Black History Month In Long Beach Highlights Progress and Culture

As the country celebrates Black History Month, we in Long Beach are watching history in the making: Rex Richardson, inaugurated last month, is settling into his role as our city’s first Black Mayor. Last September, DLBA’s own Austin Metoyer became the organization’s first Black President and CEO in our 85-year history.

Our town has often reflected prevailing attitudes about race since its founding near the turn of the 20th century. From a Downtown point of view, it is quite a positive sign of the times to watch new leadership take its place while many Black-owned businesses thrive nearby. With that optimistic spirit in mind, we encourage you to support local Black-owned businesses (listed below) this month and every month. 

There are a few great opportunities to celebrate Black History Month in Downtown: On February 26th from 11am until 5pm, the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) will once again be presenting the Afro-Latinx Festival, an event it has hosted for over a decade. The Festival celebrates the importance of the African cultural legacy throughout Latin America. There will be live performances, art workshops, cuisine from many countries, representatives from local Afro-Latinx owned businesses, and a performance by a live DJ. 

MOLAA has put out a call for local artists to submit their works that represent the talent, traditions, and vibrancy of the Long Beach Afro-Latinx community. Ten works will be selected for display in MOLAA’s Viva Event Center February 25th through the 28th. To submit your artwork, click here. 

“Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Forging the Future,” a Black History Month event honoring Mayor Rex Richardson, will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center on February 10th. Special Guest Speaker will be Dr. Thomas Parham, President of California State University, Dominguez Hills. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here. 

The Aquarium of the Pacific will be presenting its twenty-first annual African-American Festival on Saturday, February 25th and Sunday the 26th from 9am to 5pm on both days. The event features music, dance, storytelling, historical displays, and the Aquarium’s Heritage Award ceremony. The Aquarium will also announce and celebrate the recipients of its 2023 African American Scholar Program. The event is FREE with general admission to the Aquarium. Purchase Aquarium tickets online here. 

On February 25th at Shoreline Park from 11am to 5pm, Hosanna Broadcasting Network (HBN) will host “We R The Voice,” its first outdoor Christian concert. This event will honor a giant of the Christian faith, African American holiness minister William Joseph Seymour. This family friendly event will feature national and local Christian artists such as Micah Tyler, Brent Jones, and Richard Andrew. To learn more and to purchase tickets, click here.

Please click the links to these Black-owned Downtown businesses so you can learn about them, plan a visit, make an appointment, or have a conversation: