The city of Albuquerque will celebrate Black History Month with events throughout February.
Events begin Friday and “honor the important themes of Black history and Black resistance,” a news release from the city’s Equity and Inclusion Office states.
• The Langston Hughes Project will perform a free concert at the University of New Mexico’s Popejoy Hall at 10 a.m. Friday based on Hughes’ jazz poem suite called “Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz.” To redeem a free ticket go to www.unmtickets.com/events.
• Albuquerque’s “finest gospel singers” will perform at 7 p.m. Friday in the Kick-Off Gospel Extravaganza in the African-American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro NE, at Expo New Mexico.
• A Black Business Summit, aimed at entrepreneurs and business owners, will be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 8. It’s sponsored by the City’s Office of Black Community Engagement, African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Department and the New Mexico Economic Development Department. People wishing to attend should register at www.eventbrite.com.
• The African-American Day Council will host a celebration at the Capitol in Santa Fe from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 10, including “education on the legislative process and legislation that impacts the African American community, resources for African American youth and food and entertainment,” the release states. For information, contact council President Lanthia Miles at 505-484-7781.
• A Black History Month Meet and Greet will be hosted by the Office of Black Community Engagement from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain NW. A poster series titled “It Takes a Village,” based on research of “notable African Americans in Albuquerque” and created by mentees within the office, will be revealed at the event.
