MLK Day Kicks off the Start of Black History Month with Celebration and Hope
Remembering, celebrating, and learning alongside our kids are special and unique opportunities.
We get to do this all month long in February during Black History Month – and Martin Luther King Jr. Day kicks off this reverent time.
Excitingly, there are many MLK Day and Black History Month events happening in greater Kalamazoo.
Read on to find local events, exhibits and resources to learn more; you can also check our event calendar for more local happenings.
In this Article
• Local Exhibits
• MLK + Black History Month Events
• Books + Other Resources
Local Exhibits: City of Portage City Hall
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr & The Civil Rights Exhibit
January 3 – 31, 2023
This FREE exhibit at Portage City Hall features historical photos of the Civil Rights Movement and inspirational quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that still resonate today.
Ten Little-Known Facts
February 1 – 26, 2023
Free exhibit to celebrate Black History Month in Portage offers memorable moments and courageous stories in history featuring interesting lesser-known events and people in American Black History.
images: The City of Portage MI
Local Exhibits: Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Black Artists Exhibit at KVCC
February – March 2023
This exhibit is a collaboration of the Black Arts & Cultural Center, Kalamazoo Valley’s Center For New Media and the Metropolitan Kalamazoo branch of the NAACP in hosting its fourth annual Black Arts Exhibit.
Artwork will be exhibited in the Center for New Media and its Arcus Gallery throughout the months of February and March.
image: Black Arts & Cultural Center
Local Exhibits: Kalamazoo Valley Museum
MINI-EXHIBIT – A HeLa Story: Mother of Modern Medicine
September 1, 2022 – February 27, 2023
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum chronicles the local connections and fascinating accomplishments of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were involuntarily taken more than 70 years ago and are still used around the globe in experiments to develop cures and therapies.
2023 SWMI MLK Day + Black History Month Events
From libraries and museums to community happenings, there’s an MLK Day or Black History event where you can have a blast, learn or honor:
KPL Suggested Books & Music
These curated lists from the Kalamazoo Public Library offer more opportunities to learn:
• MLK Jr Books Collection: includes hardcopies, ebooks and audiobooks
• Picture Books for Black History Month: KPL’s suggested list for younger readers
• Black History Month Albums: Celebrate Black History Month by streaming these shape-shifting albums
More to Explore
