It’s Black History month! Check out how our city celebrates Black American contributions to the city and country. There are lots of celebrations and learning opportunities so we put together this list for you to explore black history month in LA and to inspire you to learn even more.
You can visit bookstores, gardens, and museums displaying amazing African American artists finest work, and writings.
Celebrations also include theme park special events, murals, restaurants featuring delicious soul food, fun music, and so much more.
1 – Museums & Exhibits
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Visit one or more of our wonderful local museums where you will find cultural information, African American artifacts from the past, and amazing works of arts. Many of these museums also have bookstores, and even gardens.
One of our recommendations is The Underground Museum. This museum on Washington Blvd is displaying African American art, has a remarkable bookstore, and a stunning garden in the back for yoga, meditation, and movie screenings.
Our next recommendations is of course the California African American Museum. Probably one of the most well known LA museums dedicated to Black History with a focus on education and cultural heritage. You can visit CAAM at Exposition Park and it’s opened everyday except for Mondays with free admission for all visitors.
We also encourage you to stop by the Sofi stadium and check out The Kinsey American Art and History collection on display starting February 23, 2022. The exhibition focuses on the lives, accomplishments, and brilliance of African Americans.
Another must museum visit should be the LACMA for its Black American Portraits. Black American Portraits chronicles the ways in which Black Americans have used portraiture to envision themselves in their own eyes. So the art works show not only some painful history but also love, family, abundance and community.
Location: 600 State Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Pic Credit: @profrichards
2 – Soulfully at Disneyland
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The Happiest Place on Earth is also honoring black culture and heritage this month at its theme park. Bring your kids or friends that want to celebrate Soulfully at Disneyland. This big celebration includes food, music and art that is spread through out the park.
For music there will be performances at the Fantasyland theater stage on February 19th and 26th. The Disney Downtown District, which is free to enter, also brings artists featuring funk, reggae, and jazz.
The celebratory ambiance in Downtown Disney for Black History month will also include murals, restaurants featuring soul food like Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.
Also shops will be selling merchandise from some of the Disney classics featuring black characters like, Princess and the Frog and The Lion King.
Location: 1580 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
PIC Credit: @enchantedroseadventuring
3 – Black History Drive in Movie
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The city of Pasadena is inviting everyone to celebrate black history month with a drive in movie screening. Join this movie event on Saturday February 26th. Besides the movie there will be 100 individually wrapped free snacks for the first 100 cars.
This event is free and family friendly! So come on down to Pasadena at the Rose Bowl and enjoy the presentation. If you’re still concerned with being around lots of people (the situation constantly changing), this is a great choice because you can easily socially distance at a drive in movie.
This drive in movie event will be held at the Rose Bowl from 5 to 10 p.m. and Pre-registration is recommended on the City of Pasadena Website.
Location: 1001 Rose Bowl Drive. Pasadena, CA 91103
PIC Credit: @
4 – Black History Art Walk
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The city of Santa Monica is honoring Black History Month with a reception and a themed art walk. This year the theme event is Black Health and Wellness. The city and Building Bridges Art Exchange are hosting the reception at the Bergamot Station Arts Center on Saturday February 19th at 2:00 p.m.
Local schools are contributing their students art work, and there will also be exhibits featuring important black personalities in the field of health and wellness. This is a great way to honor our black citizens who have contributed to the health and wellness field.
After the reception all visitors are invited to take a self guided art walk of other Bergamot galleries that will be displaying Black History themed exhibits.
Tickets for this event are free, but you are required to make reservations. And you can do that here.
Location: 2525 Michigan Ave., Unit F2 Santa Monica, CA 90404
PIC Credit: @galerie_xii
5 – Support Black Business
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Another brilliant way to celebrate and honor Black History month in Los Angeles is to get out and support local Black owned business. Of course there are hundreds to choose from but here are just a few recommendations.
Malibu Farm Café. This is a black owned café that offers beautiful aesthetics, presentation and Ocean views at the end of the Malibu Pier. It is well loved by guests who enjoy the organic, delicious and fresh flavors on the menu. Helen who is originally from Sweden, is the owner and is a remarkable women who also owns several other restaurants. She is loved in LA for her delicious food, cooking classes and for the produce she grows in her own backyard.
Another awesome black owned spot in LA is Nimbus coffee downtown. This cool coffee spot has a magics, wizards and satiric Harry Potter atmosphere and it serves great coffee and treats.
More black owned spots to support this month?
- The classic Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles
- FlowerBoy Project
- Sip and Sonder
- Eso Won Books
- Café Ruisseau in Playa Vista.
- JackFruit Cafe
- Hilltop Coffe + Kitchen
- The Barbershop Club
- Union Los Angeles (clothing)
- Little Ethiopia (lots of great restaurants)
This is a very small list we have included here:
This is a great article with a longer list but encourage you to always research as new places open frequently.
Location: 1115 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
PIC Credit: @malibufarm
Do you agree with our list or did we miss an obvious one? Let us know by commenting below!