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Celebrate Black History Month by taking time to learn, grow, and enjoy these events in our community.
Washington Township Schools Diversity Equity Leadership Team
Learning In Community Webinar Series
Equity is the concept of giving students what they need to thrive within school systems. Each student has unique strengths, gifts, and different lived experiences that we have to be mindful of when trying to support academic and social-emotional needs. We also recognize that families need tools and support to help their children succeed, and spaces for shared learning to understand how schools are promoting equitable practices. Part I of the series focused on high ability, implicit bias education, special education, and sessions pertaining to culture and humanity. This semester will focus on parental involvement, critical conversations about race, social emotional learning and school counseling, and other important topics that pertain to supporting students. WT families and staff can register and learn in community with each other! Our Office of Multilingual Learners can also support linguistic needs. Please contact the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Equity and Inclusion, Ms. Andrea Badue at abadue@msdwt.k12.in.us, if you have any questions. Please note the remaining sessions in February:
Thursday, February 10th from 6:30-8:30pm
This introductory workshop provided by the Peace Learning Center, participants will focus on building a basic awareness and general understanding of its impact. Participants will also be guided through self-reflection around how bias may show up in their lives.
Black History is American History: The Importance of Teaching Truth
Thursday, February 24th from 7-8pm
Washington Township Schools will spend an evening with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, who is the author of the groundbreaking adaptation of the book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul’s adaptation of Ibram X. Kendi’s research is a New York Times bestseller and the 2021 Parent’s Choice award recipient. This session will focus on the importance of teaching historical truths and how to engage in critical conversations about race.
From the Indianapolis Public Library:
Did you know that observance of Black History Month began in 1976 back when President Gerald Ford was at the helm? Prior to this, African American history was actually observed during the second week in February as “Negro History Week,” which began in 1926. Negro History Week was the brainchild of Carter G. Woodson-PhD and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded in 1915 as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson reportedly settled on the second week in February because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (U.S. National Archives: Emancipation Proclamation) and Frederick Douglass (African American Civil Rights Activist). Learn more about Carter G. Woodson here as well as the ASALH here. Several books on Woodson’s life and legacy for adults and kids can be found in IndyPL’s catalog here.
The Library has books, music, movies, and digital collections related to African American history as well as the African American Experience database. If you are in need of suggestions for what to check out next, this page is a great place to start! IndyPL_MontoyaB
Visit the Center for Black Literature & Culture at Central Library.
The Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) is home to our largest collection of materials by Black authors. Take as long as you’d like to browse this collection that features authors whose work impacts local, national and global culture in literature, sports, business, politics, science and music. Also don’t miss the CBLC’s website, The Power of Black Voices. This online collection includes artifacts, photographs, and articles across many categories.
https://www.indypl.org/blog/for-adults/black-history
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
First Thursday Night
Feb. 3, 4–8 p.m.
$6 admission
Celebrate Black achievements in history, science, art, music, and sports with special programming on the first Thursday in February.
Participate in the Community Artist Showcase featuring local Black artists. Celebrate African-American heritage through stories and music. Contribute to the #BLACKLIVESMATTER mural with a variety of colors, shapes, and patterns.
Discover how soybeans can be used to make a variety of products and learn about the work of African American chemist and soybean scientist Dr. Percy Julian. Take a stand for a social justice cause in the Making WAVES program. Special programming ends at 7:30 p.m. More information available here: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/celebrate-black-history-month
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Exhibit – Stories from Our Community: The Art of Protest Open through summer 2023
The Art of Protest focuses on the August 2020 creation—and subsequent vandalism—of a piece of public art in Indianapolis by 18 local Black artists in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Through The Art of Protest, you’ll discover how artists’ creations can evoke empathy and understanding of others’ experiences by communicating stories, messages, and emotions that words alone cannot always express.
Hear the personal stories of the artists who created the Indianapolis #BLACKLIVESMATTER street mural.
Explore objects that tell the story of the mural’s creation. Discover how artists can come from all walks of life and how community members who were once strangers can come together to support a common cause.
Consider the impact of the mural through the stories of residents living in the Mid-North community around the museum. Learn more and meet the artists at this link: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/stories
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Black History Month, which has been observed annually since 1926, honors the contributions of African Americans throughout history. This February, we’re taking a look at four African American Hoosiers who helped to shape Indiana’s past and present in hopes of a better future for everyone. Discover these stories in Legacy Theater at the Indiana State Museum during Black History Month – and all year long. This space provides a diverse cultural experience of African American heritage in Indiana through images, oral stories and historical text. Plan your visit or learn more at www.indianamuseum.org.
https://www.indianamuseum.org/search/?keyword=Black%20History%20Month
Madam Walker Legacy Center
“How I Got Over” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration Essay Contest
Students enrolled in middle school, high school, or university nationwide at the time of entry are invited to submit original essays in response to the theme, “How I Got Over.” Entrants will compete for a monetary prize and raise awareness about the world they occupy. Submission Deadline February 21, 2022. Learn more at this link: https://madamwalkerlegacycenter.com/
Indy Arts Council
The Murals for Racial Justice project, which commissioned 24 Black artists to create 22 temporary murals on boarded-up storefronts in downtown Indianapolis, started in June 2020 as an immediate response to the worldwide protests calling for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd and an end to police brutality.
The project has evolved to include Art and Activism, an exhibition at the Arts Council’s Gallery 924, co-curated by Murals for Racial Justice artists Israel Solomon and Matthew Cooper. Art and Activism is part of a collaboration among the Arts Council, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indianapolis Public Library to honor the one-year anniversary of Murals for Racial Justice. Support for Murals for Racial Justice and other related initiatives is provided by Glick Philanthropies. Visit Gallery 924 for more details on special programs and events. The artists and murals are featured at this link: https://indyarts.org/public-art/current-projects/murals-for-racial-justice
Indy Arts Council
For 25 years, Art & Soul, a celebration of Black artists and creativity, has kicked off Black History Month in Indianapolis. This year, due concerns over COVID-19, Art & Soul will be postponed from February until June. For now, please join us in honoring the 2022 Featured Artists and enjoy some of last year’s recorded performances until we can safely gather again.
https://indyarts.org/about/art-soul
Black History Month at the Global Village Welcome Center Saturday, February 05, 2022 10:00 am Additional Dates Thursday, March 03, 2022 10:00 am Global Village Welcome Center 4233 Lafayette Rd. Indianapolis, IN Price: Free
We invite you to explore the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy when we host Local Speech, Global Reach, one of the Indiana Historical Society’s (IHS’s) traveling exhibits. The exhibit will be on display from Saturday, February 5 to Thursday, March 3, at the Global Village Welcome Center.
A supplemental Black Heritage exhibit from the Global Village Welcome Center will focus on local, unsung heroes, as well as heroes of Black History including a different performance every Saturday in February at 2 p.m.
Butler Arts & Events Center
A Jubilee! Black History Month Arts Celebration February 18, 2022 @ 7:30pm Free
Plan to attend an evening of stories, music, and dance celebrating the mosaic of Blackness. A Jubilee! reflects on history, examines today, and looks forward to the essence of uplifting and joyous traditions in Black art. This program contains Spirituals, Jazz, Opera, R&B, Rock, Poetry and more! More information can be accessed here: https://butlerartscenter.org/performance/music-at-butler-presents-a-black-history-month-concert/
This performance is free and open to the public, no ticket is required.
Can’t make it in-person? Join the FREE livestream on The Fly Rail at https://bit.ly/3H1Ux4Y
Masks are required to be worn by all patrons while in the venue.
Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
“Mae Among the Stars”
This self-guided hike through Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve features a children’s book celebrating February as Black History Month. “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed is all about the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. More information at this link: https://www.playfishers.com/333/StoryWalk
Eiteljorg Museum
As the nation observes Black History Month, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is proud to unveil a significant painting it acquired, For Freedom by Dean Mitchell, a renowned watercolor artist who is African American and known for Western themes in his art. It is on public view now through April 12 for visitors to appreciate and enjoy. https://eiteljorg.org/news-release-new-painting-for-freedom-at-eiteljorg-a-highlight-of-black-history-month/
American Red Cross of Indiana
2186 N Sherman Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46218-3818, United States
The American Red Cross invites blood donors to help save lives by giving blood at the Black History Month Blood Drive in partnership with WRTV, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, and Martin University’s National Center of Racial Equity and Inclusion (NCREI) on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Martin University’s Gathertorium in Indianapolis.
Together, the Red Cross, WRTV, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and NCREI are partnering to expand blood donation opportunities in Black communities and to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients in need, especially those battling sickle cell disease. The Red Cross launched a sickle cell initiative in September last year to address this need. Find more information here: www.redcrossblood.org
