Boston to recognize Black History Month throughout city

In honor of Black History Month, Boston University and the Boston Public Library will highlight the history and culture of African Americans with presentations and performances.

Many experts on black history will visit the city to offer their insights to Boston students and residents.

“[The African American Studies department] is very active in sponsoring . . . lectures with other units at BU,” said Professor Linda Heywood, director of BU’s African American Studies program.

Tess Chakkalakal, an assistant professor of Africana Studies at Bowdoin College, will lecture about ‘The Slave Marriage Plot’ on Wednesday at the 1270 Lounge in BU’s School of Law.

Next Tuesday, Keisha Perry, an assistant professor of Africana Studies at Brown University, will give a lecture about ‘Black Feminist Ethics in Brazilian Social Movements’ in the African American Studies program building.

BU will also host a Black History Month Film Festival on Feb. 28. “Black Power Mixtape 1967-75” will screen in the Howard Thurman Center, followed by a discussion led by BU Professor of Sociology and African American Studies Ruha Benjamin.

Benjamin will discuss the “impact of the civil rights movement on social transformations around the world and about the relevance of black history for the black present,” according to BU’s African American Studies’ website.

“I was elated that the European filmmaker[s made] this series of interviews with people who were actively involved in the [civil rights movement], such as Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Heywood said. “It makes them feel alive again, which is important when studying [the] period.”

She said the movie is inspirational and could encourage viewers in their daily lives.

“You want quotes from the leaders to inspire our current generation of leaders, especially since they are all around the same, young age,” she said, adding that the film will be “useful and pertinent” to students and its relevance transcends Black History Month.

The BPL will also commemorate Black History Month with films, music, activities and their annual ‘Black Is’ booklist, which will be available in all libraries this month, said BPL spokeswoman Mary Bender in an email.

The list has been “designed to highlight recent books about the history and contributions of African Americans,” she said.

The BPL will show several Sidney Poitier films in February, including “They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!,” “For Love of Ivy,” “The Wilby Conspiracy” and “Duel at Diablo” at the South Boston branch on Thursday evenings, according to a BPL press release.

At the Central Library in Copley Square, the library will honor Ella Fitzgerald with a live musical tribute on Feb. 9. Jazz duo Sonny & Perley will perform a piano-and-vocals tribute to the late singer.

Various Harvard University graduate students will give lectures throughout the month regarding topics such as the recent film “The Help,” religious practices and Marcus Garvey, according to the press release.

The programs at the BPL are all free, Bender said.

“Our programs are designed to educate and entertain,” she said. “Some might provoke discussion, some might provoke laughter and others might advance learning. Everything is always free to all.”