Many local organizations will stage public events, most of them free, to mark Black History Month. Here is a sampling of local events. Check with schools, libraries and other organizations for more.
Wednesday
6:30 p.m.: Executive producer Kenard Gibbs of TV’s “Soul Train” will discuss the show, followed by a 7 p.m. screening of a movie about it. The free event will take place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Foster Theater. You must reserve a seat at 216-515-8426 or edu@rockhall.org. For details about this and other Black History events, see rockhall.com/calendar.
Friday, Feb. 5
6 p.m.: A “Words of Wisdom” slam contest will take place in Room 137, Main Classroom Building, Euclid Avenue and East 22nd Street, Cleveland State University. For more black history events, see csuohio.edu.
Saturday, Feb. 6
3 p.m.: You can recite your favorite passage by an African-American author, or just listen to others recite, at Borders, Severance Town Center, 3466 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights.
Sunday, Feb. 7
3:30 p.m.: The Rev. Valentino Lassiter and Edna Duffy will discuss the current impact of spirituals at Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble, 20104 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights.
Monday, Feb. 8
6:30 p.m.: John A. Jackson, who wrote “A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul,” will join a reception, then give a talk at 7 p.m. at Case Western Reserve University’s Clark Hall, Room 309, 11130 Bellflower Road, Cleveland.
Wednesday, Feb. 10
7 p.m.: Performers from Karamu House will recite Langston Hughes poems at Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood. Tickets cost $12 for Maltz members and $15 for others.
7 p.m.: The documentary “February 1,” about a 1960 sit-in in Greensboro, N.C., will be screened at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Warrensville Heights branch, 22035 Clarkwood Parkway. Check here for other events at county library branches.
Friday, Feb. 12
12:30 p.m.: A portrayal of Eliza Bryant, local pioneer of housing for the elderly, will take place during a free luncheon at Case Western Reserve University’s Spartan Room, Thwing Center, 11111 Euclid Ave., sponsored by the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women. Please reserve seats by Feb. 5 at sjo14@case.edu or call 216-368-0985.
Tuesday, Feb. 23
Noon: Diane Phillips-Leatherberry, civil rights activist, and Daniel Clancy, head of Case Western Reserve University alumni relations, will discuss the Selma voting march of 1965, which Phillips-Leatherberry joined and Clancy covered as an FBI agent. The talk will take place at Case Western’s law school, Room 157, 11075 East Blvd.
Sunday, Feb. 21
12:30 p.m.: The Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble and Singers will perform spirituals and blues at University Circle United Methodist Church (formerly Epworth-Euclid United), 1919 East 107th St., Cleveland
Saturday, Feb. 27
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: A free day of workshops in the spoken word for seventh- through 12th-graders will include a show for all ages at 3 p.m. by Chief Rocka Q-Nice. The events will take place at the Cleveland Main Library Louis Stokes Wing, 525 Superior Ave. For many other events at library branches this month, see here (pdf).
2 p.m.: The Ecumenical Disciples Choir and New Dimension Sacred Dance Ministry will perform at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Warrensville Heights branch, 22035 Clarkwood Parkway. Check here for other events at county library branches.
