Chicago is the place to be to celebrate February as Black History Month, or as some people call it, African American Heritage Month. Not only does just about every college, museum, library and cultural center in the area observe the month with special events, but Black History Month also can trace its roots to the city, according to Du Sable Museum Education Director Charles Branham.
Originally called Negro History Week by its founder, black educator-historian Carter Godwin Woodson, the celebration had its name and length changed to Black History Month in the mid-1970s by the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. ASAALH was started by Woodson in Chicago in 1915 as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson had wanted a black identity week that was celebrated in schools; and in 1926 the second week of February was designated Negro History Week, as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
“That Association was founded in Chicago at the Wabash Avenue YMCA. It was not by accident that it was convened here,” Branham says. “Chicago was the No. 1 convention spot in the country, and people who showed great interest in having such an association lived in Chicago.”
Branham points out that having a designated period of recognition and a studies association were among Woodson’s primary goals. “If you read Woodson, he makes it very clear that the preservation of history is vital to the survival of a race,” Branham says.
In the feast of African-American activities coming up, several programs draw on historic and societal themes. Others pay tribute to accomplishments and creativity. Offerings range from lectures, films and exhibitions to music, dance and theater performances.
Among the diverse approaches to social commentaryare “The Calling and the Courage: A History of African American Education” at The Du Sable Museum of African American History, from Jan. 15 through March 25, and a unique, multi-racial handling of Eugene O’Neill’s drama, “Desire Under the Elms” to be staged at the Court Theatre by award-winning Philadelphia Freedom Theatre director Walter Dallas from Jan. 21 through Feb. 20. The production transplants O’Neill’s theme of family strife and tragedy in mid-19th Century white New England to a Depression-era, multi-racial Southern community.
“The Calling and the Courage” exhibit, originally mounted in Detroit by ExhibitWorks in conjunction with Wayne State University’s Damon Keith Law Collection and several Michigan corporations, chronicles social, economic and legal challenges to black education from colonial times to the 1954 Supreme Court decision on Brown vs. Board of Education.
Branham hopes “The Calling and the Courage” will broaden the public’s view of black education development and concerns. “We would not like to have our visitors come away from the exhibit thinking that significant black education begins and ends with Brown vs. Board of Education. In fact, the exhibit demonstrates that this is a struggle involving blacks seeking to create institutions for themselves. Up to the Civil War, most education for Afro-Americans was by Afro-Americans. And after the Civil War in the South, black communities came together to pool their resources to build their schools,” he says.
Programs that feature African American culture, contribution and talent are just as broad in scope.
February’s weekday noon events at Under the Picasso (and in the lobby of the Richard J. Daley Civic Center) celebrate Black History Month with everything from a tribute to Duke Ellington and Count Basie by the acclaimed University of Illinois at Chicago Jazz Ensemble, on Feb. 18, to a military program on Feb. 24 that salutes African Americans who defended the United States.
The Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Black Creativity celebration is featuring the exhibit, “Defying Tradition: African American Women in Science and Technology.” Among the 45 women dealt with in the exhibit are such high achievers as astronaut Mae C. Jemison and information systems entrepreneur Sheila G. Talton, CEO of Unisource. The exhibit runs Jan. 15 through March 5.
Celebrations don’t stop at the city’s boundaries. Most universities, community colleges and historical museums in the area are hosting special events.
A program on Feb. 6 at the Lake County Museum near Wauconda, includes Chicago blues, B.B. King’s daughter, Shirley King’s group, fashions by African American designers and the North Chicago Community Choir singing gospels and spirituals.
Daley Civic Center Events and Exhibitions Director Rose Farina, a 23-year veteran of ethnic programming, is a big fan of such heritage-boosting events.
“People from all over our planet have contributed to our national development,” Farina says. “I specifically look for programs, dates and events that are significant to each ethnic community. I have always felt that by bringing it out into the community you not only preserve the heritage but you also share it and generate interest in it.”
The following are just some of the places in and around Chicago to share, participate and enjoy our country’s African American heritage.
Art Institute of Chicago, The Center for Arts in Education, 200 W. Jackson Blvd., 312-922-0440): “To Conserve A Legacy: American Art from Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” an exhibit coming to the Art Institute of Chicago on Feb. 26, makes an interesting culmination to a month rich in black cultural activities. The show, the first national touring exhibition of HBCU treasures, features 100 years of American art from collections at Clark Atlanta, Fisk, Hampton, Howard, North Carolina Central and Tuskegee Universities. A free concert by the Fisk Jubilee Singers opens the exhibit at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the museum’s Rubloff Auditorium. The show is in The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Building’s Regenstein Hall through April 30. The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago is open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and holidays, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Suggested admission is adults $8, children over 6, students and seniors $5, free on Tuesday. 312-443-3600.
The Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., 312-527-1000: Black History Month is celebrated with special crafts, exhibits and stories. Events include Eyewitness to History, an opportunity for children age 7 and up to report on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Museum’s Infotech TV News Studio at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays in February, African-American Inventors at 3 p.m. on Sundays in February (also 1 p.m. Feb. 21) and David Philpot’s Walking Sticks & Current Projects, noon-3 p.m. Feb. 12. Special programs for children age 2 1/2 to 5 included Children’s Theater Fantasy Orchard presentations of Anansi Stories, Wednesdays in February at 10:30 and 11 a.m. and braiding with African American specialist Hiddekel Burks, Wednesdays in February, 1-3 p.m. In addition, The Kraft Artabounds Studio for children age 4 and up will use Jacob Lawrence’s Migration series for children to make a print that documents an important event in their lives, Feb. 15-March 1. Workshops are at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. weekdays and at 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. weekends. Free tickets are available an hour before most workshops. Free Family Night Thursdays events include David Philpot, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, the Kuumba Lynx Performance Company, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and reggae music, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, Thursdays until 8 p.m. Admission is $6.50 per person for anyone over age 1. Free on Thursdays from 5-8 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 312-FINEART (346-3278) or 312-744-6630: Performances, films, festivals and markets touch on Africa’s regional traditions and African American culture in two programs. A World in a Weekend, a monthly cultural tie-in to one of Chicago’s 22 sister and friendship cities, features Accra, Ghana from Feb. 3-6. Events include folk tales, music, dance and cooking demonstrations. The Center’s primary salute to African American heritage is “Tracings: Out from the Africas,” an all-senses celebration that begins on Feb. 8 with a North African Marketplace from 5 to 8 p.m. in the G.A.R. Rotunda and a North Africa Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. in the G.A.R. Hall. “Tracings” showcases Central Africa with a festival on Feb. 9, Southern Africa on Feb. 15 and East Africa on Feb. 22, all are from 6 to 8 p.m. in the G.A.R. Hall. West African culture is celebrated on Feb. 23 with a marketplace from 5 to 8 p.m. in the G.A.R. Rotunda and The Bantabaa, a welcoming drum and dance ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. in the G.A.R. Hall. In addition, the Center is presenting The Africas Film Series, a look at African regional life, issues and customs with three films. Director Bassak ba Kobhio’s “Sango Malo,” a film on clashes between progressive and traditional ideologies airs Feb. 7, Directors Alvaro Toepke and Angel Serrano’s “The Language You Cry In,” a detective-style story of reunion between slave descendants and African relatives, will be shown Feb. 14 and director Mweze Ngangura’s award-winning folk tale “Pieces d’Identites, is Feb. 28. Show times are 5:30 p.m. in the Claudia Cassidy Theater. A Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert will honor the late tenor Roland Hayes at 12:15 p.m., Feb. 2 in Preston Bradley Hall. Events are free.
Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street at North Avenue, 312-642-5035: “Interview and Performance: Gospel Greats” at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 6, moderated by WLS-TV reporter Harry Porterfield, will feature gospel legend Eugene Smith and explores the history and new trends of gospel music. The program ties in with CHS’ gospel exhibit, “That’s Good News! Chicago and the Birth of Gospel Music.” “Images of Africa” featuring the KOPANO Performing Arts Company, celebrates West African culture with dancing, drumming and proverbs at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17. “Voices from History,” an ongoing series that has actors portraying significant historical figures weekdays at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. features Abraham Lincoln on Mondays, former slave and Union spy Mary Elizabeth Bowser on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Frederick Douglass on Fridays. Cleotis Barnwell, an African American Pullman porter, is featured on Saturdays at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., Saturdays and the Lincoln-Douglas debates are acted out at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Chicago Public Library: Numerous events will be presented at the Harold Washington Library Center in downtown Chicago, the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library and at several branches in February on the theme “African Americans in the New Millennium: Reclaiming the Past, Building the Future.” A sampling of programs at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., includes a Magical Fairytales on the Go costumed and music presentation of “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters,” at 2 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Children’s Program Room, Thomas Hughes Children’s Library, “Videotapes and Oral Testimonials of the Tuskegee Airmen,” at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Multipurpose Room, “Images of Africa,” an Urban Gateways dance and drumming celebration of African culture, at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 23 in the Auditorium and “African American Stories and Puppetry” at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Children’s Program Room. The Harold Washington Archives Film Series will be airing several topical movies in the Video Theater including “Frederick Douglass: When the Lion Wrote History,” at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 2, and “W.E.B. DuBois of Great Barrington,” at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 23. Program highlights at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St., 312-747-6921, include a celebration with radio talk-host Cliff Kelley at 6 p.m. Feb. 3, Children’s Story Hour Arts and Crafts, at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 5, 12, and 19, African American Folktales, at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9 and 26, and “Honoring Our Leaders: Promoting Our Youth,” at 1 p.m. Feb. 12. The Conrad Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave., 312-744-7616, will present African Folktales, at 11 a.m. Feb. 19, Read-N-Rap, a teen discussion of “Toning the Sweep” by Angela Johnson, at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23, and “Happy Birthday, Peter,” a storytelling and crafts program based on Ezra Jack Keats’ picture book character Peter. Also, storyteller Dorothy “Sunshine” Lyles will present “Journey Through African American Folktales” at the following branches and times: 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7, McKinley Park Branch, 1915 W. 35th St., 312-747-6082; 1 p.m. Feb. 7, Southeast Branch, 1934 E. 79th St., 312-747-7177; 10:30 a.m. Feb. 8, Thurgood Marshall Branch, 7506 S. Racine Ave., 312-747-5927; 1 p.m. Feb. 8, Douglass Branch, 3353 W. 13th St., 312-747-3725; 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9, Roden Branch, 6083 Northwest Hwy., 312-744-1478; 1 p.m. Feb. 9, Legler Branch, 115 S. Pulaski Rd., 312-746-7730; 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10, Woodson regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St., 312-747-6921; and 1 p.m. Feb. 10, Archer Branch, 4148 S. Archer Ave., 312-747-9241. The Patricia Liddell Researchers will do African American Genealogy Workshop at these branches and times: noon Feb. 5, Austin Branch, 5615 W. Race Ave., 312-746-5038; 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8, Wrightwood-Asburn Branch, 8530 S. Kedzie Ave., 312-747-2696; 3:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Vodak/Eastside Branch, 10542 S. Ewing Ave., 312-747-5500; 10 a.m. Feb. 12, Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave., 312-744-7616; 6 p.m. Feb. 15, Blackstone Branch, 4904 S. Lake Park Ave., 312-747-0511; 7 p.m. Feb. 16, Scottsdale Branch, 4101 W. 79th St., 312-747-0193; 10 a.m. Feb. 17, Avalon Branch, 8828 S. Stony Island Ave., 312-747-5234; 10:30 a.m. Feb. 19, Bezazian Branch, 1226 W. Ainslie St., 312-744-0019; 1 p.m. Feb. 19, Beverly Branch, 2121 W. 95th St., 312-747-9673; and 11 a.m. Feb. 26, Chicago Lawn Branch, 6120 S. Kedzie Ave., 312-747-0639. For more information call your local branch or the Harold Washington Library at 312-747-4077.
College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, 847-543-2300: The month will be observed with three programs. “When I Was In Africa,” a portrayal of four characters from the 18th Century to present-day America by Sharon Willis, at 10 a.m. Feb. 9 in the Studio Theatre on the Grayslake campus, free but tickets required. The 16th Annual Salute to Gospel by the Kurt Carr Singers, 8 p.m. Feb. 12, at North Chicago High School, 1717 17th St., North Chicago; tickets are $10 public, $8 CLC students, staff, alumni, seniors 65 and up and children under 12. “An Evening With Susan Taylor,” editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, at 8 p.m. Feb. 18, Mainstage Theatre, Grayslake campus. Admission is $25 public, $20 CLC students, staff, alumni and seniors 65 and up.
Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave., 773-753-4472: Playwright Eugene O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms” is reset in 1930s Georgia by famed Philadelphia director Walter Dallas, Jan. 21-Feb. 20. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. $22-$26. Group rates and student discounts available.
Du Sable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl.,773-947-0600: “The Calling and the Courage: A History of African American Education,” which details influential periods and events from colonial times to Brown vs Board of Education, and a companion exhibit, “African-American Education in Chicago,” are at the museum from Jan. 14-March 25. Other special events in February include “The Black Visual Arts Conference,” an exploration of African-American graphic and visual contributions, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 5; “That’s Black Entertainment,” historic movie footage of black-made films hosted by Emmy Award winning producer/director William Greaves, 2 p.m., Feb. 5; and “Lean on Me,” director John Avildsen’s film about hard-nosed New Jersey principal Joe Clark that stars Morgan Freeman, 2 p.m. Feb. 26. Both films are $3 (filmgoers can see the museum at no additional cost). .
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-665-7400: The museum has planned a special African Heritage Festival for early February. Events include storytelling in Rice Hall at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 and 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 and 8; conversation with Chief Khalilu, an African chief, in the Africa Exhibit at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 5 and 6; an opening ceremony by the Council of Elders in Stanley Field Hall at noon Feb. 5, dancing; drumming and stilt walking by the SPIRITS in Stanley Field Hall at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 5 and noon Feb. 6; a reading and slide presentation by award-winning poet Michael Warr in the Marae Gallery at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5; a folklore-music production by the Kuntu Drama Players in Stanley Field Hall at 2 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 and noon Feb. 7 and 8; and an African Food Demo in Stanley Field Hall at 1 and 3 p.m. Feb. 6. A special companion exhibit, “From Eritrea with Love,” starts Feb. 5 and continues through July 2. The Museum is also hosting two special events: “An Evening with Wole Soyinka,” the Nobel Prize-winning author, is at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3; cost is $20 for non members, $18 students and educators, $15 members. “Talking Roots: A Poetry Happening at The Field,” is at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, cost is $7 non-members, $5 members. Cinema Academy will present black history-themed productions for school groups and other children Feb. 15-March 1: “Sweet Chariot” combines spirituals with oral histories of former slaves at 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 15, $5.50; “My People,” a Kuntu Drama Players production, has songs and stories for children in grades K-4 at 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 16 and for children grade 5 and up at 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 29, $4.50; “Road to Freedom,” a biographical presentation on Harriet Tubmand and her underground railroad experiences, is at 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 18 and 23, $4.50; “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” Robert Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is presented to children grades 5 and up, 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 17, $4.50; and “Anansi the Spider,” an African folklore creature, entertains children grades preschool-5 with songs, stories and poems 10 a.m. and noon March 1, $4.50. For more information and seating availability call 847-564-9060. Festival events are free with museum admission of $7 adults, $4 children ages 3-11, seniors and students with an ID, 312-922-9410.
Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest, 708-747-0580: The Joel Hall Dancers pay tribute to 200 years of African American song and dance with “The Crossing,” 8 p.m. Feb. 12. Tickets are $18.
Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts, University Parkway (Stuenkel Road) and Governors Highway, University Park, 708-235-2222: The Lula Washington Dance Theatre interprets African American history, inner-city culture and women’s issues in a program at 8 p.m. Jan. 28. Tickets are $28.
Harold Washington College, 30 E. Lake St., 312-553-5600: Celebration begins with African American History Kick-Off Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and ends with a closing ceremony on Feb. 29. A sample of the many events in-between include an exhibit of winners of the Harold Washington College African American Heritage Art Contest in Room 101 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and an Oratorical Festival from noon to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in Room 104. Free, .
Lake County Museum, 27277 Forest Preserve Drive (south side of Illinois Highway 176, just west of Fairfield Road, in the Lakewood Forest Preserve), Wauconda, 847-526-7878: African American achievements in entertainment and fashion are honored in Profiles in Excellence, a program featuring the Chicago Blues group of Shirley King, daughter of blues legend B.B. King; the clothes of Fubu and other African American designers and the gospel singing of the North Chicago community Choir, 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 6.
Lake Forest College, 555, N. Sheridan Rd., Lake Forest, 847-735-5105: Gospel Extravaganza featuring Minister Reggie McCracken and the True Voices of Christ at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel at College and Sheridan Roads on the Middle Campus. Free.
Loyola University, 6333 N. Winthrop Ave., 773-508-3674: : Aeronautical engineer Bernard Loyd will be the featured speaker at Blacks in Science, Loyola University’s annual Black History Month talk, at 3 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Simpson Center’s Multipurpose Room. Call for reservations. Free.
Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St., 312-850-7000: Highlights include a Malcolm X Memorial Program, at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and a culminating ceremony of drumming and international dishes at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 29, both in the cafeteria foyer. “Dance at the Palace,” a theatrical production, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 and at 10 a.m. Feb. 17 and 19 in Hayden Auditorium,. Salute to Black Cinema takes place in the cafeteria foyer, each day at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10. Salute to Gospel Music goes on each day from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21 through Feb. 26, in Hayden Auditorium.
Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive,773-684-1414.: Themuseum turns its annual Black Creativity spotlight on women’s achievements this year with the exhibition, “Defying Tradition: African American Women in Science and Technology,” now through March 5. MSI also celebrates African American contributions to the arts with performances, art shows, workshops, educational activities and symposia. Highlights include The African Village Folktales, talking jungle animal dramatizations of African stories by Hot Silk Productions at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 8 and 22; Ensemble Stop-Time, a Center for Black Music Research project on Chicago’s role in jazz at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7; The Manding Empire Revealed, the music, stories and dances of West Africa interpreted by Ayodele at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 11 and 18; Pieces of a Dream, a Passport Programs presentation of vignettes, monologues and poetry at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 1; and Weekend Wizards, a Chocolate Chips Theatre Company show at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 29. Performance reservations required.
Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton, 312-255-3520 or 312-943-9090: Author Diane M. Spivey explains how her book, “The Peppers, Cracklings and Knots of Wool Cookbook: The Global Migration of African Cuisine” traces food preparations from Africa to India, the Caribbean and the United States at 11 a.m. Feb. 19. . Free.
Oakton Community College, various locations, 847-635-1600: “Shanta, Stories and Songs of African People” will be performed from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Des Plaines Campus Cafeteria, 1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, and from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the RH Campus Cafeteria, 7701 N. Lincoln, Skokie; free. Samana Jazz and World Music is at the Des Plaines Campus Cafeteria from 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15; free. Oba William King presents stories and poetry in “Breaking Chains” from 1-2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Des Plaines Campus, Room 1608-10; tickets are $2 for children under 12, $3 Oakton students, $4 adults. Call 847-635-1900. The African American Drama Company brings to life nine great black leaders in “Brother Can I Speak for You?” from noon-2 p.m. Feb. 23 at the RH Campus Cafeteria, and from noon-2 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Des Plaines Campus Cafeteria; free. Drummer Silas King will do a workshop from noon-2 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Des Plaines Campus Cafeteria, Feb. 29; free. 708-635-1600.
Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.: The Drummers of West Africa, Doudou N’Diaye Rose’s renowned family percussion orchestra, will do a special concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 7. Tickets are $15-$30. For tickets call 312-294-3000.
Under the Picasso, 50 W. Washington (and in the lobby of the Richard J. Daley Civic Center), 312-744-8948: Black History Month Program Series every weekday at noon. The Series begins with the Royale Steppers of Grand Crossing Park, an African American senior citizen line-dance group at noon Feb. 1.
University of Illinois at Chicago, 601 S. Morgan St.: The legacy of Carter Woodson is honored with “Echoes of the New Millennium,” a month of films, concerts, workshops exhibits and festivals. Events are free unless otherwise designated. “Echoes” opens on Feb. 1 with a reception at 4:30 p.m. in the Fort Dearborn Rooms A and B and the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir at 5:30 p.m. in Illinois Rooms A and B, both are at Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St. Among the month’s highlights are A Taste of Afrika, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 16 in Chicago Circle Center’s Montgomery Ward Lounge and the Hip Hop Music Panel Discussion, 7 p.m., Feb. 18 in Chicago Circle Center’s Montgomery Ward Lounge. The festival features African cuisine and jewelry and performances by The Muntu Dance Theatre. Events also include the films in the Coffee House Series, 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Chicago Illini Union’s Recovery room, 828 S. Wolcott Ave., which screens “Midnight Ramble,” a behind the-scenes look at America’s great jazz musicians, on Feb. 1 and “The Wild, Wild West”, a story of a black man who seeks the men responsible for the death of his parents and other families at the end of the Civil War, on Feb. 9. Concerts include the Dorothy Roeberson Gospel, noon Feb. 2 in the Chicago Illini Union’s Chicago Room; Cultural Messengers’ Brotha A to Sistah Z, a musical journey through the African diaspora that is designed for children of all ages, 11 a.m. Feb. 10 at Chicago Circle Center’s Illinois Room; the True Praise Chorale Gospel Concert, 7 p.m. Feb. 23, also in the Illinois Room, admission $2 UIC students, $5 public and the 10th Annual Blues Cabaret, which features Koko Taylor and UIC alum Billy Branch. Admission $10 UIC students and faculty and $15 public covers concert and a soul food buffet. UIC hosts three special exhibits in February: Don McQuay’s One Person Exhibit of Comic Book Animation in Chicago Circle Center’s A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, reception is 4-7 p.m. Feb. 2, gallery hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; Bronzeville artists’ Little Black Pearl Workshop in Chicago Illini Union’s Art Lounge, reception is 4-7 p.m. Feb. 3, gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday -Friday, and Dale Washington’s Power of Creation in the African American Cultural Center, room 207 of Addams Hall, 830 S. Halsted St., lecture and reception is noon Feb. 4, gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 312-413-5070.
