Maplewood Black History Month
February 2023
The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how "African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings," since the nation's earliest days.
Calendar of Events
1978 Maplewood Arts Center
Art Exhibition - “A FAMILY AFFAIR”
Featuring Artist Timothy J. Simmons
Nette Forné Thomas, curator
Free Event
Opening Reception, Sunday, February 5th from 2PM to 5PM
Artist Talk February 18 from 2PM to 4PM
Music by Jan Carden & Eric Olsen
The exhibit can also be viewed at the gallery on Saturdays and Sundays February 4, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM
1978 Maplewood Arts Center
1978 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood NJ
The art of Timothy J. Simmons challenges the negative stereotypes of African Americans by providing unbiased “conventional” images of African American family life.
Read more about the artist here
Sponsored by Maplewood Arts & Culture
Maplewood Library Presents Kids Speak Out: Art & Poetry Display
Free Event
Displays will be up the entire month of February
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
Come to the Hilton Branch Library to see and celebrate the voices of SOMSD students as they speak out about identity and Black History through their original artwork and poetry.
Maplewood Village Alliance and Springfield Avenue Partnership Highlight Black Owned Businesses
This Black History Month, we are celebrating our Black-owned businesses and the contributions these Black entrepreneurs make to our vibrant and lively village.
Whether you frequent these businesses or this is your first introduction, we hope you will visit, shop, and celebrate them during Black History Month — and all year long!
'Black History is History' Virtual Exhibit by Simone Anthony Brown
Each day of Black History Month, Express Yourself Studios' Social Media will highlight the accomplishments of the amazing, creative, brilliant, brave, resilient and innovative Black history makers past, present and in the making. Black history is history!
Express Yourself Studios Instagram
Express Yourself Studios
1877 Springfield Avenue
Maplewood NJ
Maplewood Library Spotlight on African American authors, characters and illustrators
Free Events
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
Baby Lapsit Storytime at 10:30AM
Thursday, February 2, 9, & 16
For ages birth to 18 months with a participating adult
Stories by African American authors and illustrators will be featured in this lively storytime with songs and rhymes that foster a love of reading.
Toddler Storytime at 10:30AM
Monday, February 6, 13
For ages 1-3 with a participating adult
Early literacy fun with stories, movement and rhymes that celebrate African American authors and illustrators.
Pajama Storytime at 6:45PM
Tuesday, February 21
All ages welcome, stories for ages 3 to 7 – with a participating adult
This month we will spotlight African American authors, characters and illustrators.
Teens Read to Kids @4:30PM for the stories
Wednesday, February 15
Bring the kids to enjoy stories read by Maplewood Teens
Teens arrive at 4 pm to get ready to read
This month we’ll spotlight books by African American authors and illustrators.
Sponsored by Maplewood Library
Maplewood Library Presents Comic Club
Free Event
Ages 5 & up with a participating adult
Wednesday, February 1 at 4:00PM
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
We’ll be highlighting African American authors, characters, and illustrations in this fun creative writing program for kids. Get inspired to make your own graphic novel! Draw, write, and create your own stories or use our prompts.
Artwork by Gwen Verner
African American Genealogy: The Joy of Discovery, with Barbara Velazquez
Free Event
Sunday, February 5 at 2:00 PM
Durand-Hedden House & Garden
523 Ridgewood Rd, Maplewood, NJ
Join Barbara Velazquez as she shares her journey of ancestral discovery, including hacks she has learned, how she opened new doors through DNA connections, and the fun of contacting and meeting new family members.
Registration is required by Friday, February 3 at 2PM
Register Here
Durand-Hedden House & Garden
LEGO CLUB @ HILTON
Free Event
Ages 5 & up
Monday, February 6 at 6:30PM
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
Inspiration by African American architects to build your own creations.
Maplewood Township Committee Proclamation
Free Event
February 7 at 7:30PM
Virtual
Zoom Link
Words Bookstore Book Signing
February 7
Words Bookstore
179 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, NJ 07040
Words Bookstore will be offering signed copies of the brand-new release of THE HOUSE OF EVE by acclaimed former local author Sadeqa Johnson. Sadeqa will be coming to the store to sign stock on the release date (February 7th) of her new book.
For the entire month of February, Words Bookstore will be having a full window display celebrating BHM, with books available for purchase.
G(r)ay Matter Book Group: The Memory Librarian: and Other Stories of Dirty Computer
By Janelle Monae
Free Event
Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00PM
Virtual
The February title is The Memory Librarian: and Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
Monáe and collaborators write of the Afrofuturistic world of her critically acclaimed album, exploring how different threads of liberation -- queerness, race, gender plurality and love—become tangled with future possibilities of memory and time in such a totalitarian landscape ... and what the costs might be when trying to unravel and weave them into freedoms.
REGISTER HERE
Maplewood Department of Community Services Presents:
Wakanda Forever
Free Event & Food (Bro-Ritos Food Truck)
Friday, February 10 at 7:30PM
The Woodland Great Hall
60 Woodland Road
Maplewood, NJ
Sponsored by Maplewood Department of Community Services
Maplewood Library Presents BBCONTES: A Bilingual West African Folktale and Storytelling Workshop for Children
Free Event
Saturday, February 11, 2023
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
Stories, music, and dance in celebration of change and joy. Bilingual (French & English), fun activities, snacks, and prizes. Bring the whole family! All ages are welcome!
Presented by BBIA (BurkinaBe In Action) and Club des Litteraires
Express Yourself Studios BHM Art Lesson
Express Yourself Studios will host a special Black History Month lesson in art exploring the works of African-American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Faith Ringgold and Romare Bearden as part of its Studio Saturday and Family Art workshops February 11 and 18.
Express Yourself Studios
1877 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood NJ
Studio Saturday is open to children ages 6-12 and meets 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Family Art is ideal for families with children ages 5+ and meets 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Registration required. To register please call the studio 973-763-5256 or register online.
Workshop: In Search of Our Ancestors: How to Conduct Effective African American Genealogical Research with Genealogist Janice Gilyard
Free Event
Sunday, February 12 at 2:00PM
Dehart Center
120 Burnett Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey
Registration required and closes February 10 at 3:00PM
Register Here
Sponsored by Durand-Hedden House and SOMA Community Coalition on Race
SOMA Adult School and Words Bookstore Present
The Redpath Event: Salamishah Tillet: The Story of an American Masterpiece
Wednesday February 15 at 7PM
Columbia High School
17 Parker Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey
"The Story of An American Masterpiece" is a public lecture and conversation based on Pulitzer Prize-winning critic SALAMISHAH TILLET'S life-changing experiences reading and then returning again and again to Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple and its adaptations at crucial points in her life. Traversing cultural criticism, memoir and biography, Tillet's book, In Search of The Color Purple: The Story of An American Masterpiece follows her as she recovers from sexual assault by finding herself in Walker's most beloved characters, Celie, Shug and Sophia. In this healing journey, she comes across others, including actress Oprah Winfrey, activist Gloria Steinem, artist Mickalene Thomas and even Walker herself, who share their own stories of being inspired by Celie's voice and vision of justice as well.
Register Here
South Mountain YMCA Presents Jeopardy
Wednesday, February 15 at 11:30AM
YMCA Civic House
124 Dunnell Road, Maplewood NJ 07040
Maplewood Film Society Presents TILL: A Biographical Drama
Thursday, February 16 at 7PM
The Woodland
60 Woodland Road, Maplewood NJ 07040
Free Program
The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
Directed by Chinonye Chukwu
Discussion To Follow
Watch The Trailer Here
Sponsored by Maplewood Arts & Culture & Maplewood Village Alliance
Books Now and Then: Jazz
By Toni Morrison
Free Hybrid Event
Virtual or In person
Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 6:30PM
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
1688 Springfield Ave
Maplewood, NJ
The Black History Month title is Jazz by Toni Morrison. This profound story of love and obsession is assembled from the emotions, hopes, fears, and deep realities of Black urban life. It transforms a familiar refrain of jilted love into a bold, sustaining time of self-knowledge and discovery.
To attend via Zoom, REGISTER HERE.
Our Gang Travel Presents an Educational Workshop: Travel in Black and White
Saturday, February 18th, 2023 @ 2 pm
Astahs Fine Art Gallery
1897 Springfield Ave.
Maplewood, NJ
Please RSVP to 973-763-3616 or astahsart@aol.com
Our Gang Travel
Co-Sponsored by Astahs Fine Art Gallery
Trayvon Birthday and Memorial Gathering
Saturday, February 18, 5 p.m.
Meet at the De Hart Community Center, 120 Burnet Ave., Maplewood, NJ. We will walk from there down Burnet to Springfield, then down Springfield to Tuscan, and back down to De Hart.
Join us as we take a (short) walk for our annual remembrance for Trayvon Martin-- his life, his death, and what it tells us about fighting for a better America. There will be treats and goodies as we walk a path, learning his story.
This sunset event should be really lovely and will be great for kids
Maplewood Department of Community Services Presents:
Soul
Family Movie
Free Event & Food (Urban Cone Ice Cream)
Sunday, February 19 at 2:00PM
The Woodland Great Hall
60 Woodland Road
Maplewood, NJ
Sponsored by Maplewood Department of Community Services
SOMA Justice Presents: And Evening of Black LGBTQ+ Readings
A Black History Month Celebration of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Questioning Authors Shared in Community
RSVP here
Free Event
Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30PM
The Woodland Parlor
60 Woodland Road, Maplewood NJ, 07040
Read Around The World: Cameroon
Mount Pleasant by Patrice Nganang
Free Event
Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00PM
Virtual
A majestic tale of colonialism and transformation, Patrice Nganang's Mount Pleasant tells the astonishing story of the birth of modern Cameroon, a place subject to the whims of the French and the Germans, yet engaged in a cultural revolution.
Register Here
Harambee Chamber Orchestra Presents “Jubilee! A Celebration of Black Composers”
Free Event
Thursday, February 23
Doors Open 6:30PM | Concert Starts 7PM
The Woodland Great Hall
An enlightening and inspiring selection of great music, featuring top student ensembles of Maplewood and South Orange.
Harambee Chamber Orchestra
South Mountain YMCA Presents: Black History Month Showcase
Saturday, February 25 from 3PM to 5PM
Doors open at 2:45PM
The First Presbyterian & Trinity Church
111 Irvington Avenue
South Orange
Join the South Mountain YMCA School Age Childcare Department for their living museum, songs, step, poetry and more in celebration of Black History Month
Admission is $5 per person - cash only
Featuring desserts for purchase by UrbanCupz
Designing Restorative and Transformative Justice Spaces: A Conversation on Collective Love and Design
Free Event
Virtual
Tuesday, February 28 at 7:00PM
Click Here For Virtual Event
With Dr. Juan A. Rios, LCSW, Assistant Professor, Director of Master of Social Work, Seton Hall University. Dr. Rios will address the need for restorative and transformative justice spaces, highlighting the need for alternatives to traditional systems of justice that prioritize punishment and retribution, and that serve the needs of marginalized communities. He will discuss urban areas where efforts are being made to incorporate these principles.
He will also discuss the use of healing circles as a tool for transformative justice, how they have been implemented in Jersey City and Newark, and the impact they have had on violence interruption.
Black History Month Voting Rights Panel
Tuesday, February 28 @ 6PM
The Woodland Great Hall
60 Woodland Road
Maplewood, New Jersey
Join Coalitions for a panel series! This month we are honoring Black History Month with a discussion about voting rights.
Hosted by the Black Caucus
Sponsoring Caucuses: Emerging Leaders, Hindu, Latino, LGBTQ+, Muslim, Progressive & South Asian American
Moderators: Black Caucus Chair T. Missy Balmir & Black Caucus Vice-Chair Eash Haughton
Panelists will be announced shortly.
Panel will begin at 6:30PM followed by a meet and greet afterwards! Food and beverages will be provided.
Register Here