Carter G. Woodson was born in 1875 to people who were formerly enslaved. He was the second Black American to earn a doctorate from Havard University, following in the steps of W.E.B. Du Bois, and served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University.
In February 1926, Woodson announced the establishment of Negro History Week, which was first celebrated during a week that included the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Douglass was a formerly enslaved person who fled north from Maryland in 1838 and became a voice for the abolitionist movement. He was a published author, the president of the Freedman Bank, the U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia and the ambassador to Haiti.
In 1976, the weekly observance grew into a month-long celebration. Since then, every U.S. president has issued a proclamation dedicating February as Black History Month.
To learn more about Black history and culture, or gain awareness of the past, check out our list of upcoming events, including musical and dance performances, interactive workshops, and more throughout February in and around Oakland County.
Verify registration, hours and locations before attending. Updated 1/28/2026
Oakland County
Bloomfield Hills / Bloomfield Township
Feb. 13: And I Saw A New Heaven: A Celebration of African American Music at Christ Church Cranbrook
Farmington / Farmington Hills
Feb. 22: Black History Month Concert featuring the Amen-Ra Drummers and Dancers at the Hawk
Feb. 26: African American Read-In: Kwame Alexander Watch Party at the Farmington Community Library
Oak Park
Feb. 3: Teen DIY Accessories: Black History Month at the Oak Park Public Library
Feb. 5: STEAM in Black History at the Oak Park Public Library
Feb. 10: Finding Your Black Ancestors at the Oak Park Public Library
Orchard Lake
Feb. 8: Local Black History Open House at the Orchard Lake Museum
Rochester
Feb. 3 – 19: African American Celebration Month at Oakland University
Southfield
Feb. 1-28: Black History Mystery: Culinary Delights! at the Southfield Public Library
Feb. 1: Black History Month Cupcake Decorating Workshipf at the Southfield Pavilion
Feb. 2: Joys of Poetry at the Southfield Pavilion
Feb. 5: Pathways to Freedom in the Americas: Shared Experiences Between Michigan, USA and Guerrero, Mexico at the Southfield Public Library
Feb. 7: Rhythm of Our Roots Music Festival at the Southfield Pavilion
Feb. 10: Tuesday Evening Book Club: Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine at the Southfield Public Library
Feb. 11: The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment: Free Men Who Fought Slavery at the Southfield Public Library
Feb. 15: Martin and Malcolm: Legacy, Leadership and the Long View at The H.U.B.
Waterford
Feb. 7: African American History Walking Tour
West Bloomfield
Feb. 21: Black Expo at Orchard Lake Mall
Metro Detroit
Feb. 1-28: Black History Month Events at The Henry Ford Museum
Feb. 1-28: Black History Month Events at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Feb. 7: Preserving Black Legacy: Detroit Griots at The Detroit Historical Society
Feb. 21: Paths to the Past: Black Genealogy Research at The Detroit Historical Society
Feb. 21: Midnight: Detroit & The Underground Railroad at The Detroit Public Library
Feb. 21: African American Family Book Expo & Read-In
Feb. 28: Celebrating a Century of Courage at The Detroit Historical Society
Feb. 23: Black History Month Historic Houses of Worship Tour at St. Matthews-St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church
Virtual
Feb. 19: The Story and Significance of Black American Sign Language at Oakland Community College
Black history should be celebrated and acknowledged year-round. Do you know of other Black history events in Oakland County? Email socialmedia@oakgov.com or comment below.
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