{"id":149102,"date":"2026-02-09T18:19:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T18:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/149102\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T18:19:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T18:19:48","slug":"you-cant-erase-truth-black-history-month-events-around-tampa-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/149102\/","title":{"rendered":"‘You can’t erase truth’: Black History Month events around Tampa Bay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AJuneteenth at Woodson African American Museum of Florida in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 19, 2023. Credit: cityofstpete \/ Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

Make no mistake, the centennial for Black History Month is a major deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWho would\u2019ve thunk that 100 years ago, what started as a day, then a week, has evolved into a whole month\u2014and hopefully the whole year,\u201d Patricia Wright, from St. Petersburg\u2019s Historic Bethel AME Church, told tis reporter on WMNF News public affairs program \u201cThe Skinny.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2014Republican Gerald Ford\u2014in 1976.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important because we\u2019re in a time where we\u2019re trying to dismantle or discount the history\u2014that we be ever more prominent to share it,\u201d Wright added. Even at her church, members have a \u201cvillage moment\u201d where they explain the history to members. \u201cIf they are not teaching the history in ur schools, if we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t erase truth. As long as we know the truth in our communities, regardless of hue, and we insist on telling that truth\u2014whether it\u2019s widespread, adopted or not\u2014we 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,\u201d Wright, who is National President and CEO of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s Southern Christian Leadership Conference added. \u201cI think we should embrace that spirit of of dignified defiance.\u201d<\/p>\n

See a listing of Black history month events below. Add yours via community.cltampa.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Niceties\u2019 Thursday-Sunday. Feb. 12-15. Various times. $25-$30. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg. thestudioat620.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Happy hour with a historian: St. Pete\u2019s 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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Razed\u2019 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<\/a><\/p>\n

Black History Bike Tour\u00a0Saturday, Feb. 14. RSVP requested. Meets at St.\u00a0 Pete Free Clinic, St. Petersburg. blackhistorybiketour.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival\u00a0Saturday, Feb. 14. No cover. The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, St. Petersburg. tbcgf.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Black Love classic movie series: \u2018Boomerang\u2019 Sunday, Feb. 15. 3 p.m. $9-$14. Historic Duncan Auditorium at Tampa Theater, Tampa. tampatheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I Am Black History\u2019 gospel musical Sunday, Feb. 15. 4 p.m. No cover. Shiloh Missionary Baptist, Largo. @elder.baldwin on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Triumph\u2019 (stylized all-caps) screenings Wednesday, Feb. 18. 12:30 p.m. No cover, but registration requested. Mainstage Theatre at\u00a0 Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City. wedu.org\/triumph<\/a><\/p>\n

NAREB Tampa Black History Month Mixer Thursday, Feb. 19. 6 p.m. No cover, registration required. Tampa Club, Tampa. narebtampa.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Celebrating 100 years of Black history month Saturday, Feb. 21. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bing Rooming House, Plant City. plantcitymlkfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Black history celebration Saturday, Feb. 21. 5 p.m. No cover. Center for Manifestation, Tampa. 813-516-2376<\/p>\n

Hidden, Historic Campbell Park walking tour Saturday, Feb. 21. 10 a.m.-noon. RSVP requested. Campbell Park, St. Petersburg. blackhistorybiketour.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

Black Love classic movie series: \u2018Carmen Jones\u2019 Sunday, Feb. 22. 3 p.m. $9-$14. Historic Duncan Auditorium at Tampa Theater, Tampa. tampatheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Black history book club: \u2018The Message\u2019 by Ta-Nehisi Coates Monday, Feb. 23. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Tampa\u2019s Black History Museum, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception Friday, Feb. 27. 5 p.m. $50. Tampa\u2019s Black History Museum, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Black history month celebration Saturday, Feb. 28. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Lake Vista Park, St. Petersburg. stpeteparksrec.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Fish, grits & Black history Sunday, Feb. 28. 8 a.m. $75 donation.\u00a0 The Dr. Walter L. Smith Library & Museum, Tampa. wlsmithlibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Historic civil rights trolley tour Sunday, Feb. 28. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. $45. St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg. historystpete.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Msalt 5th anniversary Sunday, Feb. 28. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $10 & up. Ma\u2019at Sankofa African Learning Temple, Tampa. @MaatSankofaAfricanLearningTemple on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Triumph\u2019 (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<\/a><\/p>\n

Food From The Soul Festival Saturday, March 28. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $$25 & up. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, foodfromthesoulfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Feb. 05 \u2013 11, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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