February is Black History Month and there are some great events and exhibitions going on around the Bay. Perhaps it’s time to make a museum visit or attend a talk or reading and dig a little deeper in this rich aspect of our history and culture.

Oakland Museum of California
Acoustic Space Series: Haji Basim on Friday, February 16 from 6:30 to 8 PM
Haji Basim is an award-winning artist, multi-instrumentalist, yoga expert, and urban folk crooner who has performed at musical festivals all over the world. This multi-talented singer-songwriter plays the guitar, banjo, ukulele, and sitar (to name a few), and created his upbeat, signature genre of Urban Folk Music. Held in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences

Question Bridge: Black Males on exhibit through February 25
Immerse yourself in intimate videos—woven together and arranged to simulate face-to-face conversations between participants—among a diverse group of over 160 Black men across the United States. Hear these men answer each other’s questions with exceptional honesty and vulnerability, and share stories, beliefs, and values in a personal portrayal of their lives.

Oakland’s African American Museum and Library will screen a series of films and discussions that highlight contributions of African-American veterans and soldiers. The series, titled African Americans in Times of War, is free and open to the public. The screenings and discussions start at 2 PM every Saturday in February. The final event of the series on February 24th will be a panel discussion by leaders of Bay Area African-American veteran and military organizations.

The Museum of the African Diaspora
The Museum of the African Diaspora offers programs that showcase the art, history, and cultural richness of the African Diaspora. They are located in San Francisco at 3rd and Mission. Some February happenings include:

En Mas’: Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean closes on March 4th.
The Alayo Dance Company on February 8 from 7 to 8PM
Reading: The Long Long Ride by Brian Thorenson on February 3 from 2 to 5 PM

Berkeley Art Museum
Vogue Dance Class with Sir JoQ on Friday, Feb 23 at 6 PM
Tap into your inner diva and learn the basics of voguing in this intro dance class with Sir JoQ (Jocquese Whitfield), a vogue legend in San Francisco.