Upcoming Events
Black History and Disability Keynote: Etefia Umana | February 26
Etefia Umana discusses the historical experiences of Black people with disabilities. From 5– 7 p.m., food and drinks from Amighetti’s will be available for purchase, and tours of Mill Creek: Black Metropolis will run. The evening includes a musical performance by Deb Busch, and Umana’s talk in the Lee Auditorium begins at 6:30 p.m. 5–8 p.m. Missouri History Museum.
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Black History Month at the Garden | Through February 28
At the Missouri Botanical Garden, view grass specimens collected by George Washington Carver in the Brookings Exploration Center. In the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center, slides highlight the important contributions of Black scientists and botanists. The Blck Bird String Ensemble, a group with a focus on underrepresented music of the African Diaspora, performs February 28 at 11 a.m.
Lift Every Voice: Black History Month Celebration | February 27
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the IN UNISON Chorus present the annual Black History Month concert, honoring the work of Rosephanye Dunn Powell and featuring Imara Miles as a guest vocalist. 7:30 p.m. Powell Hall.
St. Louis County Libraries | Through February 28
Explore a variety of programs across St. Louis County Library branches. On Friday at 10 a.m. at the Natural Bridge Branch and Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Cliff Cave Branch, learn about “The Magic of Satchel Paige and Negro League Baseball.” Enjoy “Black Illustrator Story Time: Nina Crews” on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Thornhill Branch. On Saturday at the Clark Family Branch at 1 p.m., take in the “Gift of Gospel.” And close out the month on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Mid-County Branch with a blues jam session.
St. Louis City Libraries | February 28
On Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Buder Library, children’s authors Aja Owens and Adrienne Draper present the Black Joy Jubilee. Then take in a lecture from Gerald Early at 3 p.m. about his book Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America. On Saturday at 2 p.m. at Schlafly Library, create clay sculptures in honor of artist Augusta Savage. All day Saturday at Walnut Park Library, share your story through the collaborative project Roots of the Community: Mapping Black History.
Ongoing
Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Site
The Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Site commemorates an abolitionist’s dedication to educating and freeing enslaved people. Meachum and her husband, the Rev. John Berry Meachum, established a school for Black students and opened their home to the Underground Railroad. On May 21, 1855, Meachum tried to help runaway slaves cross the Mississippi from St. Louis to Illinois, where they would be free. They were caught, and Meachum was arrested for her role in the plot—but the charges would be dropped. In 2001, the site, just north of the Merchants Bridge, was the first in Missouri to qualify as part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Now, you can access the site at the Prairie Avenue trailhead of the St. Louis Riverfront Trail.
W.C. Handy popularized the blues with his song “St. Louis Blues”; the line “My man’s got a heart like a rock cast in the sea” was taken from a woman singing about her husband in the streets of St. Louis. But how much do you really know about cigar box guitars, the blues poem, or Okeh Records? The National Blues Museum is the place to learn about and celebrate the rich history of blues music and its prominent role in St. Louis life.
Support Black-owned businesses all year long. ForTheCultureSTL maintains a directory of Black-owned restaurants, medical providers, artists and designers, clothing and jewelry brands, tutors, legal services, skilled laborers, event planners, beauticians, laborers, media services, and more.
