 16
The first iteration of Black History Month was organized in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the son of formerly enslaved people and the second Black person to earn a PhD from Harvard University. It was initially called “Negro History Week” and scheduled to coincide with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass’ (circa Feb. 14), according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. The initiative became Black History Month in February 1976 “to more fully represent the scope and experience of Black history, life and culture,” according to the museum.
This year’s Black History Month theme is “African Americans and Labor,” focusing on the ways work impacts “the collective experiences of Black people,” according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, which determines the theme. Events will be held across Long Island this week to mark the occasion. Please confirm events before attending.
Works by Black artists on how labor influenced Black history and culture, curated by Faith Evans; reception 3-5 p.m. Feb. 16; display continues through Feb. 28, Islip Arts Council, 1701 Sunrise Hwy., free, isliparts.org, 631-888-3525.
Teen artists showcase their talent and creativity by displaying flower silhouettes, neon acrylic artwork inspired by the artist Derrick Adams and watercolor artwork inspired by artist Lorna Simpson, on display during library hours through Feb. 28, Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., free, brentwoodnylibrary.org, 631-273-7883.
Exhibit features books, photos and artwork from Bay Shore resident and library board trustee elder Frances Bell, on display during library hours through Feb. 28, Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library, 1 S. Country Rd., free, bsbwlibrary.org, 631-665-4350.
Author James Baldwin is honored through the work of artist and activist Sabrina Nelson, on display 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Feb. 28, Art Gallery in the Ruth S. Hartley University Center, Adelphi University, 1 South Ave., free, adelphi.edu, 516-877-4978.
Learn about the accomplishments and impact of Black people in the history of the United States, for children and families, participate during library hours through Feb. 16, Great Neck libraries, free, greatnecklibrary.org, 516-466-8055. In Great Neck, hunt is at the Main Building, 159 Bayview Ave. In New Hyde Park, it’s at the Parkville Branch, 10 Campbell St.
Stop by the children’s room to design a handprint that will be turned into a community wreath, for children up to grade five, participate during library hours through Feb. 28, Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane, free, levittownpl.org, 516-731-5728.
View high school students’ portraits of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; reception held 4-6 p.m. Feb. 27; on display 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday (closed weekends and holidays) through March 17, in the Lyceum Gallery, Suffolk County Community College-Eastern Campus, 121 Speonk-Riverhead Rd., free, eastendarts.org, 631-727-0900.
Rhonda Denét & the Silver Fox Songs Trio pay tribute to the trailblazing women who shaped the landscape of jazz and soul music, including Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson and Etta James, 2-3:30 p.m., Connetquot Public Library, 760 Ocean Ave., free, connetquotlibrary.org, 631-567-5079.
The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor examines the role Black mariners played in Long Island whaling history, as well as whaling’s ties to the Underground Railroad, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Rd., free, freeportlibrary.info, 516-379-3274.
Perfect Pitch Project performs songs that honor Black History Month, 1:30-3 p.m., Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Rd., free, register, for resident cardholders only, cplib.org, 631-928-1212.
Cody Childs & His Trio perform a jazz concert for patrons, 2:30-4 p.m., Westbury Library, 445 Jefferson St., free, register, westburylibrary.org, 516-333-0176.
Learn about the life and work of American artist and professor Kerry James Marshall, known for his paintings of Black figures, 11 a.m., hosted by Peninsula Public Library, 280 Central Ave., free, visit peninsulapublic.org for a link, 516-239-3262.
Learn the complex history of slavery throughout New York and Long Island before and after the American Revolution, and explore true stories of those enslaved in Oyster Bay; at Massapequa Public Library, 40 Harbor Lane, 2-3:30 p.m., free, register, 516-799-0770, massapequalibrary.org; program will be held in Middle Island at Longwood Library, 800 Middle Country Rd., 7-8:30 p.m., free, register, longwoodlibrary.org, 631-924-6400.
Hear stories highlighting Black authors, then create a craft, for children in prekindergarten-grade five, children must be accompanied by an adult, 4-4:45 p.m., Great Neck Library, 10 Campbell St., free, register, greatnecklibrary.org, 516-466-8055.
An educator from the Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor discusses the history of Black whalers, including whaling’s ties to the Underground Railroad, 2 p.m., Northport-East Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., free, register, nenpl.org, 631-261-6930.
Discussion about the groundbreaking Black artists and creators on Broadway, 3 p.m., Port Washington Public Library, 1 Library Dr., free, register to attend online or in-person, pwpl.org, 516-883-4400.
Learn the ancient African art of stamping cloth on paper, with genuine Asante Adinkhra stamps from Ghana, Western Africa. Find out what symbols mean, who created them and why they are used, then create your own to take home, 6 p.m., Lakeview Library, 1120 Woodfield Rd., $5 supply fee, and $5 non-Lakeview Library resident fee, cash only, register, lakeviewlibrary.org, 516-536-3071.
Learn about the life of Madam C.J. Walker, who created her own brand of hair care products for Black women and is recognized as one of the first female self-made millionaires in America, 2-3 p.m., hosted by Syosset Library, free, register for a link, syossetlibrary.org, 516-921-7161.
The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor examines the roles Black mariners played in our whaling history, 7-8 p.m., hosted by West Islip Public Library, free, register for a link, westisliplibrary.org, 631-661-7080.
Works written by Black authors are read by schoolchildren, with music from Westbury school district students, 6-8 p.m., Westbury Library, 445 Jefferson St., free, westburylibrary.org, 516-333-0176.
On Tuesday, “The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice,” cowritten by Anthony Ray Hinton, above, about his wrongful conviction, will be discussed at Glen Cove Public Library. Credit: AP/Hal Yeager
Discussion of the novel “The Underground Railroad,” by Colson Whitehead, 2 p.m., Shelter Rock Public Library, 165 Searingtown Rd., free, srpl.org, 516-248-7363.
Discuss the memoir “The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice,” by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin, about a Black man who was wrongfully convicted and spent more than 28 years on death row before his release, 2-3 p.m., Glen Cove Public Library, 4 Glen Cove Ave., free, glencovelibrary.org, 516-676-2130.
Create art inspired by Black artist Alma Thomas, for children in kindergarten-grade six, 4-5 p.m., Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Rd., free, register, lakeviewlibrary.org, 516-536-3071.
Learn the story of the Triple Nickels, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and other Black American military battalions, 6-7 p.m., South County Library, 22 Station Rd., free, register, sctylib.org, 631-286-0818
Choose an influential member of the Black community and write a short graphic novel biography about them, 4-5 p.m., Uniondale Public Library, 400 Uniondale Ave., free, register, uniondalelibrary.org, 516-489-2220.
Screening of the music documentary “Summer of Soul ( . . . Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” (2021, rated PG-13, 1:58) about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, 2:30 p.m., Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., free, brentwoodnylibrary.org, 631-273-7883.
Learn about the life and work of American artist and professor Kerry James Marshall, known for his paintings of Black figures, 1-2:30 p.m., Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave., free,
greatnecklibrary.org, 516-466-8055.
Program presented by the Town of Huntington features performances and a light dinner, 6 p.m., the program begins at 6:30 p.m., Walt Whitman High School, 301 West Hills Rd., free, huntingtonny.gov, 631-446-3702.
“Empowerment Through Adversity,” presented by Traciana Graves, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Montaukett Learning Resource Center, room 107/108, Suffolk County Community College-Eastern Campus, 121 Speonk-Riverhead Rd., free, eastendarts.org, 631-727-0900.
Learn about the diaspora of the Black population from lower Manhattan to Harlem with an emphasis on how Blacks have contributed to the cultural and political life of the city, 7-8:30 p.m., hosted by Uniondale Public Library, free, register, uniondalelibrary.org, 516-489-2220.
Create bracelets inspired by Black History Month, for adults and teens, 6-7:30 p.m., Wyandanch Public Library, 14 S. 20th St., free, register, wyan.suffolk.lib.ny.us, 631-643-4848, ext. 240.
This undated photo shows historian Carter G. Woodson, who, in 1926, organized the first version of what is now Black History Month. Credit: AP
Rhonda Denét pays tribute to the trailblazing women who shaped the landscape of jazz and soul, 7-8:15 p.m., South County Library, 22 Station Rd., free, register, sctylib.org, 631-286-0818.
Screening of the biographical drama “Devotion,” (2022, rated PG-13, 2:19) the story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history, starring Jonathan Majors, 1 p.m., Central Islip Public Library, 33 Hawthorne Ave., free, register, cilibrary.org, 631-234-9333.
Author Claire Bellerjeau discusses how an enslaved Black woman from Oyster Bay struggled for freedom during the Revolutionary War; copies of her biographies, “Remember Liss” and “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution,” will be available for purchase and signing, noon, Port Washington Public Library, 1 Library Dr., free, pwpl.org, 516-883-4400.
Discussion on local civil rights events on Long Island from the 1950s through the 1970s, including employer boycotts and other measures aimed at ending local discriminatory practices, 2-3 p.m., Amagansett Free Library, 215 Main St., free, register, amagansettlibrary.org, 631-267-3810.
BRENTWOOD
THE AMERICAN DREAM OR THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE
Discover Blacks’ invaluable contributions to the promise of America, in spite of the legacy of contradictions and discrimination, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., free, register, brentwoodnylibrary.org, 631-273-7883.
SEA CLIFF
JAZZ STEPS THROUGH THE AGES
Learn about the history of jazz, from the blues of the early 1900s, to Dixieland, swing, bebop, bossa nova and beyond, 2 p.m., Sea Cliff Village Library, 300 Sea Cliff Ave., free, seaclifflibrary.org, 516-671-4290.
The Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights, photographed last year, will, along with the Concerned Fathers Association, host a celebration next Sunday at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Dix Hills. Credit: Howard Simmons
BELLMORE
MOVIE
Screening of the dark comedy “American Fiction,” (2023, rated R, 1:57) about a writer fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment and uses a pen name to write a book that he secretly despises, starring Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown, 2 p.m., Bellmore Memorial Library, 2288 Bedford Ave., free, register, bellmorelibrary.org, 516-785-2990.
DIX HILLS
CELEBRATION
Learn about the contributions of past pioneers and current leaders and their impact on our country, presented by The Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights and Concerned Fathers Association, 2-3:30 p.m., Half Hollow Hills Community Library, 55 Vanderbilt Pkwy., free, register, for resident library cardholders only, hhhlibrary.org, 631-421-4530.
ELMONT
CONCERT
City Sounds Music’s orchestra pays homage to Black-owned record labels Philadelphia International and Motown Records, 2-3:30 p.m., Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., free, elmontlibrary.org, 516-354-5280.
HUNTINGTON
SUGAR AND SPICE MOTOWN
Hear some of your favorite classic Motown songs, 2 p.m. Huntington Library, 338 Main St., register, myhpl.org, 631-427-5165.
MIDDLE ISLAND
CONCERT
Cody Childs & His Trio performs an eclectic array of songs from the genres of jazz and soul from the 1950s through the 1970s, 2-3:30 p.m., Longwood Library, 800 Middle Country Rd., free, register, longwoodlibrary.org, 631-924-6400.
Compiled by Gina Tabarus with LaToya Rodriguez and Daniel Variano
