African Americans have helped shape Ohio’s his­tory and cul­ture through sig­nif­i­cant con­tri­bu­tions to the arts, music, pol­i­tics, human­i­tar­ian efforts and more. During Black History Month, Ohio trav­el­ers are invited to cel­e­brate the rag­time sounds of Scott Joplin and the sig­nif­i­cant con­tri­bu­tions he made in music his­tory; the strength of Angela Davis and her writ­ings that stood up to an unfair world; the iconic pho­tog­ra­phy of Gordon Parks and his relent­less moti­va­tion to cap­ture raw social and polit­i­cal issues all over the world; and the phil­an­thropic con­tri­bu­tions of Eliza Bryant, whose human­i­tar­ian work touched thousands.

This February, vis­i­tors are encour­aged to enjoy rid­ing the rip­ples African Americans made through­out Ohio’s his­tory and cul­ture, and reflect upon the ardu­ous path trav­eled to make those resound­ing waves. For addi­tional oppor­tu­ni­ties to learn more about the robust African-American his­tory and cul­ture in Ohio with your fam­ily and friends, visit www.DiscoverOhio.com.

40th Annual United Black World Month 2010, The Ohio State University, Columbus, month-long

• Join The Ohio State University as it cel­e­brates Black World Month. This month-long cel­e­bra­tion will con­sist of pan­els, lec­tures, socials and many other pro­grams. On Feb. 11, The Multicultural Center presents An Evening with Ms. Angela Davis, the fea­tured speaker for the 40th Annual United Black World Month Celebration. Davis, a fem­i­nist and writer, is the author of eight books and has lec­tured through­out the world. Her work as an edu­ca­tor – both at the uni­ver­sity level and in the larger pub­lic sphere – has always empha­sized the impor­tance of build­ing com­mu­ni­ties and of strug­gle for eco­nomic, racial and gen­der equality.

Black History Month at the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, month-long

• The Ohio Statehouse will cel­e­brate Black History Month dur­ing February with a spe­cial exhi­bi­tion and tour of the George Washington Williams Room, which memo­ri­al­izes Ohio’s first African-American leg­is­la­tor. The month-long cel­e­bra­tion also includes lunch-time con­certs and Soul Food Wednesdays at the Capitol Cafe each Wednesday in February from noon-1p.m.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio

Bare Witness, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, month-long

• Bring your fam­ily dur­ing Black History Month, to view a pow­er­ful exhi­bi­tion of iconic and pow­er­fully mov­ing images by the late African-American pho­tog­ra­pher Gordon Parks. Bare Witness brings together 73 works grouped specif­i­cally by Mr. Parks him­self. “’Bare Witness’ refers to Mr. Parks’ pho­to­graphic inves­ti­ga­tion of social, polit­i­cal and racial issues through­out the world. He had the abil­ity to become per­son­ally involved while never for­get­ting his posi­tion as a jour­nal­ist. He bore wit­ness for us all,” says Tom Loeffler, Toledo Museum of Art assis­tant cura­tor of works on paper.

The Fisk University Jubilee Singers, Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, New Albany, Feb. 6

• Come enjoy the tal­ented voices of the young men and women of The Fisk University Jubilee Singers. Bring your fam­ily to enjoy and lis­ten to this tal­ented group as they con­tinue the tra­di­tion of singing Negro spir­i­tu­als, allow­ing them to share a unique style of music.

Black History Month: All that Jazz…and Poetry…and Art, Historic Fort Steuben, Steubenville, Feb. 8 — 26

• Take the fam­ily to expe­ri­ence All that Jazz…and Poetry…and Art, at Historic Fort Steuben. This exhibit high­lights artists, musi­cians and writ­ers from the African-American com­mu­nity, as well as rec­og­niz­ing their suc­cess through­out history.

Black History Month Luncheon, Flora Stone Mather Center for Women (Case Western Reserve University), Cleveland, Feb. 12

• Case Western Reserve University presents its annual Black History Month lun­cheon with Women in History, a non-profit orga­ni­za­tion estab­lished to edu­cate through the dra­matic re-creation of lives of notable women in U.S. his­tory with a mono­logue in authen­tic period cos­tume. The lun­cheon fea­tures an actress por­tray­ing Cleveland native Eliza Bryant, a human­i­tar­ian who founded the Cleveland Home for Aged Colored People. RSVP is required for this event.

US Air Force Band of Flight Concert, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton, Feb. 13

• Come out with your fam­ily for an evening as the Band of Flight com­mem­o­rates Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day dur­ing the annual Hearts, Heroes and Heritage Concert. The National Museum of the United States Air Force part­ners with the USAF Band of Flight to honor the African-American cul­ture for Black History Month.

Annual Black History Month Program, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Feb. 18

• The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Annual Black History Month Program is a great event for not only foot­ball fans but the entire fam­ily. This year’s event will fea­ture Ron Mix, AFL star and Hall of Famer, as well as, James Harris, a pio­neer at the quar­ter­back posi­tion with the Buffalo Bills and now senior per­son­nel exec­u­tive with the Detroit Lions. Mix and Harris will share sto­ries about their past and expe­ri­ences on and off the field.

An Evening with the Toledo Symphony in cel­e­bra­tion of Black History Month, St. Martin de Porres Church, Toledo, Feb. 28

• Come out and cel­e­brate Black History Month and St. Martin de Porres’ 20th Anniversary, “Looking Back to the Future.” Music for the evening includes the Toledo Symphony with guest con­duc­tor, Chelsea Tipton, the Mosaic Singers, play­ing music com­posed by African-Americans Adolphus Hailstork and the late Scott Joplin.

To learn about more fun and excit­ing mul­ti­cul­tural events and expe­ri­ences through­out Ohio, please visit  www.DiscoverOhio.com/multicultural, fol­low them on Twitter @DiscoverOhio or become a fan of the Ohio Tourism Division on Facebook at www.facebook.com/discoverohio.

Photo by Maia C

Related posts:

1. Hubbard House, Ashtabula Ohio’s Underground Railroad Station
2. Cultural and Historical Celebrations Make Ohio a Great February Family Destination
3. “March” Into Ohio With These Great Spring Activities
4. Missouri Travel Sites Rich in African-American History
5. Enjoy Family Fun in Ohio Throughout January