Celebrate Black History Month in These U.S. Cities

Travel to one of these U.S. cities to discover and experience many restaurants, museums, cultural sites and more in celebration of Black History Month. From Memphis, Tennessee, to Oakland, California, to Dallas, Texas, each of these cities offers travelers the chance to enrich their visits and learn about different perspectives in the United States.

Oakland, California

As a city with a long history and extensive roots in Black culture, Oakland features many sites celebrating Black Americans. Take a trip to Henry J. Kaiser Memorial Park to visit the Remember Them: Champions for Humanity Monument. This monument features 25 culturally diverse role models in American history who devoted their lives to global peace and human rights. Some of the remarkable Black figures include Frederick Douglas, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X.

Visitors of the city can access a guide provided by The Black Panther Party for Self Defense to embark on a self-guided walk to see 12 important locations across Oakland. At the Oakland Museum of California, walk through the Black Power exhibit to see the unique and creative ways Black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and questioned the U.S. government’s treatment of them.

Some must-try, Black-owned restaurants in Oakland include Souley Vegan, an eatery serving plant-based dishes inspired by Louisiana Creole flavor; Kingston 11, a Jamaican restaurant; and Everett & Jones BBQ, a popular barbecue restaurant.

St Pete/Clearwater, Florida

In the St. Pete/Clearwater area, head to The Deuces Live District, a lively region filled with restaurants and historic landmarks. This district was once the hot spot of Black businesses, homes and entertainment during the years of segregation. Now, visitors can experience some of the area’s best sites and eateries. The Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, named after the man who launched Black History Month, displays the ways African-American history has been preserved and interpreted.

For tasty dishes, dine at Copa for authentic Latin American and Caribbean flavors blended with tapas-style Mediterranean influence or enjoy a delicious meal at Chief’s Creole Café for Louisiana-style Creole cuisine. Lovers of beer cannot miss a trip to Green Bench Brewery, a Black-owned brewery named after the green benches in the area that used to be segregated and prohibited for African Americans. For a fun, liquor-infused coffee experience, go to Hogg Batch to taste the different flavors from barrel-aged coffee beans.

Dallas, Texas

Visit The African American Museum in the heart of Dallas to see one of the country’s largest folk art collections. At Dallas Black Dance Theatre, guests can enjoy performances from the African American experience, a group that has performed in 16 countries, at two Olympics and performed for Nelson Mandela in 1998.

Some of the city’s best Black-owned restaurants include Off the Bone Barbeque, where guests can enjoy authentic cookout favorites. For a homemade treat, head to Kessler Baking Studio, or to taste the famous Soul Food Burrito from Chef Jesse Washington, journey to Brunchaholics.

Memphis, Tennessee

Guests coming to Memphis during Black History Month must visit The National Civil Rights Museum. Packed with artifacts and stories of the Civil Rights Movement, visitors can also witness the second-floor balcony of the museum in the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

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Other moving and important museums include Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum and the Ernest Withers Collection, an exhibit featuring photographs of the Civil Rights movement. For visitors wanting to learn about the music and musicians from Memphis, take a trip to Sun Studio and Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence offers visitors Providence Walks: An Early Black History Tour, a self-guided tour throughout the city created as an act of remembrance of those whose stories never got told but contributed to the growth and development of the city of Providence. The tour includes a detailed map of the many experiences of the Black community in the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries, as well as how Black personalities paved the way in Providence for future generations.

Providence boasts a large number of excellent Black-owned businesses, from restaurants to distilleries to bakeries. White Dog Distilling offers guests a bar-like atmosphere while serving corn whiskey, gin, moonshine and white rum. The distillery’s famous Cornucopia whiskey and bourbon is available for guests to enjoy. Visit Troop, a bar and cocktail lounge situated in an old mill where the 1990s hip hop-themed interior accompanies the international street food, Revival beers and cocktails served. For those looking for a delicious vegan restaurant, try The Afro Indigenous Vegan.