February was chosen as Black History Month because President Abraham Lincoln and social reformer Frederick Douglass, who both played a role in helping to end slavery, were born this month. And out here on the South Fork, there’s no shortage of ways to honor and celebrate the work and accomplishments of Black Americans.
RaMell Ross’ film Nickel Boys opens at the Sag Harbor Cinema (90 Main St., Sag Harbor, 631-725-0010) on Jan. 31 and runs until Feb. 6. The film, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school in Florida. For more information and to reserve tickets, click here.
The Hampton Library (2478 Main Street, Bridgehampton, 631-537-0015) offers Famous Inventors on Feb. 7 at 3:30 p.m., where kids aged 5-7 make a craft to celebrate Black History Month. Crown Yourself: Inspired by Basquiat is a painting session for young adults on Feb. 18 at 4 p.m., and an Underground Railroad Quilt Craft on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. is offered where kids aged 8-11 learn about Harriet Tubman and create their own mini-quilt (used to help lead slaves to safety during the Civil War). For more information, click here.
The 17th Annual African American Read-In kicks off on Feb. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the John Jermain Memorial Library (201 Main Street, Sag Harbor, 631-725-00490. Hosted by Canio’s Cultural Cafe, the Eastville Community Historical Society and the library, this national event celebrates African American writers; sign up to read an excerpt or just come to listen. For more details, click here.
On Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., author Mark Torres discusses his new book, Long Island and the Legacy of Eugenics: Station of Intolerance in a virtual Zoom session facilitated by the Shelter Island Public Library (37 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-0042). Torres investigates the dark history of the eugenics movement in the early twentieth century, which was headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor. Click here to register.
Sag Harbor’s arts organization The Church (48 Madison Street, Sag Harbor, 631-919-5342) offers several events this month featuring African American artists. On Feb. 9, participate in an Afro-Caribbean Spiritual Movement & Dance Workshop from 3-4:30 p.m., conducted by Jamaican dancer, choreographer and educator Johnnoy Johnson. On Feb. 14, Hamptons Jazz Fest Presents Mary Edwards, a composer and pianist performing with her quartet from 6-7:30 p.m. And on Feb. 28, Charity Starts at Home Nadine Ruff, a dance performance by choreographer, dancer, and artist Arien Wilkerson/Tnmot Aztro, runs from 6-7:30 p.m. For more details and to obtain tickets, check here.
A Brown V. Board of Education Virtual Event is on tap courtesy of the Westhampton Free Library (7 Library Avenue, Westhampton Beach, 631-288-3335) on Feb. 19 from 1-2 p.m. Presented by the Brown V. Board of Education National Historical Park, here’s an opportunity to learn more about the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional, and how it continues to resonate today. Free; to register, click here.
A Music Legacy: Three Centuries of the African Diaspora features music from artists like Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone and Sam Cooke at the Rogers Memorial Library (91 Coopers Farm Road, Southampton, 631-283-0774). Pianist and arranger Alexander Wu and his trio bring together tradition and history in this musical celebration on Feb. 23 from 3-4 p.m. Free; to register, click here.
Since 2020, East End Arts Center’s (133 East Main Street, Riverhead, 631-727-0900) MLK Portrait Project organizes local high school students to create large-scale mosaic portraits of civil rights leaders. The portraits are on view at the Lyceum Gallery at Suffolk County Community College’s Eastern Campus from Jan. 27 to Mar. 7. On Feb. 27, a Student Artist Reception will take place at the Lyceum Gallery from 4-6 p.m. Gallery Hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed on Sundays and holidays. Call 631-548-2536 for more information, or click here.
Other MLK Portrait Project programs include Empowerment Through Adversity, presented by Traciana Graves on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., and Black History & Black Inventions, an exhibit on view from Feb. 18 to Feb. 25, both at the Montaukett Learning Resource Center Library on Suffolk Community College’s Eastern Campus (121 Speonk-Riverhead Road, Room 107-108, Riverhead, 631-548-2500). For more details, check here.
It’s always a fascinating, enriching experience to visit the Southampton African American Museum (245 North Sea Road, Southampton, 631-353-3299), which opened back up for the season on Feb. 1. Visit their permanent exhibition, “Grooming a Generation,” which focuses on the history of Black barbershops and beauty parlors, and be sure to check their website for upcoming exhibits rolling out this month.
On Feb. 27, Suffolk County holds a Black History Month Celebration from 6-8 p.m. in the H. Lee Dennison Building (100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge). The event is sponsored by Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, the Suffolk County African American Advisory Board, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Community Engagement. For more information, click here.
