Black History Month – Celebrate and Learn!

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AARP encourages honoring Black History Month as a time of learning, engaging in meaningful conversations and supporting Black-owned businesses.

In celebration of Black History Month, AARP Michigan is proud to present The African American Influence in American Quilts, a free virtual event on Tuesday, February 21 from 11 a.m. to noon. Tune in for this unique view of quilting as a representation of African American folk art and historical significance as black quilt makers share their techniques and the rich stories preserved visually through this art form. This event will also showcase the Michigan State University Museum’s Quilt Index project. To attend, please register at aarpmi.org/events.

But that’s not all! Throughout February, AARP is showcasing numerous virtual events, movies, documentaries and key moments in history as part of its We Thrive Together Black History Month theme. To learn more, visit aarpmi.org/events or search “Black History Month” at aarp.org.

For more ways to celebrate and honor Black history across Michigan, contact local libraries and universities. Many are hosting book discussions and film screenings. The state of Michigan is home to several museums to visit and things to do, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit), the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum (Detroit), the Underground Railroad Living Museum and tours (Detroit), the Motown Museum (Detroit), the “Gateway to Freedom” Memorial (Detroit), the Rosa Parks Bus exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn), the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives, the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), the James Jackson Museum of African American History (Muskegon Heights), the Ferris State University Jim Crow Museum (Big Rapids), the Underground Railroad Monument and the Sojourner Truth sculpture (Battle Creek), and many more.