Celebrate Black History Month at these 5 events across the Valley

Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix, where the Can I Kick It? movie showing and marketplace will take place on Feb. 17. (Shutterstock Photo)

By Robert Gundran

February 5, 2024

February is one of the best months to get out of the house in Arizona. Temperatures are low and comfortable enough for walking around in the community.

It’s also one of the best months for community events, in part because it’s Black History Month. Several local organizations across the Valley are hosting Black History Month events. There are movie screenings, art exhibits, and plenty more to check out.

Here are five free events to check out during Black History Month 2024:

Black History Month Celebration

18160 N. Maya Angelou Drive, Maricopa
Instagram
When: Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28

The Maricopa Library and Cultural Center is celebrating Black History Month with four events in February that are intended to honor the past, embrace the present, and inspire a brighter future.

Each Wednesday in February represents a different theme, like wearing baseball jerseys and hats on Feb. 7, wearing purple in support of the Ruby Bridges Foundation on Feb. 14, honoring Tuskegee Airmen on Feb. 21, and making friendship bracelets on Feb. 28.

The events include a movie and crafts.

Grab tickets for this free event here.

Can I Kick It?

424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Instagram
When: Feb. 17

Can I Kick It? is a free movie showing and marketplace at Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix.

The event is family-friendly and starts at 3 p.m. when the Buy Black Marketplace and food trucks open. Over 20 vendors signed up for the marketplace.

There will be Black History Month and hip-hop trivia alongside other activities like a double Dutch contest and cosplay costume contest.

Organizers will show “Black Panther” with a live score of hip-hop, rock, funk, and soul music. The movie starts at 5 p.m.

Vision & Sound: An African American Experience

1900 N. Civic Square, Goodyear
Instagram
When: Until March 26

The Georgia T. Lord Library rotates art installations in and out of its public gallery.

One installation at the library now is “Vision & Sound: An African American Experience,” an educational experience that aims to broaden appreciation of African American art, music, film, and literature.

The exhibit is on display until March 26.

In addition to the art show, an accompanying concert will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Goodyear Civic Square Park.

I, Too, Sing America Film Festival

6910 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale
When: Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 25

The Scottsdale Baháʼí Faith Community Center is hosting a Black History Month film festival through February.

Admission to the film festival is free, and the center will show the films “The Color Purple” and “The Hate U Give,” the HBO documentary “Black Art: In the Absence of Light,” and four episodes of the PBS documentary “Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World”.

An audience discussion of the films and documentaries will accompany each showing.

Grab your tickets here.

Black History Month Activity Day

809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
Instagram
When: Feb. 10

The African American Committee of the Tempe History Museum is organizing an interactive kids’ day to celebrate Black History Month.

The free event is for the whole family and runs from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 10.

Subscribe to The Copper Courier’s daily newsletter! We keep it 💯—just like the temperature.

Author

Robert Gundran

Robert Gundran grew up in the Southwest, spending equal time in the Valley and Southern California throughout his life. He graduated from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 2018 and wrote for The Arizona Republic and The Orange County Register.

View all posts

CATEGORIES: COMMUNITY | LOCAL CULTURE

Support Our Cause

Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Arizonans and our future.

Since day one, our goal here at The Copper Courier has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Arizona families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.