2025 Black History Month Calendar

Saturday, February 8, 2025

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 5:30 pm
- Foelinger Auditorium
Central Black Student Union's Cotton Club -Variety Show

The CBSU Cotton Club variety show unmasks hidden talents from fellow students. The Central Black Student Union variety show is open to all students!
- Performance

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 4:00 pm
- The Independent Media Center, 202 S Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
"Reel Black": Cinema and Conversation

This event is an opportunity to explore Black films throughout history while opening space for a community conversation around the role of Black film and art in our struggle for liberation!
- Informational
- 6:00 - 8:00 pm
- IKE SDRP, Room 2009
Inclusion and Leadership Education

Celebrate Black icons, artists, and music by doing karaoke, listening to music, and activities, and having food with the I&L team.
- Festival/Celebration
- 6:00 pm
- BNAACC (Multipurpose Room)
Trivia Night (Black Psychology Edition)

Join BAPS for a fun-filled trivia night filled with Black Psychology-focused questions! Refreshments will be provided!
- Social/Informal Event
- 7:00 pm
- Illini Union Courtyard Cafe
Musical Monday featuring N2Cole
- Performance

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 6:00 pm
- Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center; 1212 W. Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801
Count It All Joy: Black LGBTQ+ in History!
- Lecture
- 6:00 pm
- State Farm Center
Womens Basketball - UIUC Vs Penn State - Divine 9 Night

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will highlight Black Greek Life at their Women’s basketball game vs Penn State at 6 pm. Members of any Black sororities and fraternities on campus will get free admission to the game! Wear your letters!
- Social/Informal Event

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- ISR @1867 1010 W Illinois St, Urbana, IL 61801
Jollof Cook-Off
- Social/Informal Event

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Neil St. Blues (301N Neil St Ste 106, Champaign, IL 61820)
Celebration of Black, LatinX, and Indigenous Faculty Excellence
- Ceremony/Service
- 5:30 pm
- 1210 W. Nevada St. Urbana IL (AACC/IE)
ICU Intercutural Dialogue Series: Journey to Ghana

In anticipation of her 68th Independence Day, join Victoria and Fatihi on February 19 for an exciting event in the Intercultural Dialogue Series as we explore the vibrant culture and rich traditions of Ghana. Through engaging presentations, stories, and interactive discussions, you'll gain a deeper understanding of West Africa's most peaceful country.
- Festival/Celebration

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Media Commons (formerly Scholarly Commons), 220 Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive Urbana, IL 61801
Library Friends Webinar: Paths of Progress: Uncovering the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail
- Lecture
- 4:00 - 6:00 pm
- Architecture Building, Room 102A (608 E. Lorado Dr, Champaign 61820)
Afrominimalism: A Conversation on Living with less without Losing Yourself
- Lecture
- 5:00 - 8:00 pm
- Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium Temple Hoyne Buell Hall 611 Lorado Taft Dr. Champaign, IL 61820
Celebrating Afro-Cuban Artist Wilfredo Lam: A Talk with Lowery Stokes Sims
- Performance
- 6:00 - 8:00 pm
- IKE SDRP, Room 2009
Black History Month Bingo Night

Eat food, celebrate Black joy, and play rounds of Black History-inspired bingo to learn more about historical events and figures from Black history.
- Social/Informal Event

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
- I-Hotel & Conference Center; 1900 S. First St., Champaign, IL 61820
Black & Latinx Summit
- Seminar/Symposium

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 7:00 pm
- BNAACC (Multipurpose Room)
Dancin’ and Destressin’!

We will be celebrating Black dance culture and how it aids in stress reduction! Bring your gym shoes as we will be having guest choreographers guide us through a mini-routine!
- Social/Informal Event

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
- 106 Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive Urbana, IL 61801
Exploring African Americans and Labor: A Hybrid Presentation and Workshop
- Lecture

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 6:00 - 8:00 pm
- IKE SDRP, Room 2009
Summer of Soul Movie Night

Eat food and watch the documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival that celebrated African-American music and culture.
- Film Screening

- All Day
- Main Library- North/ South Corridor on First Floor
Spotlight on the Harlem Renaissance
- Exhibition
- 12:00 pm
- University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820
Breaking Chains, Building Communities: The Story of the AME Church

Please join Diversity & Social Justice Education (DSJE) and the University YMCA for our weekly Lunch on Us series. We'll be hearing from Rev. Terrance Thomas of Bethel AME Church on the AME Church's role in fighting for justice throughout history and today.
- Informational