Each week this month, MSR editors share their top picks for events celebrating Black History Month.
February 22
Lutinjue Palate’s Grand Opening
8 am – 5 pm @ Lutinjue Palate, 930 Hennepin Ave., S., Minneapolis
Celebrate Black business and satisfy your soul food cravings at the grand opening of Lutinjue’s Palate. Enjoy such signature dishes as Harriet’s Escape Vegan, Buttery Butter Peach Cobbler, Dr. T. Adams Philosophy Pecan Cobbler, Exquisite Nicksology Macaroons and Coconut Cake Bites, to name a few.
Info: bit.ly/LutunjiGrandOpening
From Behind the Sun by Stanley Kipper and Laura Drake
Whitney Fine Arts Center Theater, 1424 Yale Place, Minneapolis.
Minneapolis College and Metropolitan State University Theater Departments premiere a new play based on the true experiences of co-playwright Stanley Kipper during the spring of 1956, when his parents moved the family from Nicollet Park to the redlined district of South Minneapolis. Admission is free, but audiences are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the college’s food shelf. The play runs until March 2.
Info: minneapolis.edu/from-behind-the-sun
NABA Twin Cities 4th Annual Black History Month Celebration
6-9 pm @ Hennepin Theatre Trust, 900 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Free
Celebrate Black achievements across business, arts and social causes, in a casual and relaxed atmosphere hosted by the National Association of Black Accountants.
Info: bit.ly/BHMNABA
February 23
Children’s Reading Circle: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter
10-1045 am @ Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, 1256 Penn Ave., N. 4th floor, Minneapolis
Mayor Carter will read children’s story favorites as the guest speaker of this free family gathering.
Info: bit.ly/CarterReadingCircle
Kinky Curly Theological Collective: Spirituality for Black Women
12-3 pm @ Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., St. Paul; Free
Join the kick off the Unveiling the Black Woman Inside writing series, which aims to provide a space for women of African ascent to define themselves through the practice of spiritual, movement, and writing in the company of other women. Bring a notebook and wear comfortable clothes.
Info: bit.ly/KinkyCurlyKickOff
Hebrews to Negroes Movie Screening & Q&A
12:30- 5 pm @ Sabathani Community Center Auditorium, 310 East 38th St., Minneapolis; $25
Join leadership of the Church of Kingdom Treasure Int’l for the Minnesota screening of The Negro Network’s From Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.
Info: bit.ly/HebrewstoNegroes
Hattitude Paint Party
2-4 pm @ Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, 1256 Penn Ave., N. 4th floor, Minneapolis; $30
Artist Tipton Hammond, whose paintings are on display at the museum’s “GRACE” exhibit, will lead participants in painting their own artwork to take home. Registration is required as seating is limited.
Info: bit.ly/HattitudePaintParty
Black History Month Celebration: The Man, His Life, His Legacy
5-7 pm @ Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship, 2015 Fourth Street North
Minneapolis
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Floyd R. Beecham, Sr. at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship with a dedicated program and dinner. Free and open to the public.
Info: bit.ly/2SQFoOW or call 612-272-8009
ANGRY BLACK WOMAN & Well-intentioned White Girl
5:30-8:30 pm @ North Community High School, 1500 James Ave., N., Minneapolis
Amoke Kubat and Jennifer Johnson express daily “unsaids” between Black and White women in a play that delves deep into those hidden dehumanizing narratives through storytelling and audience participation.
Info: bit.ly/AngryBlack
The Free Black Table Open Mic
7-9 pm @ Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis
Brought to you by Black Table Arts, this open mic event promises an intentional evening of performance dedicated to the celebration of Black artists. Sign up begins at 6:30 pm and fills quickly; it is suggested that performers arrive as early as possible.
Info: bit.ly/BlackTableOpenMic
February 24
Robert Robinson Celebrates Black History Month
1 pm @ Crooners Lounge & Supper Club, 6161 Highway 65 NE Minneapolis
Join Robert Robinson perform music that exemplifies the spirit of Black History Month. From the gospel sounds of Rev. James Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson to the more subtle messages of freedom and hope by artists like John Lennon, Sam Cooke, Pop “Roebuck” Staples, Mavis Staples and Bob Dylan, the afternoon’s concert is sure to inspire and uplift every listener.
Info: bit.ly/2BO4Zxr
A Celebration and Collaboration of Sistahood in Black History
2-5 pm @ New Creation Church, 1922 North 25th Ave., Minneapolis; $5-10
Billed as a mother-daughter empowerment and unity event, this celebration promises good food, inspirational conversations, a motivational speaker, bonding activities for mothers and daughters, as well as live entertainment and a fashion show.
Info: bit.ly/CelebrateSisterhood
The Miseducation of the Black Man Discussion Series
3-4:30 pm @ 1011 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis; Free
As an extension of the “Men with Daddy Issues” series, this community conversation will center on the true history of the Black man leading up to present-day traumas. The discussion is open to men, women, children and community organizations, with the goal of discovering collaborative solutions to strengthen the Black community.
Info: bit.ly/MiseducationBlkman
VocalEssence WITNESS: Yet They Persist
4-6 pm @ Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; $10-40
Part of the VocalEssence educational outreach program, WITNESS, this concert features traditional and contemporary pieces as well as some exciting special guests, such as Atlanta’s Spelman College Glee Club. The event is in celebration of African and African American trailblazers like Minneapolis City Council Vice-President Andrea Jenkins, former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, and history-making Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
Info: bit.ly/YetTheyPersist
February 26
African Heritage Day on The Hill
2-4 pm @ Minnesota Capitol, ROTUNDA, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul; Free
Come out and hear from elected officials of African heritage to advance the vision in Minnesota together. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will keynote this year’s event.
Info: bit.ly/AfricanHeritageDay
United Black Legislative Caucus Black History Month film screening and discussion
5:30-8 pm @ Minnesota History Center, 345 West Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul
In honor of Black History Month, the United Black Legislative Caucus invites community members to a free screening of the film The Rape of Recy Taylor. The movie chronicles the chilling account of Taylor, a 24-year-old Black mother, and sharecropper who was gang-raped by six white boys in 1944 Alabama.
Info: bit.ly/2BPj4uz
February 27
43rd Michael T. Fagin Pan African Conference
1 pm @ Centennial Student Union, Mankato. $50-75. Free for MSU students, faculty and staff
Inspired by the imagery and themes of Black Panther’s Wakanda, this year’s conference invites attendees to reimagine new possibilities for economic justice, liberatory education, and political solidarity. The conference runs from Feb. 27-March 1
Info: bit.ly/PanAfrican2019
February 28
African American Read-In: Books, Poetry and Songs
3:30-7:30 pm @ Webber Park, 4440 Humboldt Ave., N., Minneapolis; Free
In celebration of the power of local African American literature, this event features Tish Jones, founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks, Danielle Daniel, Dr. Artika Tyner, Wisdom Young, a presentation from Youth Readers Theater, plus an open mic session.
Info: bit.ly/WebberReadIn
Heritage Bowl
5-8 pm @ Minneapolis College, Room T.1400, 1501 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; Free
Celebrate African American history, culture and music by means of both a Jeopardy-style trivia competition and “Black Karaoke” extravaganza, requiring audience participation and involvement. There will be light refreshments and entertainment from 5-6 pm and three rounds of trivia competition from 6-8 pm.
Info: www.minneapolis.edu
Assata Speaks: The Black History Month Edition
5- 8 pm @ Brave New Workshop, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $10
Speakers Rosalind Sullivan, Jena Holiday and D’Narius Lewis headline the Black History Edition of Assata Speaks promising messages to remember.
Info: bit.ly/AssataSpeaks
Author Talk: Shannon Gibney
6-7:30 pm @ Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W. Broadway Ave., Brooklyn Park; Free
Professor Shannon Gibney reads from her second novel Dream Country, a story about family tapestry, sacrifice and dreams.
Info: bit.ly/ShannonGibney
Discussion on racial inequality with Dr. Samuel Myers
6-7:30 pm @ Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, 1256 Penn Ave. N, 4th floor, Minneapolis; Free
University of Minnesota Professor Dr. Myers will lead a discussion on his book Race Neutrality: Rationalizing Remedies to Racial Inequality. His work focuses on the impact of social policies on the poor.
Info: bit.ly/DrSamuelMyers
Let us know of an event we missed in the comments!
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.