February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the rich history and contributions of the African American community. Evansville, Indiana, has a diverse array of events scheduled throughout the month. Here’s a guide to some of the exciting activities happening in the area:
University of Southern Indiana (USI)
- True Black History Museum
- When: Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: David L Rice Library
- Details: The museum offers a journey through Black history using rare artifacts, showcasing the African American experience from ancient civilizations to modern times.
- Film Screening: “Is That Black Enough for You?”
- When: Feb. 12, 5 p.m.
- Where: Wright Administration 1
- Details: A documentary exploring African-American contributions to film and pop culture, providing insight into the history of Black representation in cinema.
- Taste of Film: ‘The Princess and the Frog’
- When: Feb. 13, 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Carter Hall D in University Center West
- Details: USI’s Black Student Union and Activities Programming Board host a film screening with food samples of beignets and gumbo.
- Oratorical Competition
- When: Feb. 20, 5 p.m.
- Where: University Center East 226-227
- Details: The USI Multicultural Center hosts an annual competition where participants present three- to five-minute speeches on various topics.
Evansville African American Museum
- A History of Women of Color in Junior League
- When: Feb. 4, 1 p.m.
- Where: Evansville African American Museum
- Details: Zena Martin, former Junior League of London President, presents the history of women of color within the organization.
- Black History Month Unity Choir Concert
- When: Feb. 18, 6 p.m.
- Where: Old National Events Plaza
- Details: The concert features the Black History Month Unity Choir, including singers and choirs from around the Tri-State.
- African American Museum Day at Wesselman Woods
- When: Feb. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Wesselman Woods
- Details: Free access to trails, nature playscape, treehouse, and bird sanctuary, with museum members providing information about Black history.
Ivy Tech Community College
- African American Read-In
- When: Feb. 1, noon-2 p.m.
- Where: Room 107
- Details: Share stories, poems, or essays by Black authors or featuring Black stories in celebration of Black History Month.
- Black Wax Museum
- When: Feb. 20, 12:15-1 p.m.
- Where: Room 107
- Details: A live wax museum hosted by Ivy Tech’s Black student groups, featuring storytelling of influential figures in Black history.
- Black History Month Speaker Courtney Johnson
- When: Feb. 22, noon
- Where: Bower-Suhrheinrich Visual Arts Center
- Details: Evansville City Councilor Courtney Johnson serves as the keynote speaker for Black History Month.
Black History Month: Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL)
- Black History Scavenger Hunt
- When: All month
- Where: EVPL Red Bank branch
- Details: A library-wide scavenger hunt highlighting famous books and their authors.
- “Hidden Figures” Teen STEM Fest
- When: Feb. 2, 4 p.m.
- Where: EVPL Central branch (Browning Room)
- Details: Teens can engage in coding and STEM activities based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s “Hidden Figures” book.
- Fall in Love with the Arts
- When: Each Friday in February, 5 p.m.
- Where: EVPL East branch auditorium
- Details: Local artists share their work with the community, featuring musicians, fiber artists, and photographers.
- Unity Quilting with Paper Squares
- When: Feb. 10, 1:30 p.m.
- Where: EVPL Stringtown branch
- Details: Community members can create paper squares for a unity quilt displayed in honor of Black History Month.
- Movie Monday
- When: Feb. 19, 5 p.m.
- Where: EVPL West branch
- Details: Enjoy a screening of Spike Lee’s classic “Do the Right Thing” with popcorn and drinks.
These events offer diverse opportunities to engage with and celebrate Black history throughout February in the Evansville area. Whether through educational exhibits, cultural performances, or interactive activities, there’s something for everyone to learn and enjoy.
