Events Honoring Black History Month in Tulsa

February is Black History Month; here are some ways local organizations are honoring this important month. Find more ideas in Dr. Tamecca Rogers’ February 2023 TulsaKids article, “Black History 365.”

We will add more information as it becomes available. If you know of an event that could be added, please email our calendar editor, tara.rittler@tulsakids.com.

Exhibit Opening: Black Historians and Storytellers of Oklahoma

• Monday, Feb. 2 ● 6:30-8 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Kick off Black History Month by joining the African American Resource Center for an inspiring exhibit honoring the voices who have preserved and celebrated Oklahoma’s Black history. This event highlights historians and storytellers whose work has kept the legacy of resilience, culture and achievement alive for generations. Explore their contributions to documenting pivotal moments and shaping the narrative of Black life in Oklahoma as we mark a century of commemoration. Light refreshments are provided. For all ages.

The Art of Commemoration: Oral and Written Storytelling

• Thursday, Feb. 5 ● 6-7:30 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Celebrate Black History Month. This is part one of a two-part workshop on how to document and share your own stories. Discover the power of storytelling as a tool for preserving history and honoring legacy. In this interactive session, participants will explore techniques for crafting compelling oral narratives and written accounts that commemorate significant moments and voices in Black history. Learn how stories shape memory, connect generations and keep cultural heritage alive. For adults and teens.

13th Annual Black Wall Street Heritage and History Festival

• Feb. 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
• 36th St. N. Event Center, 1125 E. 36th St. N.

Celebrating 100 years of Black History at the 13th Annual Black Wall Street Heritage and History Festival. This year’s theme is BLACK THOUGHTS MATTER.

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra: Celebrating Black History

• Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.
• Tulsa PAC, 110 E. 2nd St.

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra performs a concert featuring the following works:

• Hailstork | Fanfare on “Amazing Grace”
• Still | Symphony No. 3, “The Sunday Symphony”
• Montgomery | Five Freedom Songs
• William Dawson | Negro Folk Symphony

Brown Bag Book Discussion: Celebrate Black History Month

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 ● 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Join the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library for an engaging conversation about Their Eyes Were Watching God, a timeless novel by Harlem Renaissance writer and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. This classic of African American literature explores themes of love, independence and self-discovery through the journey of Janie Crawford. Together, attendees will delve into the book’s rich cultural context, its powerful storytelling, and its enduring impact on Black literature and history.

Larissa McNeil, African American Resource Center coordinator, will lead the discussion. Bring your lunch or enjoy pizza and a drink provided by the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library. For adults.

Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Gordon Parks Photographs From the Beach Museum of Art

• Wednesday, Feb. 11-Friday, June 19
• Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road

Philbrook Museum is honoring Gordon Parks, famed African American photographer, with an exhibit opening Feb. 11, during Black History Month, and running through June 19. The African American Resource Center is partnering with Philbrook Museum to highlight the literature of Parks, his subjects and the world he photographed.

Experience the exhibit at the Philbrook Museum and then visit the African American Resource Center at Rudisill Regional Library for further reading and additional resources on Parks’ incredible work.

One of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, Parks (1912-2006) was also renowned as a poet, filmmaker, author, composer and activist. He is best known for his photojournalism from the 1940s to the 1970s that documented American life and culture, particularly the experiences of African Americans and the Civil Rights Movement. Parks forged many relationships in his home state of Kansas during his career, and in 1973, he donated over 100 career-spanning photographs to Kansas State University. Highlighting the life and career of Parks, “Homeward to the Prairie I Come” showcases poetry and prose by the artist alongside images from his gift to KSU that convey a wide range of artistic ideas.

The exhibition features more than 70 photographs, including images captured by Parks for photojournalism and fashion assignments at LIFE magazine, striking portraits of prominent figures such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, as well as examples of his experimental photography. The exhibition is organized by the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University. Generous support provided by Art Bridges. For all ages.

African Presence in Early America III: Celebrate Black History Month

• Wednesday, Feb. 11 ● 6-7:30 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Inspired by author Ivan Van Sertima’s book African Presence in Early America, Kashif Rashad Nuriddin, an educator and student of the topic, will share insights drawn from first-hand travels, scholarly works and historical research. Building on Van Sertima’s groundbreaking book, Nuriddin will uncover stories that illuminate the African influence in early American history, including connections to Oklahoma’s own heritage.

This conversation aligns with the mission and resources of the African American Resource Center, offering a deeper understanding of how commemoration preserves and honors these legacies. For adults.

Celebrate Black History Month: The Art of Commemoration – Digital Storytelling

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 ● 6-7:30 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Join the African American Resource Center for part two of our digital storytelling workshop, highlighting techniques and tools for storytelling. Explore how technology can amplify the voices of history. This session introduces tools and techniques for creating digital narratives that honor and preserve Black heritage.

Participants will learn how to transform stories into engaging multimedia experiences – combining audio, video and visuals – to share legacies with a wider audience and ensure they endure for future generations. For adults and teens.

Celebrate Black History Month: Film Screening – Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space

• Wednesday, Feb. 18 ● 6-8 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Join the African American Resource Center for a powerful documentary that explores Zora Neale Hurston’s groundbreaking work as an anthropologist and writer. Claiming a Space highlights Hurston’s role in preserving African American culture and folklore through her fieldwork and storytelling, offering insight into how her research shaped the understanding of Black life in America. This screening celebrates her legacy as both a scholar and a cultural pioneer. The film originally aired on PBS and is rated G. For tweens to adults.

Jack & Jill Living Museum

• Sunday, Feb. 22, 2-4 p.m.
• Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Rd.

Celebrate Black History Month with Philbrook and the Tulsa chapter of Jack and Jill, a national organization dedicated to raising the next generation of Black leaders. Local children and families will present a captivating living museum using interactive exhibits and storytelling that spotlight the accomplishments and contributions of influential Black leaders across history.

African American Heritage Bowl

• Tuesday, Feb. 24 ● 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Hosted by the African American Resource Center, this trivia-style competition features themed questions based on Black/African American history. The bowl is open to middle and high school students as well as business organizations, churches, book clubs, families and other community groups. The theme for the bowl this is year is “100 Years of Commemoration.” The trivia competition will feature a Middle School Bowl, High School Bowl and a Community Bowl. Trophies will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners. Each member of the winning teams in the school categories will receive prizes. Registration is required for teams. To register your team, please email cass.meador@tulsalibrary.org.