During Black History Month, there are events taking place around Spokane and Idaho that you cannot miss, these events span from movie screenings to lectures.
SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash — January has come to a close and as the world moves into February, we start to celebrate Black History Month. Here are some ways you can celebrate around the Inland Northwest:
Spokane Black Stories: The Black Lens re-launch event – Spokane, Wash.
Northwest Passages is celebrating with the re-launch of The Black Lens in print publication by hosting the third annual Spokane Black Voices Symposium. According to The Spokesman-Review website, the event will be at Gonzaga University’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center and, “African American students from around the Spokane area will be presenting their work, focusing on the theme: Black Joy – An Aspirational Mindset.”
Tickets for the event are free but you must have a ticket for admission, according to their website. For tickets, click here.
Gonzaga University – Spokane, Wash.
February 6, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center will host ‘The Sound of [Black] Music.’ Myrtle Woldson says the performance “is a dynamic and groundbreaking production that reimagines one of America’s most beloved musical classics through an Afrofuturistic lens. The electrifying score, featuring elements of jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop, celebrates the rich cultural heritage of black music and its impact on American popular culture.”
Tickets range from $30 – $48 and are on sale right now. For tickets, click here.
February 6 – March 8, 2024
In varying locations around the Gonzaga campus, the university will put on ‘”Black Liturgies” for Staying Human: A Space for Healing’ events, through the month of February. The Gonzaga website says the event “aims to create a space and practice of worship grounded in safety, inclusion, and community.”
There are no tickets listed for these events. To learn more, click here.
Spark Central – Spokane Wash.
February 6, 2024, 5 to 7 p.m.
Spokane local poet and author, Stephen Pitters will be joining Spark Central for a workshop, ‘The Lived Experience: A Poetry Workshop.’ According to their website Pitters “will be sharing his story of living alone on an all-white campus in 1960s Louisiana and how that experience inspired his work.” From there, event goers will have the opportunity to learn and write their own poems based on their own experiences.
This event is free for all ages.
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture – Spokane, Wash.
February 11, 2024, 2 p.m.
The MAC will host an art history lecture, ‘Challenging Stereotype: Reworking Aunt Jemima.’ Their website says, “For decades, the character of Aunt Jemima drew upon racial stereotypes to sell ready-made pancake mix. But in the 1970s and 1980s, African American artists challenged those stereotypes by creating new narratives for Aunt Jemima that highlighted her history, ingenuity, and strength.”
The event has a suggested donation of $10.
Spokane County Library District – Spokane, Wash.
February 20, 2024, 1 p.m.
SCLD is inviting the public to talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott about his recent book ‘Hell of a Book.’ The novel addresses racism, police violence and more. “Mott’s novel also tells the story of Soot, a young Black boy living in a rural town in the recent past, and The Kid, a possibly imaginary child who appears to the author on his tour,” according to SCLD’s website.
SCLD’s ‘Exploring Identity, Love, and Being Black in America in Fiction Writing: A Conversation with Award-Winning Author Jason Mott,’ is online. To register, click here.
February 24, 2024, 3 p.m.
SCLD is hosting a lecture, ‘African American Quilt History: Folk Art to Modern Art & Everything in Between.’ This lecture will address misconceptions of African American quilt aesthetics and the people who make them. This is an online event, to register, click here.
Spokane Public Library – Spokane Wash.
February 17, 2024, 2 – 5 p.m.
SPL is hosting a black-owned business and nonprofit resource fair. According to the SPL website, after the fair there will be, “a panel of black men who are currently in leadership positions in Spokane”
This event is at the central SPL location, which is on West Main Ave. in downtown Spokane.
February 21, 2024, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
SPL is hosting singer/songwriter and poet Frankie Ghee, singer and musician Latrice Williams, author Kiantha Duncan, author Stephanie Courtney and poet Stephen Pitters for ‘Poetry Rising,’ to celebrate Black History Month. This event is at the South Hill SPL location on South Perry Street in Spokane, Wash.
Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre – Moscow, Idaho
The forum and panel discussion ‘Creating an Environment where Black people can Flourish and Thrive’ will be led by the Idaho Black Community Alliance’s Trish J Walker and Shari Baber. Kenworthy’s website says, “They will provide Moscow business and downtown cultural leaders with strategies they can use to continue building bridges with the Black community, fostering a more inclusive and welcoming environment.”
February 15, 2024, at 6 p.m.
Northwest Public Broadcasting radio host Anjuli Dodhia will lead a discussion with Met Opera performer Dr. Makeda Hampton before showing ‘X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.’ The audience will also have a chance to speak with Dr. Hampton after the screening.
Tickets to this event are $20 for adults, $15 for students, and free for University of Idaho students. For tickets, click here.
February 19, 2024, 6 p.m.
Apart of their ‘Science on Screen’ series, Kenworthy will be showing ‘Hidden Figures,’ a movie that tells the story of a group of African-American women mathematicians who served an important role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
“This family-friendly film is a heartwarming celebration of the overlooked and crucial contributions of Black Women that we are proud to present during Black History Month,” according to their website.
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