Celebrating Black History Month in Fairfax County

Published on
02/01/2024
Black History Month

Quick Summary

  • A variety of engaging events are scheduled in February to help you dive into Black History at parks, libraries and community centers.
     
  • Some highlights include a talk with Carlotta LaNier from the "Little Rock 9," learning about the lived experience of an enslaved child and uncovering the process of desegregating libraries in Northern Virginia.

 

This February, we're proud to host a variety of events in honor of Black History Month, offering you a chance to engage with the rich and diverse threads of African American history and culture.

 

Unite, Uplift and Celebrate: A Black History Month Celebration

Join your neighbors for an evening at the Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax) to celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 23. This year’s theme is “The Value of Telling Our Stories.” Enjoy local performances, interactive activities, enlightening discussion and light refreshments. Festivities kick off at 5:30 p.m.
 

McLean Community Center

A Journey Through Civil Rights History at McLean Community Center

Visit the McLean Community Center for “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School,” a part of the Perspectives Speaker Series. This event, presented in partnership with the Fairfax County Public Library, features Carlotta LaNier, a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Scheduled for Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., LaNier will share her experiences as part of the “Little Rock Nine.” Registrations open on Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Attendees can register online, a book sale and signing will follow the event.

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Black History Month at Fairfax County Parks

Paths of Freedom Seekers: Visit Ellanor C. Lawrence Park on Feb. 11, 1-2 p.m.,  to hear stories of resilience and survival from African Americans who lived and worked on local farms.

Remembering Metilda: Visit Colvin Run Mill on Feb. 17, 1-2 p.m.,  to learn about Metilda, an enslaved 14-year-old girl, and discuss her life and experiences.

Historic Frying Pan Church: Open on Feb. 3 and 17 from 12-2 p.m. The church highlights the diverse congregation of its early years, including enslaved, free Black, and White-slaveholding members. Registration for these free events is available online.

Enslaved Lives and the Legacy of Slavery on Feb. 17, 1-2 p.m. to learn about the Mason family's relationship to slavery and the lives of the Humphrey family and other enslaved people whose labor maintained Mason wealth and social status.

 

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Library Events Celebrating Black History

Library Events Celebrating Black History

A Hidden History of Unequal Access: A virtual event on Feb. 5, from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., featuring Chris Barbuschak and Suzanne LaPierre discussing their book on the desegregation of Northern Virginia Libraries.

Jazz Evening at Lorton Library: Feb. 5, from 6:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., enjoy performances by South County High School's Jazz Band and a talk on local jazz history.

 

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