Celebrate Black History Month in 2024 with these five LGBTQ or queer-inclusive art, wellness and community events in Memphis.
This Black History Month, LGBTQ artists and advocates celebrate Memphis creativity with art, defiance, and prioritizing wellness. Make your Black History Month as queer as possible with these 5 LGBTQ and queer-inclusive local events that highlight Black LGBTQ artists, joy and wellness.
Black History Month Wellness Fair at OUTMemphis
Black queer creativity requires rest for resistance, and prioritizing mental health.This Black History Month, nonprofit OUTMemphis plans to help fulfill that need with a fair focused on Black LGBTQ health, highlighting Black-owned businesses and organizations with a specific focus on wellness and wellbeing and free services like testing & vaccinations, cosmetic services and more, plus raffles, prizes and a ton of delicious food from Black-owned caterers.
Black History Month Wellness Fair is February 22, 3:30-7:30PM at 2851 Lamb Place, Memphis, TN. Follow OUTMemphis on Instagram or check out their website outmemphis.org for updates.
Black History Month Celebrations at the Cossitt Library
The Cossitt Library is hosting Black History Month events all month long. First, a four part workshop series called “Creating Images in Color” explores Black History through photography on every Thursday (except the 15th) this Black History Month. Then, on February 24th celebrate the richness of African-descended communities at the Sankofa African Diaspora Festival, featuring live dance performances, art, readings and many vendors.
Creating Images In Color at Cossitt Library is every Thursday (except the 15th) at the Cossitt Library. Sankofa African Diaspora Festival is February 24th from 11am – 5pm at the Cossitt Library. For more, check out the events on the library’s website, or follow @cossittlibrary on Instagram.
DEFY at Arrow Creative
DEFY is a gallery show that explores Black joy as resistance. In its opening night, defiance takes on many different mediums from paintings, photography, live poetry readings, and even an opening dance performance by Queen Keskessa of The Nubian Sirens. Featuring queer artists like photographer Anthony Lorenzo and multidisciplinary artist Tangela Mathis, you won’t want to miss this event!
DEFY’s opening show is February 8th at 5:30pm at Arrow Creative. Follow @memphisarrowcreative on Instagram or check or arrowcreative.org for updates.
The Haven Honors National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Join local non profit The Haven in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day for a refreshments and a thoughtful panel discussion following a viewing of Rev. Dr. Sande Bailey-Gwinn’s documentary Black Church, Black Preacher, Black Woman.
Friends for All + The Haven’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Event is February 7th at 1548 Poplar Avenue from 6pm – 8pm. Follow The Haven for more.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Celebration at Raleigh Library
Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS since its onset in the early 1980s due to poverty, discrimination, prejudice, systematic racism, and lack of education are some of the causes for this inequality, according to recent studies. While we continue to fight for awareness and the end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, community work among Black LGBTQ advocates and nonprofits have helped us come a long way. This Black History Month join OUT Memphis for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with a special panel discussion and dinner in celebration for all the people who have helped save lives regarding HIV/AIDS.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Celebration is a free event on February 7th at the Raleigh Library from 5PM – 7PM.
