Where to Celebrate Black History Month in Sonoma County 2024

Black History Month starts Thursday and continues through the end of February.

Across Sonoma County, community organizations, public libraries, musicians, artists and others will host performances, discussions, celebrations and more to highlight Black history and culture.

From jazz and drumming performances to a discussion with Black artists at the Museum of Sonoma County, there are many ways to get involved and commemorate the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans.

Feb. 1

Sonoma State University and the Hub Cultural Center is hosting a lunch and opening ceremony on the first day of Black History Month. The Black Student Union will present "Hidden Figures" in Black History, and Dr. Patrick Johnson, assistant professor in American Multicultural Studies, will share perspective on this year's theme: “Black Art: For Us By Us.”

The event begins at noon at the HUB Cultural Center, 1801 East Cotati Ave. in Rohnert Park. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42yNSLv or email austindi@sonoma.edu.

Feb. 2 (SOLD OUT)

This year's annual Jazz Concert celebrating Black History Month features local vintage jazz & blues group, The doRiaN Mode, with Dorian Bartley. According to the museum’s website, Bartley formed the group in 2013 to explore the roots of jazz. Born in Detroit to an African American father and white mother, she “grew up in a family that valued music as an expression of art, identity and politics. She loves jazz and its balance between creative freedom and structure, the fun of swing and phrasing.”

This event is now sold out. For more information, go to pdne.ws/3Ufakaf.

Feb. 8

Sonoma State University is hosting the True Black History Museum; a traveling exhibit with artifacts dating from the late 1700s to the 21st century. The museum was established to preserve the history of the African American people and to educate others about the many great contributions that African Americans have made to mankind.

The event takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. in Ballroom A at the Sonoma State University campus, 1801 East Cotati Ave. in Rohnert Park. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42yNSLv or email atkinsm@sonoma.edu.

Feb. 9-Mar. 31

The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum is teaming up with the community group, Petaluma Blacks for Community Development, to showcase an exhibition that celebrates Black History Month through the lens of African Americans in the arts.

Visit the museum at 20 Fourth St. in Petaluma. Admission is free. petalumamuseum.com.

Feb. 10 and 11

Sonoma State University is celebrating the history of African American music and culture with some of the “greatest songs ever created,” according to SSU’s website. The event, “Juke Joint Jukebox: A Historical Cabaret,” will present a time capsule of pieces by Black songwriters and performers, with selections from the 1920s through the 1960s.

The event will take place at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park, at 1 p.m. (Feb. 10) and 7 p.m. (Feb. 11). For tickets, call the Spreckels Box Office at 707-588-3400 or go to pdne.ws/3SeKWih.

Feb. 15

The second annual Black Joy Celebration aims to promote unity on the Sonoma State University campus, celebrate the journey and progression of Black history and engage in cross-cultural exchange. The event highlights a more positive side to Black liberation; Black folks experiencing joy.

The event takes place at the Seawolf Plaza, 1801 East Cotati Ave., from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42yNSLv or email austindi@sonoma.edu.

Feb. 17

The Sonoma County Library and Petaluma Blacks for Community Development invite you to join musician Keenan Webster as he lectures on and demonstrates the banjo-related instruments of the Mandinka- and Mende-speaking peoples of West Africa.

The event takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr. in Petaluma. Free. For more information, go to pdne.ws/3ub77Om or call 707-763-9801.

***

Also happening on this day is the second annual Black 2 The Future: Black History Month Benefit. The concert features local Black artists and an awards ceremony dedicated to honoring Black trailblazers in the community. Proceeds support the Black Student Union at Sonoma State University.

The 21+ only concert takes place at the Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave. in Sebastopol. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Purchase tickets at pdne.ws/3UirymW.

Feb. 18

Sonoma County education experts have assembled a panel to discuss both the importance of ethnic studies for K-12 students and the value of seeing ones lived experiences in the books we read. Panelists include Dr. Bay Jones, Segretta Woodard, Jacob Ramírez, Joanna Paun and Nzinga Woods.

The panel discussion takes place at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Condé Way in Rohnert Park. Head to the Rohnert Park-Cotati Meeting Room from 2 to 3:30 p.m for this free discussion. For more information, go to events.sonomalibrary.org/telling-our-stories or call 707-584-9121.

***

Also on this day is Art in Conversation with Denise Ward & Rose Hill. This special event features local artist Rose Hill, owner of Rose Hill Art, in conversation with Denise Ward. The talk will be focused on Black Americana and its place in American History and our collective experience.

The event takes place at the Museum of Sonoma County, 426 Seventh St. in Santa Rosa, from 1 to 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 for students and seniors, and $10 for general admission. Get tickets at pdne.ws/3SCBMxi.

Feb. 20

Join the Sonoma County Library for a virtual author talk with New York Times-bestselling author Jason Mott. The talk will center around Mott’s recent novel, “Hell of a Book.” The book “goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans and America as a whole,” according to the library’s website.

This event requires advanced registration, and occurs over Zoom. It runs from 1 to 2 p.m. To register, go to pdne.ws/4biZhmg.

Feb. 22

“The Poetic Activist.” Porsche Veu and Samuelu Veu will lead a discussion workshop on the impact and legacy of musical artist Nipsey Hussle. Attendees will also write an original spoken word piece.

The event starts at noon and runs until 1 p.m. at the HUB Cultural Center, 1801 East Cotati Ave. in Rohnert Park. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42yNSLv or email austindi@sonoma.edu.

Feb. 22, 24 & 25

Head to various locations around Sonoma County for “African Music and Arts Village,” a free family-friendly and interactive program led by Baba Shibambo. The program introduces cultural traditions of South Africa through indigenous music and story-telling, and celebrates cultural diversity and the importance of harmonious collaboration.

On Feb. 22, the event takes place at the Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Road, in Guerneville, from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42pyDEw.

On Feb. 24, the event takes place at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Condé Way in Rohnert Park, from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information, go to pdne.ws/42yT81H.

On Feb. 25, the event takes place at the Rincon Valley Regional Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd. in Santa Rosa, from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information, go to pdne.ws/3SDAJgO.

Feb. 24

Healdsburg Jazz is celebrating Black History Month with an evening concert by their 2023 Artist in Residence and percussion master John Santos with his quartet. The show will be accompanied by a live painting by Bay Area painter Adrian Arias.

The concert takes place at The Raven Performing Arts Theater, 115 North St. in Healdsburg, starting at 7 p.m. General admission is $30. For more information, and to order tickets, go to pdne.ws/49em4xI.

Throughout the month

At any time, explore literature by Black authors or literature centering around race and culture. The Sonoma County Library has curated a list of novels, audiobooks and more at sonomalibrary.org/blackhistorymonth.