How to celebrate Black History Month in Nashville: Our picks for the culture

Nashville has played a key role in the history of Black Americans. Music City figures prominently in the story of African American music, cuisine and the Civil Rights Movement.

To celebrate that rich heritage and its contribution to American life, the city will play host to many events during Black History Month.

They include a walking tour of historic sit-in sites from the Civil Rights era and various museum exhibits showcasing the Civil War and Black culture. February will also see a long list of musical and other artistic offerings showcasing Black and African heritage.

The following is a sampling of Nashville's Black History Month events in February. Know any items we should add to the list? Email fgluck@tennessean.com.

The Black Soul & Spirits Tasting

Feb. 1 — This event at the National Museum of African American Music, located at 510 Broadway in Nashville, will showcase the state's minority-owned wine and spirit businesses and raise funds for the museum. The evening will feature live music, tastings and access to gallery exhibits. Tickets start at $30.

Black History in Music

Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24 — Jefferson Street Sound Museum is hosting an art exhibit titled Black History in Music: Work, Worship, and Celebration. The goal is to remind Nashvillians of the history of Jefferson Street as a haven for Black music.

The exhibit aims to celebrate musicians of the past and the importance of "revitalizing the businesses and cultural fabric of Historic Jefferson Street." Events will be held between 1 and 4 p.m. at the museum, located at 2004 Jefferson St. in Nashville.

Featured artists include Benneth Wilson, Elisheba Israel-Mrozik, James Threalkill, Karen Coffee, Michael Mucker, Morgan Hines and Michael McBride.

Black Heritage in Horse Racing

Feb. 3 — Author Katherine Mooney will discuss her book “Race Horse Men: How Slavery and Freedom Were Made at the Racetrack” at Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery. Mooney tells the stories of black jockeys, grooms and horse trainers who made the racetrack run.

The event will be held at 1 p.m. at the winery, at located 110 Leake Ave.

Patti LaBelle at the Nashville Symphony

Feb. 8-10 — R&B singer and actress Patti LaBelle will join the Nashville Symphony for three nights at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Enrico Lopez-Yañez is conducting.

LaBelle's performances will start at 7:30 p.m. The event has a nine-ticket limit per household. For more information, visit nashvillesymphony.org.

Black History Month Expo

Feb. 10 — The Nashville Black Market spotlights more than 100 black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Promoters encourage visitors to "dance, eat, network, and shop."

The market opens at 11 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m. at the Nashville Fairgrounds at 401 Wingrove St. in Nashville.

Equal Opportunity Day

Feb. 22 — The Urban League of Middle Tennessee will celebrate its 56th year with an Equal Opportunity Day luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Music City Center, 201 John Lewis Way S., in downtown Nashville. The theme is Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity and Defeat Poverty.

The keynote speaker will be Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney McPhee.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Feb. 25 — The African musical group Nelson Mandela once called “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors" will be at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center to perform in their globally known a cappella style. The group gained worldwide fame by performing on Paul Simon's album "Graceland" and has worked with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris and Melissa Etheridge.

Ongoing Civil Rights history tours

For those wanting to learn more about Tennessee's rich history and Black history in the state, the Tennessee State Museum has exhibits on the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction. The National Museum of African American Music, which opened in 2021, has exhibits on African American contributions to classical, country, jazz and hip-hop music. United Street Tours provides a Civil Rights Walking Tour of Nashville, showcasing Nashville's important role in the Civil Rights Movement.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Black History Month: How to celebrate in Music City