By: Sabrina German, community giving and engagement coordinator

Black History Month is an annual observance dedicated to recognizing the achievements, leadership and enduring impact of Black people, communities and movements.

Black History Month reminds us that history doesn’t only live in textbooks.

It lives in music, in art, in neighborhoods and in the creativity and resilience of people who continue to shape our communities. Here in Denver, that spirit shines brightly in Five Points, the historic neighborhood once known as the “Harlem of the West.”

In the early 20th century, when segregation limited where Black residents could live and gather, Five Points became a vibrant hub of culture, entrepreneurship and joy.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor Five Points as a reminder that Black history is local, living and still influencing Denver’s rhythm today.

This month, our team is visiting the local events and gatherings listed below. Join us in honoring Black history and celebrating our local community by checking out some of the following:

Jazz Roots in Five Points

Each year, Five Points showcases jazz and cultural experiences, on select Saturdays in February, through live music at iconic venues along Welton Street, including:

• TeaLee’s Tea House & Book Store
• Pairadice Denver
• Welton Room
• 715 Club
• The Marigold
• Spangalang Brewery
• What’s Happening Restaurant & Bar
• Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center

Join the next celebration in Five Points on Feb. 21, from 2 p.m.-midnight.

Black Futures in Art Exhibition

Black Futures in Art returns to the Dairy Arts Center for its fourth annual exhibition, on view from February 19 – March 29, with a free opening reception on February 20 from 5-8 p.m.

Curated by Adderly Grant-Lord, the exhibition brings together Black artists from Colorado and across the U.S. to explore legacy, resilience and collective memory through the theme “The excellence beneath our feet lives in our bones.”

Denver Art Museum

Explore stunning African art pieces and about their cultural significance at the Arts of Africa Exhibit. Take advantage of the Feb. 22 free day to see the Arts of Africa Exhibit and the special exhibition featuring photographer Dawoud Bey. The special exhibit features 37 portraits Bey made between 1988-1991 in collaboration with Black Americans from various cities.

Black American West Museum & Heritage Center

The Black American West Museum and Heritage Center preserves and shares the history of African Americans in the Old West through artifacts and stories that highlight their lives, work and contributions to westward expansion.

Blair Caldwell African American Research Library Events

• Vinyl Vibes Poets: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2-4 p.m. – Join to hear famous poets reading their own works on vinyl recording or bring your own records to share.
• Black LGBTQ+ History in Denver: Tuesday, February 11, 6 -7:30 p.m. – Join a conversation about Black LGBTQ+ history in Denver and how we can uplift and support this community today.
• Black People Know Things Trivia: Saturday, February 15, 2-4 p.m. – Put your knowledge to the test with a Black-centered trivia event hosted by Denver Public Library in partnership with Black People Know Things (BPKT). Black History Month Art Exhibition Reception: Saturday, February 15, 2-4 p.m. – Meet the talented Colorado artists featured in the Black History Month Art Exhibition.

From your neighbors at Mile High United Way, happy Black History Month!