During Black History Month, we celebrate those who paved the way for Black Americans to have a more just and dignified existence in the United States. Through the ongoing study of the past, we can expand the possibilities of our future. There are many exemplary nonprofits that promote and preserve Black history, culture, and narratives, and ensure that the city’s tapestry of stories is as diverse as the people who live them. We encourage you to support these groups, visit cultural institutions that lift up Black histories, and invite your friends and family to do the same.
Historic and Cultural Preservation
Historic and cultural preservation protects both physical sites and other cultural assets, such as archives and oral histories, that help communities sustain knowledge, engage residents, and advance social change. The following groups work to help Black communities preserve the past, understand the present, and shape the future.
African Voices Communications produces African Voices magazine, one of few literary magazines showcasing fiction and poetry from the African diaspora, a film festival for women of color filmmakers, and creative writing programs for public school students. Its film and literature archives date back 40 years, and are a valuable record of the work of Black artists, especially Black women filmmakers.
BlackSpace is a collective of architects, urban planners, designers, and artists who focus on Black experiences in the built environment, and work with Black-led community groups to improve their neighborhood presence. It provides heritage conservation, asset mapping, and design workshop services, and helps engage local residents in urban planning processes and cultural initiatives.
Weeksville Heritage Center is a museum and community cultural center on the historic site of Weeksville, Brooklyn, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America. It hosts public community events, artist residencies, educational workshops, and tours of the Historic Hunterfly Road Houses. Visitors can learn about the village of Weeksville, the families that lived there, and its community institutions, including one of the country’s first African-American newspapers, Freedman’s Torchlight.
Black Theaters
Black theaters have long been central to the advocacy for and recognition of Black artists. They advance artists’ careers and tell stories that honor the historical contributions, reflect the diverse experiences, and affirm the humanity of Black Americans. Despite this legacy, decades of underinvestment left Black theaters vulnerable, and the majority of Black theaters nationwide shuttered by the 1990s. Yet as public demands to dismantle racist systems grow louder, theater is an accessible way to illuminate these social issues and inspire change. We are highlighting a few of the city’s Black theaters celebrating milestone anniversaries.
The Apollo has been one of the foremost commissioners and presenters of African-American artists and culture—especially jazz—since its founding in Harlem in 1913. It recently launched its inaugural artist-in-residence program with Ta-Nehisi Coates.
The Billie Holiday Theatre is turning 50. Located in central Brooklyn, it is one of the last remaining theaters formed during the Civil Rights and Black Arts movements. It presents theater, dance, music, and festivals that highlight the diversity and complexity of the African Diaspora, and provides arts education programs for all ages. It additionally sponsors the Black Seed, a national program that supports Black theater.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem will turn 25 next year. The theater revives and presents classical theater, new works, and musicals anchored in the African Diaspora. It is known for a free annual Uptown Shakespeare in the Park program in Marcus Garvey Park.
For 40 years, Harlem Stage has commissioned and presented contemporary and emerging artists of color, reaching Black and Latinx audiences of all ages. It operates out of the Gatehouse, a beautifully renovated former waterworks site in Harlem. It has presented and supported artists including Maya Angelou, Bill T. Jones, and Kyle Abraham.
National Black Theatre is celebrating its 55th anniversary. It is one of the longest-running Black theaters in the country presenting work that educates, entertains, empowers, and informs audiences about social justice issues impacting Black identities and experiences. It is developing a new theater and adding space for housing, retail, and community events.
This list is not exhaustive. There are many incredible nonprofits helping make our city a better place for all; we seek to highlight a few that may not be on your radar, but please reach out to our philanthropic advising department at info@nyct-cfi.org if you would like recommendations tailored to your charitable goals.