Celebrating Black History Month is an enriching and rewarding experience; it couldn’t be easier if you know where to go and what to look for in the Rochester area.

Starting early, the Rochester Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) unveiled the ACT-SO, which is the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics on January 17th. They believe that Black/African Americans could excel at the highest levels in various fields when provided with the right support and are aiming to “recruit, stimulate, improve, and encourage high academic and cultural achievements among high school students” (postbulletin.com). Click on the Post Bulletin’s link if you would like to read more and would like to get involved.  

On February 5th at precisely 10:00a.m and running through the 9th, the city of Rochester along with Olmsted County will be putting on a Black History traveling exhibit. Starting with the new tour will be an exhibit by Mayo Spartan Andre Crockett and Nicole Asong Nfonoyim-Hara; they call it “Still We Rise: Rochester’s Black Legacy.” Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara the exhibit writer and curator says that “it’s using history as a platform to talk about our current issues in the community but also to celebrate.” The launch will be held at the “City Hall Rotunda, with a brief message from Mayor Kim Norton and our Chief Diversity Officer Chao Mwatela” (postbulletin.com).

An independent black cinema will occur at Pop’s Art Theater; throughout the month critically acclaimed independent films by black filmmakers will be shown to celebrate black history these films include “Watermelon Woman,” “Cane River,” “Black Girl,” and many more which can all be found at Pop’s Art Theater’s website.

Lastly, a Black Arts Mixer will be gathering to talk about their purpose of “building a community within the black artists of Rochester, and to foster discussion about the need for arts and culture in the city” (postbulletin.com). The gathering of black artists will take place at Forager Brewery and Cafe at 6 p.m. on February 26th.