Kansas City has always been Black. From the jazz legends who built 18th & Vine to the frontline organizers leading the fight for justice today, Black history isn’t just a month — it’s a living, breathing force that has shaped this city from the ground up.
Yet, at a time when Black history is being stripped from classrooms and erased from public memory, celebrating it becomes more than just reflection — it’s an act of defiance.
Honoring Black history in Kansas City means recognizing the legacy of those who built and sustained our communities, reclaiming space, and ensuring the next generation knows where they come from. This Black History Month, the city is alive with events that do just that — spaces of joy, learning, and power where Black voices are centered and celebrated. Here’s where you can tap in.
2025 Black History Month Events in Kansas City
Thursday, February 13
Where to Find Us presents Verse
📍 The Nelson Atkins Museum, Room: Lens 2 – 4525 Oak St.
⏰ 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Where to Find Us is kicking off VERSE, a new speaker series centering queer voices. This edition dives into queer love, connection, and relationships with talks from leaders, thinkers, and authors. Catch it during Night Shift at the Nelson-Atkins!
Saturday, February 15
Black Excellence in Agriculture
📍 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center – 3700 Woodland Ave.
⏰ 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Celebrate the legacy of Black farming and the innovation of Black farmers with hosts Ryan Tenney & Izula Maximillen at the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center. The event will feature keynote speakers from pioneers in sustainable farming and food justice, stories of generational farming, and showcase cutting-edge agricultural techniques.
Thursday, February 20
KC Defender Book Club
📍 Willa’s Books & Vinyl – 5547 Troost Ave.
⏰ 6:30 p.m.
Join The Defender for our latest book club pick, “B-Boy Blues” by James Earl Hardy! This classic novel dives into love, identity, and the complexities of Black queer life. Come ready to read, discuss, and connect with community.
BLK + BRWN: Open Mic Night
📍 Blk + Brwn – 104 1/2 W 39th St.
⏰ Doors at 6:30 PM | Open Mic 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Blk + Brwn is bringing back its Open Mic Night, creating space for poets and poetry lovers to come together. Poets of all backgrounds are welcome.
Tuesday, February 18
Black History Month Challenge
📍 KCKPL Main Library – 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS
⏰ Feb. 18-Feb. 28
Test your knowledge and celebrate Black History Month with the Black History Challenge at The Kansas City Kansas Public Library. Answer trivia questions based on info panels inside the Main Library for a chance to win a gift bag. Open to ages 12 and up, with prizes available while supplies last.
Black Excellence in Music
📍 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center – 3700 Woodland Ave.
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council invites the Kansas City community to enjoy an evening of jazz performances.
Thursday, February 20
Black History Month Book Discussion
📍 KCKPL Main Library, 2nd Floor Auditorium – 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS
⏰ 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Join the Kansas City Kansas Public Library for a discussion of “Lovely One” by Ketanji Brown Jackson, a memoir by the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
Friday, February 21
Waistbeads Workshop
📍 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center – 3700 Woodland Ave.
⏰ 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Learn how to make waist beads with instructor Denise Perkins of Pieces Of Zoey.
Defender Cabaret ft The Piaget Experience
📍Zhou B Art Center Kansas City – 1801 E 18th St.
⏰ 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Experience a night of music, movement, and community at Defender’s Cabaret, featuring a special performance by Piaget, a powerhouse vocalist from St. Louis who has been gracing KC stages for over a decade. This event is more than a showcase — it’s a celebration of Black artistry and a fundraiser for The Defender’s Abolitionist Freedom School (B-REAL Academy).
Tickets are donation-based, with a sliding scale from $1 to $500. Give what you can, and no one will be turned away.
Saturday, February 22
BHM 3 on 3 Middle School Tournament
📍 Mary Williams-Neal Community Center – 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.
⏰ 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Kansas City Parks & Recreation will host a free 3 on 3 basketball tournament for children ages 11 to 14.
The Kansas City Defender’s Abolitionist Freedom School
The Kansas City Defender is officially launching B-REAL Academy, a radical education and organizing program rooted in Black resistance. With attacks on Black education escalating, learning Black history, developing organizing skills, and mastering media are more crucial than ever. Over 14 weeks, participants will gain the tools to take action, amplify their voices, and build power in their communities.
Applications for the first cohort are closed. Stay tuned — applications for the next cohort will open soon!
Reel Black Film Fest
📍 The Truman – 601 East Truman Rd.
⏰ Doors at 1:30 p.m. | Screenings start at 3:00 p.m.
Join the Kansas City PBS’s Film Festival to celebrate Black History Month with the Reel Black Film Fest, showcasing three local films that highlight Black history and culture in Kansas City. Along with exclusive screenings, guests can enjoy panel discussions, giveaways, local Black-owned vendors, and a filmmaker’s resource lounge.
This event is currently sold out, but walk-ins are welcome as seats become available. Additional guests may be accommodated with standing room. Click here to reserve a spot
Ivanhoe Black History Month Exhibit
📍 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center – 3700 Woodland Ave.
⏰ 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council invites the Kansas City community to explore the works of emerging local Black artists.
Sunday, February 23
BLK + BRWN: Movie Night
📍Stray Cat Film Center – 1662 Broadway Blvd.
⏰ 7:00 p.m.
Join Blk + Brwn for a free viewing of Boomerang, the 1992 classic starring Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens.
Monday, February 24
Black History Trivia
📍Garrison Community Center – 1124 E. Fifth St.
⏰11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Seniors aged 55 and up are invited to join Kansas City Parks & Recreation for a fun day of Black history trivia. There will be prizes and light refreshments.
Thursday, February 27
HACK the DREAM
📍 Central Library – 14 W. 10th St.
⏰ 9:00 a.m.
Hack the Dream is a social impact hack-a-thon exploring how digital equity is shaped by social, cultural, and political forces. This event celebrates Black History Month, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the ongoing fight to bridge the digital divide. Attendees will see firsthand how tech innovators and community partners identify solutions for a more equitable digital future.
Friday, February 28
Living Legacies Potluck
📍 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center – 3700 Woodland Ave.
⏰ 6:00 pm.m-8:00 p.m.
The Living Legacies Potluck is an evening of shared stories, good food, and community hosted by Black Women Making Friends KC, the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, and BLK + BRWN. This potluck will honor the wisdom of our elders through conversation and connection over a family-style meal. Bring your loved ones and a dish to share.
Zhou B Art Center x Malek Azrael and the Vibez Presents: Rock Is Black
📍 Zhou B Art Center Kansas City – 1801 E 18th St.
⏰ 7:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
Rock is Black will celebrate the often-overlooked contributions of Black artists in rock music, featuring a dynamic lineup of local talent. With a cash bar and an electrifying atmosphere, this event is all about amplifying Black voices in rock and making space for a new generation of artists.
