OFFICIAL CITYWIDE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

9:00 AM - Part 1
Bridge Art Exhibition
Presented by the Office of Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson

10:00 AM - Part 2
“Voices of the City: Los Angeles City Council Honors Distinguished Leaders”
A special City Council program honoring the 2026 Living Legend Honoree, Denise Nicholas, Actress and Author (Freshwater Road, Finding Home); and the 2026 Hall of Fame Honorees, Antwone Fisher, Author (Finding Fish) and Founder, Glenville House Press, and DMA Anderson, Entrepreneur and CEO, Korgi Tech.

This program also includes the unveiling of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) national Black History Month theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” and the introduction of the 2026 Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Black History Guide and Cover Artist.

In honoring this year’s theme, we salute the past and present members of Our Authors Study Club, Inc., who first partnered with the City of Los Angeles and the Mayor in 1950, marking 76 years of collaboration in celebrating Black achievement, resilience, and cultural legacy—while looking ahead to inspire future generations to continue keeping Black history alive and vibrant.

[Read the full executive summary of the 2026 theme at asalh.org.]

12:00 PM - Part 3
Community Reception & Celebration
City Hall West Forecourt
Sponsored by Council Districts 8, 9, 10, and 15

LOCATIONS:
The Bridge │ City Hall Council Chambers │ City Hall West Forecourt
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

COST: Free
RSVP: www.oascla.org/rsvp

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Highways Performance Space
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

SITE: Streaming @ourauthorsstudyclub │ COST: Free
RSVP: Online www.oascla.org/rsvp

“Words on Screen & Page: A Black History Literary & Cultural Evening”

Presented by Our Authors Study Club (OASC) in partnership with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), with co-presenters Highways Performance Space and The Till Artists Collective, this Black History Month evening celebrates the power of Black storytelling across generations and artistic forms.

Featuring acclaimed author Antwone Fisher (Finding Fish) and actress and author Denise Nicholas (Freshwater Road and Finding Home), this intimate gathering invites audiences into meaningful conversation at the intersection of literature, film, and lived experience. Moderated by Gil Robertson, Co-Founder and President of AAFCA, the evening honors storytelling as a vital tool for healing, truth-telling, and cultural continuity.

Through deeply personal narratives and reflective dialogue, this program affirms that Black history is not confined to a moment in time, but lives as a continuum—shaping identity, fostering resilience, and illuminating paths forward. The partnership between OASC and AAFCA underscores the enduring connection between the written word and visual storytelling, and the shared responsibility of artists, critics, and cultural institutions to preserve and elevate authentic Black voices.

Join us for an evening of reflection, conversation, and connection—where words meet history, and stories continue to shape our collective understanding.

Saturday, February 21, 2026

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

SITE: Streaming @ourauthorsstudyclub : Location: Highways Performance Space

1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, │COST: Free

TIME: Reception 5:00 PM Discussion: 6PM 7:30PM Book Signing

RSVP: www.oascla.org/rsvp

OASC in Partnership with the African American Film Critics Association, with co-presenters, Highways Performance Space & The Till Artists Collective (tillartistscollective.org)

Featuring Actress, Author Denise Nicolas, and Author, Antwone Fisher, Gil Robertson, AAFCA Moderator

An intimate and inspiring literary and cultural gathering celebrating the power of Black storytelling across generations and mediums. In partnership with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), this year’s evening spotlights the written works of Antwone Fisher Finding Fish and Denise Nicholas Fresh Water Road andFinding Home, —two voices whose stories continue to shape conversations around identity, healing, artistry, and legacy. This special evening invites readers, thinkers, and culture-shapers into meaningful dialogue that bridges literature, film, and lived experience, honoring Black history not as a moment, but as a continuum.

Mr. Fisher’s work embodies the transformative power of truth-telling. Through deeply personal narratives rooted in resilience, self-discovery, and emotional restoration, his writing aligns with our 2026 theme by affirming that healing is both a personal journey and a collective responsibility. His voice reminds us that confronting the past is essential to shaping a more liberated future. Ms. Nicholas brings a legacy of artistry, activism, and cultural consciousness. Her written work reflects the evolution of Black womanhood, creative courage, and social awareness. Her storytelling honors the importance of voice, representation, and the responsibility of artists to illuminate paths forward while preserving cultural memory.

We are excited about our partnership with AAFCA. It reinforces the vital connection between literature and visual storytelling. As champions of Black narratives in film and media, AAFCA aligns seamlessly with OASC by amplifying authentic stories and fostering critical conversations that expand how Black life, history, and creativity are seen, valued, and remembered.

This Black History Evening is more than a literary celebration—it is a living conversation lead by the president and co-founder of AASCA, Mr. Gil Robertson. It creates space to reflect, question, and connect across generations and disciplines. At a time when stories matter more than ever, this event affirms the role of authors, critics, and cultural institutions in shaping understanding, empathy, and progress.

Attendees will leave inspired by the depth of shared wisdom, moved by the honesty of lived experiences, and energized by the continued relevance of Black storytelling as a force for cultural clarity and change.

Join us for an evening where words, history, and vision meet—and where the dialogue continues long after the final page is turned.

Thursday, February 19, 2026
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

SITE: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument │ COST: Free (RSVP required)
INFO: oascla.org │ elpueblo.lacity.org
RSVP: www.oascla.org/rsvp

In a tradition begun in 2023, this Black History Month program honors the twenty-six founding families of African American descent who, alongside other courageous founders, helped establish what is now El Pueblo de Los Angeles—by recognizing contemporary Black trailblazers whose lives reflect enduring impact and achievement.

Aligned with the national theme “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” friends and colleagues gather to present the OASC ORIGIN Award to Charles Burnett, Academy Award–winning filmmaker and visionary storyteller.

Hailed by The New York Times as “the nation’s least-known great filmmaker and most gifted Black director,” Burnett’s body of work—including Killer of Sheep, My Brother’s Wedding, To Sleep with Anger, The Glass Shield, Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation, and numerous short and documentary films—offers an eloquent and uncompromising chronicle of Black American life. In 2017, he received an Academy Honorary Award recognizing his profound influence on cinema and cultural memory.

This evening affirms the power of place, history, and artistic vision—honoring Black legacy not only as remembrance, but as living inheritance.

Saturday, February 28, 2026
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: Consolidated Board of Realtists
3875 Don Felipe Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90008

COST: Free (RSVP required in advance)
RSVP: www.oascla.org/rsvp

This guided Black History Month tour traces the historical and cultural progress of the African American community in Los Angeles. Participants will visit significant sites that reflect Black achievement, resilience, and community-building across generations.

Highlights include the Biddy Mason Wall, Sugar Hill, The Island, Central Avenue, Leimert Park, and other important locations throughout the city. Together, these sites tell a collective story of migration, creativity, entrepreneurship, and civic life—illustrating how Black Angelenos have shaped the social, cultural, and political landscape of Los Angeles.

This immersive experience invites participants to see the city through a historical lens, connecting place, memory, and legacy while honoring Black history as a living continuum.

Saturday, March 7, 2026
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

RSVP: www.oascla.org/rsvp

Using the annual Black History Month theme, high school students write and deliver original essays that explore the impact of Black history on the past, present, and future of Black society. Participants are encouraged to think deeply and broadly about the theme, engaging history as both reflection and responsibility.

In advance of the competition, students receive coaching and guidance to support their research, writing, and public speaking skills. This year’s essays respond to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) national theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”

At the culminating event, finalists present their orations—each up to six minutes—before a panel of judges. Students are evaluated on content, presentation, and persuasive impact, and awards include cash prizes and other recognitions.

This program uplifts youth voice and scholarship while affirming the role of young people in carrying Black history forward with insight, confidence, and purpose.