Join us as we celebrate Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements of African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Having a special designated time to celebrate Black History in America was the idea of historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans.  Since 1976, the U.S. has designated the month of February as Black History Month and we will celebrate at LCM again this year throughout the month and throughout the Museum.

Visit our Make Your Mark Gallery to see our Wall of Fame, which features influential Black Mark Makers in Arts & Culture from Louisiana, including Irma Thomas, who is also prominently featured in our Jammin’ House and Terrance Osborne, the designer of the Shotgun House in our Make Your Mark Gallery. We feature many other talents who have made their marks on our city, our state, and all over the world.

Schedule of Events

Adinkra Symbol Exploration in Studio in the Park

Have you heard of the word “Sankofa” or seen the symbol that represents it? Sankofa is a word from the Twi language of Ghana, Africa, connected to a proverb that teaches the importance of learning from the past. Do you know how this symbol and its meaning connect to the culture of New Orleans? 

Visit Studio in the Park as we continue to explore the nature of shapes and symbolism in the world around us and how communicating through art and symbols connects us all. Guests will engage in the process art of stamping on paper and fabric while learning about the Adinkra symbols that originated in Ghana, were preserved by the enslaved West Africans who were brought to this country long ago and continue in the culture today.

These symbols represent concepts from Ghanaian proverbs, such as justice, hope, and unity, and serve as a form of symbolic communication through imagery and culture.

In connection with the local architectural landscape, you’ll discover how these symbols are present all around us in New Orleans’ built environment, and how they offer insights into the past, revealing who shaped our city and the messages they hoped to convey to future generations.

12:00 p.m.: In Dialogue: Sharing a Love of Reading With Your Child

The LCM In Dialogue Series offers monthly online, interactive sessions with health professionals and experts who will discuss topics that impact children and families, including parent-child attachment, gun violence, screen time, eating habits, and so much more.  The sessions are also recorded and can be found at lcm.org, where we have curated library of resources for our community.

This month, Chief Learning Officer Dr. Shannon Blady and In Dialogue Director Holly Dalferes will discuss choosing and sharing books with children of all ages, including tips to take your read aloud skills to the next level! Research shows that reading to children from infancy can improve their vocabulary, increase their capacity for problem solving, and allow them to experience more advanced concepts and structures of language than they are ready to navigate while reading on their own. We’ll also give some recommendations for titles to add to your booklist. Register now and we’ll send you a Zoom link to join us on February 11.