View a roundup of Black History Month events, such as museum exhibits, film series, Restaurant Week, and more in the Chicagoland area!
Museum exhibits
- The DuSable Black History Museum
- A collection of Art from the Johnson Publishing Company building, the first building built by a Black architect in Chicago
- The DuSable is free every Wednesday and admission is always free for military personnel and first responders
- Online booking required for everyone
- Museum of Contemporary Art–Faith Ringgold: American People
- Faith Ringgold, artist, author, educator, and organizer collection of multidisciplinary art connecting the Harlem Renaissance to the art of young political activists and artists, today
- Through Feb 25, get tickets at the link above
- Remembering Doctor King—Chicago History Museum
- An exhibit at the Chicago History Museum dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Free for members, $17-19 for non-members
- The American Writers Museum–Surivival with Dignity and Dark Testament
- An exhibit dedicated to Pauli Murray, a poet, lawyer, priest, freight hopper, friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights activist…the list goes on
- Museum of Science and Industry—Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition
- See the exhibit that has been displayed annually since 1970, a collection of art from African Americans and youth artists
- MSI admission is free for Illinois residents Feb. 5-8, 11-15, 20-22, 26-29
Tours and cultural events
- Tour the Former Wabash YMCA in Bronzeville, often hailed at the birthplace of Black History Month
- Tours are free with a suggested $20 donation
- Go to the link above for more information
- The Jesse Jackson Oral History Project Launch
- Visit the Chicago History Museum to preview recordings of Rev. Jesse Jackson and other Chicago Civil Rights activists
- Thursday, February 8, 5:30-8pm
- Free tickets, RVSP at the link above
- Sojourner Truth Film Festival
- View a collection of films hosted at the Museum of Contemporary Art on February 3 from 10:30am-5:00pm
- RSVP and purchase tickets at the link above
- Stepper’s Night at the Creative Arts Foundation
- Take stepping lessons and maybe even perform!
- Feb 27th, 6-10pm
- Black by popular demand at the Second City
- Laugh the night away at the improv comedy show
- Chicago Black Restaurant Week
- Feb 11-25, support black-owned restaurants throughout Chicago
Free events
- Walk the streets of Bronzeville and check out the various monuments to the Civil Rights Movement and the Great Migration, or pop in to some Black-owned shops
- Check out this website for a complete list of things to see and do in Bronzeville
- Second Tuesday Jazz Jam at the South Side Jazz Coalition
- February 13, 2024, 7-10pm
- Black Makers Market at Navy Pier
- Help every weekend in February, browse (and buy) local products created by Black artists and entrepreneurs
- Forest Preserves of Cook County
- Learn about Black Skiers and the challenges they have faced
- Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
- Thu Feb 1-Thu Feb 29
