Black Love Day Celebration

Independent Media Center 202 S. Broadway, Suite 100, Urbana, IL

This free event will include self-care services, lunch will be provided and an open mic will be facilitated. For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-love-day-celebration-tickets-772582825027

Storytime & a Craft Celebrating Black History Month

Tolono Public Library District 111 E. Main St., Tolono

Come to the Library for a storytime and craft celebrating Black culture, accomplishments, and joy. Recommended Ages: 0-5 For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/278802411443465/

Krannert Center Uncorked with Soft Spoken

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

Presented in collaboration with Illinois Soul 101.1 FM in celebration of Black History Month. Bloomington based Soft Spoken covers a lot of musical territory: jazz, funk, R&B, soul, and blues, with the smooth jazz filter set on high. With Gary Muhammad, lead guitar/vocals; Mike Gardner, keys/bass/vocals; Myra Johnson, percussion; AJ Chinnery, drums; Kenny Johnson, bass

The Story of the 370th Infantry Unit and Its Impact on Champaign County

Urbana Free Library 201 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL

Dr. Barbara Suggs Mason and Angela Rivers of the African American Heritage Trail explore the 370th Infantry and Legion Post 559. The 370th Infantry Regiment was an all-Black unit that fought during World War 1. While the unit was headquartered in Chicago, it grew out of the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Illinois National Guard

GOSPEL: WHERE SONG AND SERMON MEET

Virginia Theatre 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign, IL

THE ARTHOUSE EXPERIENCE FILM SERIES Rated N/R 60 min (approx.) From the blues to hip hop, African Americans have been the driving force of sonic innovation for over a century. Musical styles come and go, but there's one sound that has been a constant source of strength, courage, and wisdom from the pulpit to the choir

Everybody’s Got a Story

Spurlock Museum 600 S. Gregory, Urbana, IL

Everybody has stories to tell, and we’d love to hear yours. In connection with the ongoing Black Joy Project at the Spurlock Museum, we invite members of the community to share memories, legendary tales from family or friend groups, important moments…anything you wish to share or think others might like to hear. No age restrictions! Have you

UFLive! presents Reginald Lewis and Friends

Urbana Free Library 201 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL

Live music celebration of Black History Month. Reginald Lewis & Friends is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Reginald Lewis. Inspired by Philadelphia’s vibrant jazz scene, the group pays homage to the city's rich musical heritage while infusing their performances with a fresh and contemporary approach. Reginald Lewis is a composer, educator, and musician,

Willie Summerville: A Life of Music, Faith, and Service

Sousa Archives & Center for American Music 1103 S 6th St, Champaign, IL

The Sousa Archives exhibit, “Willie Summerville: A Life of Music, Faith, and Service” opened at the School of Music lobby.  In Kathya Alexander’s 2017 memorial essay to William “Willie” Thomas Summerville (1944-2017), she describes him as Urbana-Champaign-University of Illinois’ unique musical and spiritual force who brought people together through song and service to the community. 

Krannert Center Uncorked with Haki N’ Dem

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

Presented in collaboration with Illinois Soul 101.1 FM in celebration of Black History Month. Haki N’ Dem (Demonstrators) is an exceptional R&B/soul group hailing from Champaign-Urbana and Chicago, led by the immensely talented young musician Haki (Drake Materre), who not only dazzles with his incredible vocals but also showcases his mastery of multiple instruments. Alongside

Black & Latinx Summit: “Resistance in Resilience: Intertwining Our Roots Standing Our Ground”

I Hotel & Conference Center 1900 S. 1st Street, Champaign, IL

The Black and Latinx Summit is an annual conference and summit that seeks to bring students from all intersections into shared a space to learn and connect. This focus is an intentional understanding of the traumas that communities of color in the United States have faced both historically and contemporarily. It is also cognizant of

From Illinois to the Moon: The Life and Legacy of George R. Carruthers

Electrical and Computer Building 306 N. Wright Street, Urbana, IL

Professor Lara Waldrop will discuss her NASA research project, The Carruthers Geocorona Project. The name honors Dr. George R. Carruthers, a prominent, three-time Illinois alumnus. As one of the first African American men to earn a doctorate degree in astrophysics, Dr. George R. Carruthers is known as a trailblazer. He invented the camera that took

Battle of the Books | Black History Month

Champaign Public Library - Douglass Branch 504 E. Grove St., Champaign, IL

Students in grades 3 to 5 can celebrate Black History Month by challenging their book knowledge in our 19th annual Battle of the Books. Find copies of the required books at the Douglass Branch and Main Library. Every participant will receive a prize book. Teams can have up to 12 students. Contact your school to

Walking With My Ancestors: Cape Coast Castle by Ama Oforiwaa Aduonum

Spurlock Museum 600 S. Gregory, Urbana, IL

Walking with My Ancestors: Cape Coast Castle (2019), the award-winning and nationally recognized performance piece, is about a mother’s search for guidance from the spirits of her ancestors in the dungeons for enslaved Africans. The story takes the audience through a ritual journey that includes dance, music, and drama and leads to revelation, reconciliation, and rebirth. Walking

Black History Month Show at Boomerangs

Boomerangs Bar & Grill 1309 E. Washington St., Urbana, IL

Join this celebration of Black history, which is American history, at Boomerangs Bar & Grill on February 25 from 7–9 PM. The show will include comedy, poetry, live music, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1083892879499686.

ANCHOR: The Music, the Message, and the Movement of Black American Artists

Smith Memorial Hall 805 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL

Join us for ANCHOR - a free concert dedicated to the music, message, and movement of Black American Artists. This special evening is set to take place on Wednesday, February 28th, at the Smith Recital Hall, starting at 7:30 PM. Department of Dance Dr. C. Kemal Nance Lily Freebery Jade Lajeune Department of Theatre Lisa

Krannert Center Uncorked with Nadirah Shakoor

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

Presented in collaboration with Illinois Soul 101.1 FM in celebration of Black History Month. The recipient of a Grammy nomination, an MTV Video Award, the 2005 Artist for a Better World award, and the 2006 Spirit of Youth award, Nadirah Shakoor is best known as the former lead female vocalist of acclaimed hip hop group

Interseminars | Kameelah Janan Rasheed

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Kameelah Janan Rasheed (artist, educator, and writer, Cooper Union) will present an artist talk. This event is part of the Interseminars series for "Improvise and Intervene," supported by the Mellon Foundation. About the Speaker A learner, Kameelah Janan Rasheed (she/they), grapples with the poetics-pleasures-politics of Black knowledge production, information technologies, learning, and belief formation. They are a recipient of a 2022

Panel: “‘Rich and Talented and Black and Troubled’: Black Professional Athletes and the Black Freedom Struggle”

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Theresa Runstedtler (American Studies, American University) will be presenting, with Daniel Gilbert (Labor and Employment Relations, History) commenting. Part of the symposium Sporting Publics: History, Sports, and American Culture, which is taking place March 28–29, 2024. About the Speaker Theresa Runstedtler, PhD is an award-winning scholar of African American history whose research focuses on the intersection of race, masculinity,

Sporting Publics Symposium | Panel with Louis Moore, Daniel Nasset

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Professor Louis Moore will speak about his book I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, 1880-1915 (University of Illinois Press, 2017). Respondent Daniel Nasset (Editor-in-Chief, University of Illinois Press) will share the editor's perspective on turning one's idea into a book that speaks to sporting publics. Part of the symposium Sporting Publics: History, Sports, and American

Sporting Publics Symposium | Conversation with Shakeia Taylor

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Shakeia Taylor is a Chicago-based award-winning writer and storyteller, whose work focuses on the intersection of sports, history, and culture. She is currently a Deputy Senior Content Editor at the Chicago Tribune, host of the Society for American Baseball Research’s (SABR) monthly interview series “Ballpark Figures,” and a member of the Negro Leagues and Teams Committee, a

MLK March for Peace

King Park 915 W. Wascher Dr., Urbana, IL

The Urbana Park District is hosting the Martin Luther King Day Peace March on April 4, from 5:30 to 7pm. The march takes place on the 56th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s assassination. Originally scheduled for January 15th (King’s birthday), the event was postponed due to weather. The Peace March will now be on

Nurtured in Nature in Spring! Homer Lake

Salt Fork Center, Homer Lake 1229 Flicker Drive, Homer, IL

A nature-based community building event for BIPOC community members of Champaign County! Join us for a community, nature-based community wellness event intentionally for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community members of Champaign County. Organized by the Nurtured in Nature team of Healthy Champaign County and led by Chicago-based non profit BPO Hikes guiding BIPOC community members

Crafty Adults | Black Out Poetry

Champaign Public Library - Main Library 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL

The Rare Book and Manuscript Library will be at the library to discuss blackout poetry and the Gwendolyn Brooks poetry collection. You'll then be able to try your own blackout poetry with upcycled book pages! Registration opens April 1 at 9:00 am (closes April 9). Registration is required. These workshops are very popular and "sell

A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham Presents Repertory Works

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

MacArthur "Genius" award-winner Kyle Abraham brings his unique choreography and internationally renowned dance company, A.I.M, to perform a repertory of new and exciting works for Urbana Champaign audiences. Considered “one of the most consistently excellent troupes working today” (The New York Times), A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham provides multifaceted performances, educational programming, and community-based workshops across

Joy is Our Superpower: Healing and Therapy with Communities of Color

Zoom

Dr. Hector Adames and Dr. Nayeli Chavez-Dueñas will be presenting a public Zoom lecture titled, Joy is Our Superpower: Healing and Therapy with Communities of Color. This is part of a larger Society of Counseling Psychology initiative on Justice & Joy: Transforming Healing Praxis. This hybrid event will be held at BNAACC and on Zoom

OPEN MIKE EAGLE w/ $imba P & A$AVV

Canopy Club 708 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

9pm doors / 10pm show w/ $imba P & A$AVV Purchase tickets here: https://canopyclub.com/event/open-mike-eagle/red-room/ Humor can conceal and alleviate the pain of trauma, but no joke will erase it. Even Wu-Tang Clan told you that tears come after laughter. Relief comes only from opening every emotional and psychological wound. Open Mike Eagle spent the 2010s finding comedy in rap

Urbana Poet Laureate Celebration

Spurlock Museum 600 S. Gregory, Urbana, IL

This year, the 2024 Poet Laureate is none other than one of the Black Joy Project curators, Ruby Mendenhall, and the Spurlock Museum is proud to host a poetry-writing workshop in her honor. Learn what inspires Ruby to express herself creatively and hear from her mentors. Then, discover what inspires you! Workshop attendees will enjoy: Hearing