February is Black History Month and thanks to Chicago Parent magazine, we have a great list of ideas for you and your family where you can learn and celebrate Black History.

Virtual Field Trip at DuSable Museum of African American History (Virtual)
While the DuSable Museum is temporarily closed, you can take a virtual visit with Chicago Mayor Lightfoot in the Stay Home. Hit Play series. The museum is also hosting virtual events while closed.

Black History Read Alouds  (Wheaton Public Library)
February 18 and 23
Celebrate Black History Month as the staff at Wheaton Public Library reads some picture book biographies over Zoom. Each week, they’ll introduce you to an important historical figure or two.

Bisa Butler: Portraits  (Art Institute Chicago)
Bisa Butler’s portrait quilts vividly capture personal and historical narratives of Black life. She strategically uses textiles — a traditionally marginalized medium — to interrogate the historical marginalization of her subjects while using scale and subtle detail to convey her subjects’ complex individuality. Bisa Butler: Portraits is the first solo museum exhibition of the artist’s work and will include more than 20 portraits.

A Bit of History: Dramatic Portrayal of Harriet Tubman (Tinley Park Public Library)
February 17
Get a glimpse of Harriet Tubman’s triumphant life in this compelling performance by actress Cynthia Maddox. The live presentation is interactive, and guests may be visible to other participants.

Fam Bam Dunham Dance Jam (Virtual)
Feb 20
Enjoy a special dance class for Black History Month. Ashley Rockwood from Free Mvmt Shop will teach our families the Dunham Technique (created by Katherine Dunham, a pioneer of modern dance), a very athletic dance form infused with African and Caribbean style.

Mandela: Struggle for Freedom (Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center)
Opens Feb 20
Mandela: Struggle for Freedom traces the history of the fight against apartheid in South Africa, with Nelson Mandela as one of its central figures. With immersive environments, Mandela promotes human rights with a clear message: all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Black History Month Story Time (Chicago Public Library, Back of the Yards Branch)
February 20
Join the Back of the Yards Branch for a fun Black History Month story time for the whole family. They’ll share songs, rhymes and books, plus suggestions for at-home activities to honor and celebrate Black people all over the world.

Little Leaders + Little Legends Storytime with Vashti Harrison (Virtual)
February 20
Wonder, inspiration, truth – just a bit of what you can expect from the historical stories of trailblazing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by Vashti Harrison. Kids and adults will enjoy learning about these exceptional men and women through her beautifully illustrated and engaging book series.

Storytime with Meena Harris (Virtual)
February 20
Lawyer, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author Meena Harris joins for a 30-minute Zoom reading of her newest picture book, “Ambitious Girl.” A true story based on her mother, Maya, and aunt, Vice President Kamala Harris, this is this perfect story for anyone who’s ever felt underestimated or overshadowed.

Black History Month Virtual Concert: Preserving and Persevering (Virtual)
February 25
This Chicago Children’s Choir’s 2021 Black History Month concert explores how the power of Black music has been the cultural key in both preserving African traditions in America and in helping millions persevere in the face of racial injustice.

Diamond’s Dream (Chicago Children’s Museum)
Diamond, a pre-teen African-American boy, has fallen asleep on a CTA Red Line train while on his way to visit his dying grandmother. When he awakes, time and reality have shifted, and he meets the ghost of a young African-American girl, a shape-shifting elder spirit who died of Spanish Flu 100 years ago to the date. Both are confronted with paranormal puppets and images representing society’s ills – ignorance, poverty and racism. Recommended for ages 9 and up.