Collaborative Art Celebrating Black History Month

Ongoing | Tuesday, February 1 – Thursday, February 29

Kids and teens are invited to help complete portions of artwork celebrating Black History Month on the Santa Monica Main Library’s Youth area display wall. For youth through 17. Hosted Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays – 10:00am-8:00pm, Saturdays –  10:00am-5:00pm. 

Santa Monica Black Lives Association Resource Open House

Ongoing | Every Wednesday @ 11:00am-1:00pm.

Enjoy light refreshments and peruse the information booths each Wednesday. Hosted by SMBLA, a multi-service, community-based organization focused on addressing the health, wellness, mental health, socio-economic needs of the black community. View the list of session topics below:
February 14: Mental Health and Wellness/Housing
February 21: Business/Career
February 28: Community Engagement/Home Electrification

Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel 

Wednesday, February 1 @ 5:30pm

The Pacific Wheel will be lit red, green, and yellow in recognition of Black History Month.

Black History Month at City Yards

Wednesday, February 7 @ 12:00-2:00pm

Welcome Black History Month with Santa Monica City Hall. Santa Monica’s Black History Month 2024 kicks off with the theme “Black Media & the Arts”. Festivities include dancing and food trucks.

Black History Month Lunch at Big Blue Bus

Thursday, February 15 @ 12:00-2:00pm

Celebrate Black History Month with music and food trucks at the Big Blue Bus headquarters located at 1660 7th Street.  The event starts at noon and ends at 2 p.m.

Locals Night at The Pier

Thursday, February 15 @ 5:00-9:00pm

Head to the Santa Monica Pier for a free evening of entertainment curated by the local community. Featuring a classic car show, silent disco, music from the Syreeta Neal Trio and BLVK H3RO and many more, the evening is all by locals, for locals – come on down and celebrate Black History Month with us!

Authors in Conversation: Rasheed Newson & Laura Warrell 

Wednesday, February 21 @ 6:00-7:00pm

Author Rasheed Newson discusses his debut novel, My Government Means to Kill Me, a fast-paced coming of age story about a young, gay Black man in the mid-1980s, with fellow novelist Laura Warrell (Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm). A book sale and signing follows.

Santa Monica Greens Festival 

Saturday, February 24 @ 10:00am-2:00pm

In partnership with Virginia Avenue Park, Santa Monica Farmers Markets and Pico Branch Library, the Greens Festival will celebrate Black History, Life, Food and Culture.

Screening of “The Wiz” 

Thursday, February 29 @ 11:30am and 3:30pm

Dorothy, an unhappy Harlem teacher, is whisked away to a fantastical Oz where she journeys down the soul-infused yellow brick road with friends seeking self-discovery, ultimately realizing the power within herself to return home. This adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” whisks audiences away into the essence of the African-American experience.