Make no mistake, the centennial for Black History Month is a major deal.
“Who would’ve thunk that 100 years ago, what started as a day, then a week, has evolved into a whole month—and hopefully the whole year,” Patricia Wright, from St. Petersburg’s Historic Bethel AME Church, told tis reporter on WMNF News public affairs program “The Skinny.”
The celebration has its origins in Negro History Week, which was established by Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson back in 1926. The week expanded to a month in 1970 and finally got acknowledged by a sitting president—Republican Gerald Ford—in 1976.
“It’s important because we’re in a time where we’re trying to dismantle or discount the history—that we be ever more prominent to share it,” Wright added. Even at her church, members have a “village moment” where they explain the history to members. “If they are not teaching the history in ur schools, if we’re not being included in the library, in the books, we have to take it upon ourselves to make sure that our children and even our seniors are still aware and cognizant of our history.”
DeMark Liggins reminded WMNF listeners that Dr. Woodson started the week at a time when people did not want to acknowledge the contributions of Black folks in the U.S.
“You can’t erase truth. As long as we know the truth in our communities, regardless of hue, and we insist on telling that truth—whether it’s widespread, adopted or not—we can still be committed to making sure that that history and that truth still exists, which is the original spirit of what Carter G. Woodson began,” Wright, who is National President and CEO of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference added. “I think we should embrace that spirit of of dignified defiance.”
See a listing of Black history month events below. Add yours via community.cltampa.com.
‘The Niceties’ Thursday-Sunday. Feb. 12-15. Various times. $25-$30. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg. thestudioat620.org
Happy hour with a historian: St. Pete’s historic African American neighborhoods w/ Jon Wilson Thursday, Feb. 12. 6 p.m. $7-$15. St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg. @HistoryStPete on Facebook
‘Razed’ screening Thursday, Feb. 12. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College. Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium, St. Petersburg. gasplantfilm.com
Black History Bike Tour Saturday, Feb. 14. RSVP requested. Meets at St. Pete Free Clinic, St. Petersburg. blackhistorybiketour.com
Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Saturday, Feb. 14. No cover. The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, St. Petersburg. tbcgf.org
Black history month celebration and pre-Ramadan sale Sunday, Feb. 15. 1 p.m.-7 p.m. No cover. BrideMother African Stores, Tampa. BrideMother Africa Culinary on Facebook
Black Love classic movie series: ‘Boomerang’ Sunday, Feb. 15. 3 p.m. $9-$14. Historic Duncan Auditorium at Tampa Theater, Tampa. tampatheatre.org
‘I Am Black History’ gospel musical Sunday, Feb. 15. 4 p.m. No cover. Shiloh Missionary Baptist, Largo. @elder.baldwin on Facebook
Connecting the past & present Black history in Pasco County & Tarpon Springs w/Marlowe Jones Wednesday, Feb. 18. 6 p.m. No cover. Peace Hall at Seven Springs School House, New Port Richey. @westpascohistoricalsociety on Facebook
‘Triumph’ (stylized all-caps) screenings Wednesday, Feb. 18. 12:30 p.m. No cover, but registration requested. Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City. wedu.org/triumph
NAREB Tampa Black History Month Mixer Thursday, Feb. 19. 6 p.m. No cover, registration required. Tampa Club, Tampa. narebtampa.org
Celebrating 100 years of Black history month Saturday, Feb. 21. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bing Rooming House, Plant City. plantcitymlkfestival.com
Black history celebration Saturday, Feb. 21. 5 p.m. No cover. Center for Manifestation, Tampa. 813-516-2376
Hidden, Historic Campbell Park walking tour Saturday, Feb. 21. 10 a.m.-noon. RSVP requested. Campbell Park, St. Petersburg. blackhistorybiketour.com
Tampa DJ Hall of Fame: Black History Program Saturday, Feb. 21. Noon-3 p.m. No cover. C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, Tampa. @halloffametampa on Facebook
Black Love classic movie series: ‘Carmen Jones’ Sunday, Feb. 22. 3 p.m. $9-$14. Historic Duncan Auditorium at Tampa Theater, Tampa. tampatheatre.org
Black history book club: ‘The Message’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates Monday, Feb. 23. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Tampa’s Black History Museum, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception Friday, Feb. 27. 5 p.m. $50. Tampa’s Black History Museum, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Black history month celebration Saturday, Feb. 28. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Lake Vista Park, St. Petersburg. stpeteparksrec.org
Fish, grits & Black history Sunday, Feb. 28. 8 a.m. $75 donation. The Dr. Walter L. Smith Library & Museum, Tampa. wlsmithlibrary.org
Historic civil rights trolley tour Sunday, Feb. 28. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. $45. St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg. historystpete.org
Msalt 5th anniversary Sunday, Feb. 28. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $10 & up. Ma’at Sankofa African Learning Temple, Tampa. @MaatSankofaAfricanLearningTemple on Facebook
‘Triumph’ (stylized all-caps) screenings Monday, Feb. 23. 6 p.m. No cover, but registration requested. Student Center at University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. wedu.org/triumph
Food From The Soul Festival Saturday, March 28. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $$25 & up. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, foodfromthesoulfestival.com
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This article appears in Feb. 05 – 11, 2026.