Henry Johnson in Washington Park
PicturedHenry Johnson in Washington Park

Celebrate Black History in Albany This Month & Beyond

February marks Black History Month in the United States.

This year, let Black History Month serve as a reminder to support Black-owned businesses and learn about Black history all year long. Scroll on to learn how to celebrate Black history in Albany during the month of February and beyond.

Events Exhibits & Museums Businesses

Events

Join the City of Albany in a Celebration for Black History Month

Stop by the Albany West on February 21 for a Black History Month celebration from the City of Albany Department of Recreation. This fun-filled event will feature local performers and vendors!

Catch a Performance by the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY

Catch a performance of Confederates presented by Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY. This powerful play by Tony-nominated playwright Dominique Morisseau follows two Black American women, an enslaved rebel and a modern-day university professor, whose lives unfold more than a century apart yet reflect parallel experiences with institutional racism. Performances run February 5–8 and February 12–15.

Beyond the month of February, grab tickets for BTTUNY's next performance, Wedding Band by Alice Childress. Set in South Carolina during the summer of 1918, Wedding Band follows Julia, a Black seamstress, and Herman, a white man, whose long-standing relationship is tested by the harsh realities of racism and prejudice in early 20th-century America. Performances run June 4–7 and June 11–14.

All performances are held at Capital Repertory Theatre.

Attend New York State Museum's Black History Month Events

The New York State Museum presents a month of programs highlighting Black history, culture, and contributions in New York and beyond.

Program TitleDate(s)TimeBrief Description
Archive Adventures: Discover New York’s Hidden StoriesFebruary 5, 12, 19, & 2611 amExplore New York history with museum archivists.
Opening the Airways: How Black Women Broke the Color Barrier in the SkyFebruary 72 pmTalk on Black women pioneers in aviation.
Special Screening: Black BarbieFebruary 1012 pmDocumentary screening on the first Black Barbie.
Fashion and Faith: Hats of the Great MigrationFebruary 1312 pmGallery talk on Black church fashion and identity.
Rhythms of the Diaspora: Drumming and DanceFebruary 1911 am–1 pmInteractive drumming and dance program.

Visit the Empire State Plaza for a Black History Month Celebration

Visit Empire State Plaza at lunchtime on February 11 for their Black History Month Celebration! This free event features delicious food, exhibits, food and shopping vendors, and live music. Don't miss performances by Cool Universe and the Barnhill Movement Collective and tasty food available for purchase from Allie B's Cozy Kitchen.

Attend Schuyler Mansion's February Tours  

During February, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site will offer Hear Them Now: Stories of the Enslaved at Schuyler Mansion on select dates. This interactive tour explores the lives of individuals once enslaved by the Schuylers, including Silva and her family, Harre, Prince, and Caty Betty. Tours are held at 1 PM on select Thursdays and Saturdays and last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

Visit Ten Broeck Mansion for Programming This Month and Beyond 

Ten Broeck Mansion is hosting a series of programming honoring Black history this month and beyond including:

Program TitleDate(s)Brief Description
A Revolutionary Age: Generations & the American Revolution in Albany, NYFebruary 27; March 6 & 13Online lecture series on Albany in the Revolutionary era.
An Ongoing Revolution: Black History and the Ten Broeck MansionJune 17Special focus tour centered on Black history.
Immersion Tours: Freedom and Opportunity in Albany, the Ongoing RevolutionJune 18; August 20; September 17; October 10Immersive tour exploring freedom and opportunity in Albany.
Juneteenth Weekend: Celebrating Rosanna VosburghJune 20–21Free Juneteenth weekend tours honoring Rosanna Vosburgh.
Free Family Program: Arts & Culture of AfricaJune 20Family-friendly program celebrating African arts and culture.
Art and Culture Festival & ConcertAugust 22Festival featuring art, culture, and live music.

Exhibits & Museums

Visit the Underground Railroad Education Center

During the month of February, schedule a tour of the Stephen & Harriet Myers Residence, operated by the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC). This historic site reflects Underground Railroad history from the perspective of Stephen Myers, a man formally enslaved, and from the perspective of Black abolitionists. Stephen & Harriet Myers were the central Underground Railroad activists in the Capital Region during the 1850s and welcomed freedom seekers to their home. Before visiting, call (518) 621-7793 to schedule a tour on Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM or Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 

View the NYS Capitol's 2026 Black History Month Exhibition

Visit the New York State Capitol Building at the Empire State Plaza and view their exhibition A Century of Black History Commemorations, on view through February 27, 2026. This exhibition marks 100 years since the first organized national Black history commemoration in 1926, established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Tracing the origins and evolution of Black History Month, the exhibition highlights New York State’s leadership in preserving, elevating, and honoring Black history while celebrating the lasting cultural, artistic, and historical contributions of Black Americans across generations.

Explore the New York State Museum's Collections 

In recognition of Black History Month, the New York State Museum developed a resource page for students, educators and the general public. Dive into online educator guides, museum research, access to digital collections and more.

On view at the museum is Black Capital: Harlem in the 1920s celebrating the rich and diverse culture of Harlem, a flourishing center for Black culture, art and music.

Dive into Albany's Black History at Historic Sites & Monuments

View Ten Broeck Mansion's online exhibition (Extra)Ordinary: Images of Everyday Life in Albany. The videos offer a behind-the-scenes exploration of seemingly ordinary images within the collections. The first session titled, "Hannah's Family: African American Family Identity in Albany", is in honor of Black History Month. The series explores identity, emotions, values, and politics, all through images which reveal rich and complex stories. The Albany County Historical Society also recently received a grant from the National Archives. This grant will allow the organization to locate and study documents related to African Americans in Albany from 1644 to 1817 and help tell stories that are often untold. 

Albany Rural Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark site, is filled with stories of Albany's African American history. In 2020, the long lost headstone of Reverend Nathaniel Paul was rediscovered by Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery Historian Paula Lemire and gravestone restorer Christopher White. Rev. Nathanial Paul was the first African American minister in Albany and was the founding pastor of what would become the First African Baptist Church. Stephen and Harriet Myers are cemetery residents, as well as their descendant William “Beau” Freeman, who fought alongside Sgt. Henry Johnson in the Harlem Hellfighters. Albany Rural is also the final resting place for Kenmore Hotel founder Adam Blake, whose formerly enslaved father was the head of the household at the Van Rensselaer Manor. Follow Albany Rural Cemetery on Facebook for more fascinating stories. 

One of Albany's greatest war heroes, Sgt. Henry Johnson, has a monument in Albany's Henry Johnson Park and Washington Park. Henry Johnson was an African American U.S. Army soldier who fought heroically in the 369th Infantry Regiment, called the Harlem Hellfighters, in World War I. His heroic actions were recognized by the French with a Croix de guerre. Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama posthumously in 2015. Learn more about Sgt. Henry Johnson by downloading a free copy of a “Medal of Honor: Henry Johnson” graphic novel from the Association of the United States Army or by tuning into WMHT's documentary on the local hero.

Businesses

Support Black-Owned Restaurants & Black-Owned Businesses

Support Black-owned restaurants and businesses in the Capital Region all year long! Umana Yana Restaurant specializes in comfort food from around the world.  Allie B's Cozy Kitchen is Albany's go-to spot for soul food and southern-style cuisine. Get your sweet fix with handcrafted chocolate covered fruit from TieBerrySweets, booze-infused cakes from GreatExbaketations, or delicious bakery items from Nelly's Treats.

Fresh & Fly Clothing sells clothes and accessories for men, women and children. Root3d is a wellness center, designed to recharge the mind, body and spirit, with a focus on BIPOC communities. Skin Deep Naturals serves Albany County with easy-to-use, natural products and offers soap-making classes.

Lists of Local Black-Owned Businesses: 

Black-Owned Restaurant & Bakeries in Albany (Discover Albany)
Black-Owned Businesses & Organizations in Albany (Discover Albany)
A Guide to Black-Owned Businesses and Black-Led Organizations (Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy)
Black-Owned Businesses in Downtown (Downtown Albany BID)
50+ Black-Owned Capital Region Businesses (Instagram: @yelpalbany)

Pick Up a Book from Stuyvesant Plaza's Little Free Library

Stuyvesant Plaza is celebrating Black History Month by featuring stories surrounding Black individuals and communities in their little free library. Grab a book from the library's new location near the measuring stick art installation on the south side of the plaza.

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