[Archived] City of Alexandria Celebrates Black History Month

­­For Immediate Release: January 30, 2021

The City of Alexandria invites the public to celebrate Black History Month with special events and activities throughout February. Black History Month is an annual recognition and celebration of the history, culture, achievements and contributions of African Americans and persons of African descent in U.S. history. 

This year, Alexandria highlights two virtual lectures related to African American history. The first lecture is by Dr. Brenna Wynn Greer on Moss Kendrix, the “Father of Black Public Relations,” whose collection of photographs and documents is housed at the Alexandria Black History Museum. The second is by Susan Hellman, on “The Green Book” tourist guide, which was invaluable to African American travelers in a segregated America in the 20th century. 

Join the celebration by watching virtual storytelling events for children and adults, lectures, concerts and online tours. Participants will be able to access new content including Alexandria’s 2021 tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr, virtual tours of the African American Heritage Trail: North Waterfront Route, and Courageous Journey: A Guide to Alexandria’s African American History.

Recognition for black history was first advocated by African American author, journalist and historian Carter G. Woodson, who pioneered “Negro History Week” in 1926. The recognition was set for the second week in February, in honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1968, the Black United Students at Kent State University advocated that Negro History Week be extended into a monthlong commemoration, celebrating the first Black History Month on Kent State University campus in 1970. Black History Month, which has been formally recognized in the United States since 1976, is also celebrated in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Visit alexandriava.gov/BlackHistory for the full schedule of events and more information about Black History Month.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact blackhistory@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4356, Virginia Relay 711.