February is Black History Month, and Black history is Lawrence's history. In honor of this important commemorative holiday, we've compiled a list of just a few of the ways you can celebrate Black History Month here in Douglas County. Read on below for recommendations of historic sites to visit, events to attend, museum exhibits to view, and more.
Historic Sites to Visit
Grover Barn
The Grover Barn at 2819 Stone Barn Terrace is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. It played a significant role in the Underground Railroad in pre-Civil War era Kansas. Today, this well-preserved historic site hosts three informational kiosks at the barn that tell of its Underground Railroad history, the Grover Family, and the history of the barn after the Grovers. If you can't visit in person, learn more about the history here.
Saint Luke AME Church & Langston Hughes
The Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church at 900 New York St was built in 1910 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been an important part of Black history here in Lawrence since it was founded. Langston Hughes, one of the most notable writers of the twentieth century, attended the church when he lived in Lawrence during his youth. Hughes wrote about his experiences at the church and growing up in a racially segregated Lawrence in his autobiography The Big Sea, released in 1940, as well as in Not Without Laughter, his 1930 novel portraying life in Kansas for African Americans in 1910.
Learn more about Langston Hughes at the Historical Marker "Not Without Lawrence" located on the Burroughs Creek Trail between 11th and 13th streets. If you are interested in attending a service at Saint Luke AME, please visit their website.
Events to Attend
Whether you're looking to honor Black History Month by learning some history, uplifting Black voices, celebrating Black joy, or all of the above, here are some events happening in February to put on your calendar.
Note: Want to add an event to the eXplore Lawrence leisure events calendar? Submit them for consideration here.
BLACK Lawrence Open Mic Night
10th and Mass Studios - February 7
The Black Literature & Arts Collective of Kansas (BLACK Lawrence) hosts monthly open mic nights at the Lawrence Arts Center's 10th and Mass Studios. These events take place on the first Friday of every month, and February's event falls on Friday, February 7 at 7 PM. All skill levels and artistic mediums are welcome! Be sure to follow BLACK Lawrence on Facebook for updates.
Bob Marley Birthday Bash
Lucia - February 7
If you're looking for some dancing, great music, and good eats, look no further than the Bob Marley Birthday Bash at Lucia on Friday, February 7, starting at 8 PM. Kansas City Reggae's Bob Marley tribute show will feature Ras Neville & The Kingstonians (pictured above), Soul Rebel and The Beast, and DJ Top Ranx, plus there will be Jerk Chicken from Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant.
KU Basketball Black History Month Games
Allen Fieldhouse | February 11 & 15
The Kansas Jayhawks create unique uniforms each February to wear in honor of Black History Month. This year, the uniforms were inspired by the significant role of the Underground Railroad in Lawrence and the history of quilting in Black American culture. View the video above for a preview of these special uniforms! They will be worn at the KU Men's Basketball game vs. Colorado on February 11, and at the KU Women's Basketball game vs. Iowa State on February 15th.
Kevin Wilmott Film Festival
Liberty Hall | February 18-21
This February, KU's Film and Media Studies department is putting on a 4-day film festival celebrating KU Professor Kevin Wilmott's career in filmmaking. One of his films will be screened each night at Liberty Hall in Downtown Lawrence, starting on February 18. The four films being screened are Destination Planet Negro, The Only Good Indian, Jayhawkers, and C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America. To see the full schedule and buy tickets, click here.
KU Commons Presents the Kenneth Spencer Lecture: An Evening with Brea Baker
Liberty Hall | February 20
KU Commons is excited to host An Evening with Brea Baker at Liberty Hall on February 20th. Brea Baker is the author of "Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership" (2024). She believes deeply in nuanced storytelling and Black culture to drive change, and she has commented on race, gender, and sexuality for Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29, Them, and more.
Coach Marian Washington Book Talk with Lynette Woodard
Lawrence Arts Center | February 24
Former KU Women's Basketball Coach Marian Washington's new book, FIERCE: My Fight For Nothing Less, chronicles her compelling life story from her humble roots in Pennsylvania to becoming the first female African American head coach at a predominantly White institution at the Division I level when the University of Kansas hired her in 1973. Join Coach Washington in conversation with KU basketball great Lynette Woodard at 6:30 PM on February 24 at the Lawrence Arts Center, with a book signing to follow the talk. The Raven Book Store will be onsite selling copies.
Museums & Education
From the Gary Davis Photo Collection
Watkins Museum of History
The Watkins Museum of History located at 1047 Massachusetts Street is dedicated to providing interesting and interactive exhibits that explore the heritage of Douglas County. The second floor of the museum features Territorial period and Civil War era artifacts. The exhibits continue with a look at the struggle of equality in the century between the end of Reconstruction and the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
In addition to visiting the museum, we highly recommend checking out their online exhibit, Embodying Connections: A New Look at the Gary Davis Photo Collection. The Gary Davis collection features photos of his ancestors and families that were part of the Black North Lawrence Community in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The Watkins is also hosting a Homeschool History class for kids ages 5-10 on February 27th called Counter Storytelling for Black History Month.
Sophie-Ntombikayise by Mary Sibande, part of the upcoming Bold Women exhibit
Spencer Museum of Art
KU's Spencer Museum of Art is home to a large collection of African and Black American artwork, much of which can be found on display throughout their four long-term exhibitions entitled Displacement, Empowerment, Intersections, and Illumination. The Spencer Museum is also opening a new exhibit on February 18th, Bold Women, which "presents the visionary—and still too often unsung—work of women artists. The show emphasizes the essential contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds, especially women of color, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists of intersecting identities."
Raven Book Store
Support Black authors and your local independent bookstore with a trip to the Raven! For the month of February, you'll find works of all genres by Black authors on display in the front window and throughout the store.
More Online Learning
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