February is Black History Month, and Charlottesville is full of ways to celebrate, learn about, and appreciate the many contributions Black families and residents have made in our vibrant community, here and all around the country.
At a Glance
- The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center is a local resource for learning about the history and contributions of African Americans in Charlottesville.
- The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library system has programs for all ages celebrating Black History Month, including author visits and readings.
- Local movie screenings for Black History Month include “The Princess and the Frog” and “Marshall.”
- The “Visions of Progress” photo exhibit and Write Freedom creative writing contest are happening in February 2026 and continue into March.
12 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Charlottesville
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly storytime for the littlest members of your family, a poetry reading for adults, a museum visit, or a thoughtful, educational walk around town, we’ve rounded up 12 ways that you and your family can celebrate Black History Month in Charlottesville.
Attend the Black Family History Symposium
When: Feb 7th, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Where: Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Ticketed: Yes (free)
Join this one-day community event exploring the many ways that Black families shape, define, and redefine the American story. The theme, Refounding Legacies, examines the power of memory, kinship, resilience, and storytelling through generations.
Panels include:
- “Vessels of Kinship: African American Families and The Making of America”
- “Stories We Carry: Reclaiming History Through Storytelling”
Take a Public Parks Tour
When: Feb. 7th
Where: Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Ticketed: Yes (free)
Join Executive Director Dr. Andrea Douglas for a tour of five public parks and green spaces. Learn more about Charlottesville’s history and present as you explore the history of community and segregation in these spaces.
Meet Author Patricia Bradby Moore
When: Feb. 7th, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: JMRL Central Library
Ticketed: No
Moore is the author of Blackinese: Reflections on Race and Ethnicity from a Biracial Millennial. She will be speaking about her work and answering questions at JMRL’s Central Library. Books will be for sale.
Screen “The Princess and the Frog”
When: Friday, Feb. 13th, 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Greene County Public Library
Ticketed: No
Bring the whole family to Greene County Library for their monthly movie night! February’s selection will be “The Princess and the Frog.” Celebrate the power of building community and following your dreams while enjoying the zydeco-inspired soundtrack.
Screen “Marshall”
When: Feb. 17th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Greene County Public Library
Ticketed: No
Catch a special showing of “Marshall,” a 2017 movie starring Chadwick Boseman that spotlights one of the career-defining cases of Thurgood Marshall before he became the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Read Ways to Build Dreams by Renée Watson
When: Feb. 17th, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
Where: Gordon Avenue Library
Ticketed: No
The Bookaroos Book Club is for kids ages 6-8 years old, and February’s selection is Ways to Build Dreams by author Renée Watson. Free books are provided to the first ten kids who register. Read it as a family, then bring your kids to the library for snacks and fun discussion on 2/17.
Discuss American Like Me?
When: Feb. 21st, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Louisa Library
Ticketed: No
In American Like Me? author George Monroe, Jr. traces his family lineage, examining how personal history and national history are inseparable. It is a work that interrogates belonging, responsibility, and inheritance in the U.S. through the lived experience of a descendant of the enslaved.
Learn About Yancey School
When: Feb. 21st, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Scottsville Library
Ticketed: No
Join Ed Brooks, the Community Engagement Program Manager of what is now the BF Yancey School Community Center, to learn about the Yancey School and the history of segregation in Albemarle County. Discussion and questions will follow the presentation, with light refreshments provided.
Black History Month Read-Aloud
When: Feb. 24th, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: JMRL’s Central Library
Ticketed: No
Come listen to a selection of short readings from essays, speeches, and poetry by Black authors. Readings will be followed by reflections and discussion. Materials will be provided, but participants can bring their own selections to read as well.
View the “Visions of Progress” Photo Exhibition
When: Ongoing until March 11, 2026
Where: Trinity Episcopal Church
Ticketed: No
Curated by Prof. John Edwin Mason, “Visions of Progress” showcases photographs of African Americans who lived in Charlottesville during the first decades of the 20th century and had their portraits taken at the Holsinger Studio. Photographs are accompanied by biographical details about each subject, celebrating the lives and individuality of the people who commissioned these portraits.
Contact Trinity Episcopal Church for public viewing hours. Learn more
Enter a Creative Writing Contest
Enter WRITE FREEDOM: A Creative Writing Contest held by the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center with a personal reflection (up to 500 words) on the legacy of the Revolutionary era and the meaning of freedom today. Entries should be inspired by the exhibitions at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.
Entrants may submit as Youth (ages 8-12), Teen (ages 13-18), or Adults (ages 19+). One winner from each category will:
- Receive cash prize, JSAAHC gift pack, and commemorative VA250 certificate
- Have their work displayed in the JSAAHC gallery lobby
- Be invited to a public reading and recognition event
Submissions are open until Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm.
Appreciate Black History Year-Round in Charlottesville & Virginia
Learning about and celebrating Black History doesn’t just happen in February! In Virginia, we’re fortunate to have many resources and historic sites within driving distance that spotlight the contributions that African Americans have made to our communities, state, and country. Here are a few ways to keep learning with your family.
Visit the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Celebrate Black History any time of year with a visit to Charlottesville’s Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. This museum and educational center houses a collection of exhibitions about the powerful stories of Black history in Charlottesville and Central Virginia. Current exhibitions include:
- Pride Overcomes Prejudice, examining the history of peoples of African descent in Charlottesville
- Vinegar Hill 1963: A Day in the Neighborhood, featuring photographs by Gundars Osvald
- Toward a Lineage of Self, a map-based exhibition that explores community organizing and mutual-aid networks in the region
Learn more and plan your visit
Read as a Family
Build a fun and engaging family reading list that features Black authors and characters. Choose a mix of books, some that teach about historic themes and time periods, some that celebrate the everyday lives of Black children and families.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite books about Black history for kids of all ages. And don’t forget to pick up kidlit books by authors who are local to Virginia, including Marc Boston, Jay Bradford, Nashae Jones, Ravynn K. Stringfield, Amber McBride, and Dionna L. Mann.
Visit Ivy Creek Natural Area
Ivy Creek is a favorite spot among Charlottesville families for its wooded trails and hikes. But if you visit the historic barn, you’ll also learn about the preserve’s local significance as Black-owned farm. Take time to browse the exhibits with your kids and learn more about Charlottesville’s history.
Plan a Day Trip to a Historic Spot
Virginia is full of important historic landmarks within driving distance of Charlottesville. Spots like the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Franklin County or the Maggie L. Walker Museum in Richmond are a perfect educational day trip to learn about the contributions of notable Black Virginians.
If you need a weekend getaway, drive to Washington, D.C. and explore the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. And if you’re visiting one of Virginia’s many presidential houses, such as Monticello or Mount Vernon, take in a tour that explores the contributions and experiences of the enslaved workers who lived there.
The Albemarle Historical Society and Monticello offer walking tours exploring on the Black history of Charlottesville. Monticello’s “From Slavery to Freedom” tour provides a deep dive into the experiences of enslaved laborers at Monticello and the “Slavery at Monticello” is a shorter option. For younger kids or anyone who isn’t up for a long walk, explore the Getting Word African American Oral History Project; preserving the histories of Monticello’s enslaved families and their descendants through short audio stories.
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KATHARINE PALJUG is a freelance writer and novelist. She lives in Charlottesville with two busy kids and proudly owns an unreasonable number of books. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.