Essence Magazine once named Grand Rapids 1 of 6 Unexpected Destinations to Travel To That Are Full of Black History. Each February, we celebrate Black History Month with special programming that complements our year-round attractions and activities. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the ways African Americans have helped shape the past and present of Grand Rapids – and how African American culture is helping move the city forward in exciting new directions.
Grand Rapids has countless murals by talented Black artists.
Photo by Nick Irwin for Experience GR. Artwork: Raining Wisdom by Abdoulaye Conde
History & Art
The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives is the city’s foremost repository of material honoring the lives, history and culture of local African Americans. It’s celebrating Black History Month in a new, much larger downtown GR location that allows more room for exhibits, archives, classrooms, a library and theater. Be among the first to explore the new space!
Downtown Grand Rapids is filled with art that honors and uplifts the Black experience. Take a self-guided walking tour and keep an eye out for these murals and sculptures:
• Raining Wisdom, which won ArtPrize 2023 for Guinea native Abdoulaye Conde.
• Harriet Woods Hill Way, a tribute to the first Black woman to serve in the GR police department.
• Ethel B. Coe Way, dedicated to the local community activist and civil rights activist.
• Just Keep Swimming by local artist and educator George Eberhardt.
• Planted by the Sacred Streams of Grace, winner of ArtPrize 2021’s Contemporary Black Art Award.
• Women Activists in Grand Rapids, featuring local civil rights advocates Helen Claytor and Phyllis Scott.
• Celebrating Diversity by local Afro Caribbean artist Erick Picardo.
• Giant Among Giants, celebrating Dr. Ella Sims, first woman-of-color columnist for the Grand Rapids Press.
• The Beverly Sisters, both instrumental in establishing the Urban League of West Michigan.
• Grand Rapids Black Baseball League, honoring Grand Rapids Negro League baseball teams of the 1940s and ‘50s.
• Black People’s Free Store, depicting three local activists: Bernard Ware, Carl Smith and Richard Martell Gilbert.
• Black Entertainment Venues, a tribute to two historic places that catered to the local Black community.
• Madame Bell, saluting an African American herbalist who treated the local Black community in 1800s.
• Hearts of Heartside, a historical mural by artist E’lla Weber.
Downtown Sculptures East of the Grand River
• Lyman Parks, first African American mayor of Grand Rapids.
• Loney Clinton Gordon, one of three local women who helped develop the whooping cough vaccine.
• Helen Jackson Clayton, the first African American president of the national YWCA.
• Rosa Parks, the renowned civil rights pioneer.
Downtown Sculptures West of the Grand River
• The Boom and the Bust by Nigerian-born artist Olalekan Jeyifous.
Twenty-six electrical boxes scattered across downtown GR have been painted with colorful portraits of influential women. Take the self-guided walking tour of RAD Women Electrical Boxes to “meet” eight transformative Black women: Angela Davis, Ella Baker, Florence Griffith Joyner, Hazel Scott, Lucy Parsons, Odetta Holmes, Queen Bessie Coleman and Zora Neale Hurston.
Outside downtown, the self-guided Southtown Mural Tour showcases the 49507 Project, a public arts initiative that raises awareness about redlining and disinvestment in predominately Black and Brown areas of the city.
The African American Live Museum hosted by New Hope Baptist Church is inside Woodland Mall, featuring 25+ live performances showcasing historical Black figures. Feb. 21 at 1pm.
Downtown’s Grand Rapids Public Library presents History of the Blues with Asamu Johnson and the Associates of Blues, exploring the rich history of blues in the Black community through performances of some of the city’s finest musicians. Feb. 21 from 1-2:30pm.
Black Folktales with John Steven Crowley has the award-winning storyteller and actor sharing tales from the African American tradition with stories, songs and drum. At downtown’s Grand Rapids Public Library, Feb. 28 from 11:30am-12:30pm.
Education & Enlightenment
Della Soul Records hosts A Community Dinner + Conversation on Black Love, an evening filled with delicious food, meaningful connections and heartfelt conversations about Black Love. Feb. 7.
The Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs at Grand Rapids Community College welcomes Dr. Robert Shorty as its Black History Month keynote speaker. Grand Valley State University’s first Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture, Dr. Shorty will speak about staying hopeful amid pressure and doubt. Feb. 12.
Dr. Jeanette Epps, a trailblazing aerospace engineer, former CIA intelligence officer and former NASA astronaut who spend 230+ days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will deliver a keynote lecture at the Grand Rapids Public Museum this month. Among many other accomplishments, Epps is the second woman and first Black woman to participate in CAVES, a European Space Agency program preparing astronauts for long-duration spaceflight. Feb. 21.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum presents As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic, featuring more than 100 photographic works by Black artists from Canada, the Caribbean, Great Britain, the United States and South America, depicting Black subjects as they wish to be seen. Now thru April 26. A Gallery Chat on Feb 4 gives visitors the opportunity to chat with a GRAM docent about the works in the exhibition.
The American Revolution Experience at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is an innovative pop-up exhibition asking visitors to consider how the lives of ordinary people, including Black and Native populations, were affected by the events of the Revolutionary War. Display panels and interactive digital kiosks help visitors connect with the story of our nation’s origin. Free admission. Feb. 24 - March 5.
Ryan Bomberger, author of the book Not Equal: Civil Rights Gone Wrong and founder of RadianceFoundation.org, comes to Cornerstone University to share how Christ is and continues to be the great influence in his ministry, service and leadership. Feb. 25.
Make Della Soul Records part of your itinerary this Black History Month.
Photo by Holly Kell for Experience GR
Illuminating Entertainment
The Hip and Hops Block Party at Meijer Gardens celebrates Black History Month by highlighting the influence, community and spirit of hip-hop. Local artists including Lady Ace Boogie & Friends supply the music and beers from Black-owned Black Calder Brewing will be available for purchase. Feb. 3.
Sinners, the award-winning 2025 film that blends horror, blues music and historical African American themes, comes to the big screen at Wealthy Theatre. Feb. 3.
Billy’s Lounge in Eastown hosts its annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash saluting the Jamaican reggae legend Feb. 7.
The Grand Rapids Symphony presents its annual “Symphony with Soul” concert featuring a special guest artist TBA. This one-night musical event is held in conjunction with Celebration of Soul, a reception and awards dinner celebrating the importance of cultural awareness and inclusion in West Michigan. Feb. 21.
The Black Excellence Exhibition at Ottawa Hills High School celebrates Black icons and leaders through music, dance, spoken word and community. Feb. 21.
Trinity Lutheran Church is the site of an African Drum Circle featuring world music expert Leah Ivory and 100 African drums. Sing songs from Africa while drumming with everyone in the room and learn about Trinity’s sponsorship of an orphanage in Kalehe (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Feb. 28.
Black-owned Record Stores and the Preservation of Black Music and History is a presentation by Della Marie Levi at her namesake shop, Della Soul Records. Feb. 28 from 2-4pm.
Food & Drink
Sample some delectable delights at one (or more) of the area’s 40+ Black-owned restaurants. Whether you’re craving soul food, traditional African dishes, quick bites, sweets or beverages, Grand Rapids has you covered!
Give some new Black-owned establishments a try – Dolly’s Delights, Don’t Dawgg Me Out, Gladys’ Grille, Go Vegan GR and Sugah Please Breakfast Brunch Bar are among the businesses opened by local entrepreneurs in the past year.
Grab some friends and take a culinary journey through the heart of Africa via a private cuisine, live music and storytelling experience via Motherland Cultural Connections. You’ll be guided by chefs via Zoom.
Check Out These Black-Owned Restaurants in Grand Rapids
