Celebrating Black history and culture at UCLA

From live performances and documentary screenings to timely conversations about compassion, justice and identity, UCLA is hosting a wide range of events throughout February in celebration of Black History Month. Join students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in recognizing the impact of Black history and culture on society.

Ongoing campus research and programming continue to center Black storytelling and support the next generation of Black leaders, scholars and creators. Follow campus units such as the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, the African American studies department, and the Black Bruin Resource Center for more ways to engage throughout the year.

Now through summer 2026
"Belongings: Changing Hands and Shifting Meanings in African Arts"

Visit the Fowler Museum at UCLA to experience an exhibition exploring how cultural artifacts from African communities acquire new meanings as they travel through time and space. Organized into four chronological sections, the exhibit looks beyond the objects' original uses to reveal layered histories and evolving interpretations, prompting visitors to question what it means to "belong" and to consider how multiple truths can coexist.

Admission is free.

Feb. 5, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Book talk: "House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr."

Brown University scholar Marion Orr discusses his new book,which chronicles the political rise and fall of Charles C. Diggs Jr., Michigan's first Black member of Congress and a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus. He will be joined by Sekou Franklin, executive director of the John Lewis Center for Social Justice at Fisk University. Lunch will be provided.

The event will be held at the Black Forum in Haines Hall. Registration is requested.

Feb. 6, 5 p.m.
"Motown on Screen: The Sound That Moved the World"
Trace the powerful influence of Motown music through film, conversation and live performance. Presented by the UCLA Berry Gordy Music Industry Center, this multimedia event explores the roots and reach of Berry Gordy's legendary label and its ongoing cultural impact.

The program will take place at Lani Hall in the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Admission is free.

Feb. 7 and 28, noon to 4 p.m.
Live performances: Will Rawls' "Unmade"
As part of the Hammer Museum at UCLA's "Made in L.A. 2025" biennial, UCLA associate professor Will Rawls presents "Unmade," a site-specific dance performance that unfolds across museum spaces. Blending choreography with object-based storytelling, each vignette explores themes of resource-sharing and embodied knowledge.

Admission is free.

Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Book talk with Loretta Ross: "Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You'd Rather Cancel"
MacArthur "Genius" fellow and activist Loretta Ross shares tools for navigating difficult conversations with empathy and accountability. Presented by the UCLA Center for the Study of Women and the Barbra Streisand Center, this event features insights from Ross's latest book on building connections across divides.

Admission is free, and seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m.
Film screening and conversation: "When We Free the World"
Join the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA for a special screening of "When We Free the World," the directorial debut of Grammy-nominated author and Tupac Shakur biographer Kevin Powell. The documentary film explores masculinity through the lens of Black men and boys in America. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Powell and producer and writer Evangeline Lawson. UCLA's Marcus Hunter, who holds the Scott Waugh Endowed Chair in the division of social sciences and is a professor of sociology and African American studies, will moderate.

The program will be held in Room 2160E of the Broad Art Center. Registration required.

Feb. 19, 10 a.m.
Webinar: Advancing Black student achievement
Hosted by UCLA's Center for the Transformation of Schools, this virtual convening highlights research and practices that uplift Black student excellence and belonging. Hear from experts and educators working to build conditions that foster academic success and well-being.

Register online for Zoom access.

Feb. 21, 8 p.m.
Dance performance: Kyreeana Breelin Alexander's "We Cool"
Presented by CAP UCLA,in partnership with YoungArts, UCLA alumna and multidisciplinary artist Kyreeana Breelin Alexander brings her childhood diary to life in this coming-of-age dance performance. Incorporating tap, original music, puppetry and spoken word, "We Cool" celebrates self-expression and identity.

The performance will be held at The Nimoy Theater. Tickets are available through the UCLA Central Ticket Office.

Feb. 25, 5:30 p.m.
Black joy unfiltered: A conversation with Michael Harriot and Michael Lens, moderated by Safiya Noble

To close out Black History Month, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA present a conversation featuring journalist Michael Harriot and urban planning scholar Michael Lens. Moderated by UCLA professor Safiya Noble, the event explores how economic and political shifts shape Black life - with an emphasis on storytelling, creativity and resilience. Harriot and Lens will sign copies of their books following the discussion.

The event will take place at The Nimoy Theater. Admission is free with RSVP.