February has been full of amazing celebrations. From BBQ’s to movie nights, symphonies to tennis matches, many organizations have worked hard to make Black History Month memorable. With this year marking 100 years of celebrating Black History Month, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite celebrations. So without further ado, here is Black History Month 2026.
Top 10 Celebrations
1. BBQ
At USC, the Black Student Assembly kicked off the month with the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs with their “Welcome Back BBQ” on the McCarthy Quad. Students enjoyed amazing food, music, and lots and lots of dancing. Aamirah Day, the BSA’s Co- Special Events Chair, shared her thoughts on the response to the events they have planned, and her role. She was ready to start the month. “ I’ve had a lot of ideas since the start of the semester. I’m very creative, so I start to think of things early on.” When asked if she thinks these events have fostered a sense of community for black USC students, she responded, “yea I think they have. Especially for the black students, but others. I’ve seen a lot of people from different backgrounds come, and I think that’s what really helps us all to connect.”
2. Tiktok trend
One of the most iconic celebrations of Black History Month has taken TikTok by storm. Open any comment section on a video, and you will see that commonly used reaction pictures have been blessed with a “black makeover.” My personal favorite was black Regina George, whose curly bun was more perfect than I could ever hope mine to be. Yet, we cannot forget about the most iconic reaction image, Marvel’s Anthony Mackie, who didn’t need a Black makeover.
3. Hair Art Exhibition
The Patricia Sweetow Gallery hosted hair sculptor Kristina “The Glam Tech” Beaty for a one-day wearable art exhibition. Displaying Black ceremonial hairstyles as a powerful cultural expression in the abstract. All Beaty’s sculptures aim to “reframe the narrative surrounding Black hair, positioning it as a vital and sophisticated art form worthy of scholarly inquiry and institutional exhibition” (Beaty). Beaty has been awarded multiple awards for her art and is the first hair artist to present The Art of Hair Sculpting at the Detroit Institute of Arts. However, they are not new to this scene with their work appearing in several museums and magazines like Vogue or Detroit Institute of the Arts, Beaty is paving the way for hair sculptures everywhere.
4. Los Angeles Black History Festival
This past Saturday, on February 21st, Open Arms Pantry and Resource Center hosted its kid-friendly Black History Festival at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum. Attendees could enjoy the nice sunny day while wandering through food vendors, apparel booths, and all while listening to powerful speakers of the community. My favorite booths were Essie Justice Group, a non-profit that strives to provide mental health care for formerly incarcerated women and their loved ones. (Essie) Another booth was Lyndsey Crawford’s book stand. She is a children’s book author, mother, and attorney who had a few of her works on display. Her books aim to “celebrate courage, culture, and the boundless power of imagination.” (Crawford). If the kids running around and playing became too distracting, all USC students had the option to enter the museum for free.
5. Tennis Cookout
All-Love Racquet Club partnered with Fortune Tennis to host “The Cookout,” a Tennis celebration, to honor Black History. Taught by Emmanuel “Manny” Tennis, this event offered beginner clinics, where new players could learn the fundamentals of tennis, like grips, footwork, and swings. Intermediate and advanced levels were organized, where you could test your skills in matches and a tournament. They had everything from vibes, friendly competition, music, prizes, and food.
6. Threads of Black Tradition
BSA and CBSA hosted their “Threads of Black Tradition” event last Monday, February 23rd, in the Sustainability Hub. This quilt-making event was meant to teach students about Kente, Ankara, Mudcloth, and Black American quilting traditions. Students could also contribute to the “permanent community quilt for the Sustainability club.” They encouraged attendees to bring a meaningful article of fabric that was passed down to them to share with others during the event.
7. Soul Line Dancing
Soul Line Dancing, hosted by the BSA and CBSA, was a night of girlhood and learning. Participants were taught iconic line dances by Adrianne Harris, a current dance teacher at USC and former NFL cheerleader. Her passion and energy throughout the night made learning these complicated steps easy, yet it was her willingness to move and express herself that encouraged goers to step out of their shells and “feel the music.”
8. We Hold These Truths
USC School of Music, Thornton hosted “We Hold These Truths,” a celebration of Black History Month, this past Sunday, February 22nd, at the Nocturne Theater. They featured a student and faculty Opera Singer to showcase the contributions of Black Americans to the cause of democracy over the years. One of the performers from the night, Thornton’s Ashleigh Connor, a Vocal Arts and Opera junior, gave a riveting rendition of “This Little Light of Mine,” adding such an angelic and unique sound that you couldn’t tear your eyes from her, even long after she sang her last note.Other performers included Derrick Lawrence, Thornton’s voice teacher, Michael Mensah, a bass, and Lwaz Hlati.
9. Black Climbers in Film
Black Rocks, The People’s Climbing Crew gathered with Hollywood Boulders for a film night showcasing black climbers. This was a non-climbing event. Black Rocks LA concluded the night was “ very impactful, we had discussions in between, and during films we were laughing and crying together” (Aisha Muhammad, Black Rocks Founder). Later stated they did not anticipate the scale of the emotional response, but were glad that attendants could find such community within these films. “We got to see a part of ourselves in them” (Muhammad). While climbing has traditionally been a financial barrier to the Black community, these movies and the space provided guests with the comfort that the climbing industry is now something they can be a part of, too.
10. F.R.O Fest
USC African American Cinema Society and the Fisher Museum celebrated black writers, producers, directors, and actors from USC on February 27 at 7:00-9:00 pm. Dominique R. Draper, a graduate student at the Cinematic Arts School showcased his film. His film is titled “The Day You Find Your Name” about Afeni Shakur in the height of the Black Panther Movement. Jay Pendarvis JR, a current master’s student of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production. His film “See You Soon” is a discussion between brothers while one waits for someone else. Lauryn Bedford is a master’s student of the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television. Her film “Clucky’s” is a chaos-driven story about a young girl’s experience at Clucky’s Chicken. Zaria Calhum, a senior in Cinema and Media Studies, and “The Interview” is a film following a black woman’s contemplation of her natural hair, and the pressures she feels from societal standards. Lastly, Tatiola Sobomehin, a freshman majoring in Media Arts and Practice, created “I was an Egg Once,” exploring her identity with her family lineage.
Please don’t forget that black events happen all year round, not just one month. All of the events above are just a glimpse of the incredible ways Black people are pouring into our community — enriching us, healing us, celebrating us, and creating space for us to simply experience joy together. Let’s all Celebrate Black history every day.