Parades, celebrations, and exciting exhibitions dominate the stellar line-up of events for Black History Month in Atlanta
Atlanta’s getting ready for another stand-out Black History Month. There are several events happening across the metro area, so we thought we’d help you out and break down BHM in the ATL. Here are some recommendations for Black History Month this February.
1-3. Check out our historic landmarks honoring Black history
Atlanta is an epicenter for the Civil Rights Movement which is inspiringly evident, even after a short walk around our city center. Check out a couple of recommendations, or check out our self-guided tour of Atlanta’s rich Black history.
- Martin Luther King, Jr National Park – Several points of interest at this historical park, including The King Center, and the house where our hometown civil rights hero was born
- Auburn Avenue – If you visit the MLK National Park, stop by the heart of black enterprise and the civil rights movement, featuring Ebenezer Baptist Church & Atlanta Daily World, the first black daily newspaper ever published.
- Morehouse College – Morehouse is the only all-male Black college in the United States, founded back in 1867.
3. Visit the APEX Museum
For a deeper understanding of Black history, make sure to visit the APEX Museum this February. Located in the historic Auburn Avenue area of Atlanta, this museum connects the world with various pieces of African American history. There are so many inspiring stories to discover at this insightful addition to Atlanta’s extensive list of museums. Click here for more information on this Downtown gem.
4-6. These enchanting Candlelight concerts
The Candlelight concert series are honoring Black History Month with a beautifully curated selection of intimate concerts, that’ll pay tribute to the influential sounds of African American music. Honoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, check out the full line-up of Candlelight Concerts to check out this Black History Month:
- Candlelight: Celebrating Black America – Jazz, Soul, and Blues
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More
- Candlelight: Legends of R&B feat. Songs by D’Angelo, Jill Scott, & More
7. Head to Sweet Auburn to kick off the month with some powerful public art
One of the best ways to kick off Black History Month is by heading to Sweet Auburn and check out this touching public art and culture program honoring the 1906 Race Massacre by highlighting Black resilience, taking over the neighborhood from February 3-5. Since it’s such a limited time, don’t miss out y’all!
8. Visit the National Center for Civil & Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum dedicated to the achievements of the civil rights movement. They always host incredible programming over Black History Month. Explore exhibitions dedicated to Atlanta’s influential role in the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond.
9. Learn more about the greatest from the genre at Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum
Learn about the art behind the music at the Trap Music Museum. Created by superstar rapper T.I., this immersive museum became the first hip-hop museum ever to celebrate the reality of southern-based trap music. It pays homage to other rap legends like 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj and more!
10. Roswell Roots
This arts & culture festival is taking over Roswell for Black History Month. Roswell Roots will be hosting art exhibitions, poetry slams, seminars, and more. Click here to find out everything you need to know about the festival.
11-14. Eat out at several of Atlanta’s beloved Black-owned restaurants
Black History Month is a great time to support Black-owned businesses in Atlanta. Check out our round-up of incredible Black-owned restaurants in the ATL, or a few recommendations below.
- Atlanta Breakfast Club – Enjoy the most important meal of the day at this ATL hotspot
- Busy Bee Café – Authentic southern cuisine on M.L.K. Jr Drive
- Slutty Vegan – Beloved vegan burger joint with several locations
- Anna’s BBQ – Delicious BBQ spot, reopening their dine-in service for Black History Month in Kirkwood
15-18. Support Atlanta’s Black-owned businesses
While we’re on the topic of Black-owned businesses, you can do so much more than eat out to support some incredible concepts and businesses across the A. From stores that focus on finding the best Black-owned products to spas, grocery markets, and probably anything you can think of. It’s always good to check to see if there’s a Black-owned alternative to any of your daily habits/needs, both this month and beyond! Click here for a full round-up, or see below for some recommendations.
- The Wellness Spot, College Park
- Nourish + Bloom, Trilith
- The Sistah Shop, Atlantic Station
- The New Black Wall Street Market, Stonecrest
19-22. Delve into these fascinating exhibits over Black History Month
There’s always an awesome mix of art exhibitions taking over our adored galleries scattered across the ATL. Here’s what we recommend checking out this month:
- Deana Lawson, High Museum of Art (until February 19)
- Inspired, Roswell City Hall
- New Worlds, The Atlanta Contemporary
- Hip-Hop Architecture, MODA
23-24. Check out the touching ATL tributes to John Lewis
There are several tributes to the late congressman John Lewis nestled around Atlanta, honoring his inspiring influence in the Civil Rights Movement, and his actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. Make sure you check these out over Black History Month.
- The Flowering Forest in Freedom Park – Thousands of flowers and three hundred trees will bloom for the first time this year. This stunning floral tribute will bloom every year on John Lewis’ birthday
- John Lewis Mural – Pictured above, located at 219 Auburn Ave