Feb. 1 through March 1 commemorates the contributions and achievements of Black people in the United States and around the world. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has named the 2025 National Black History Month theme “African Americans and Labor,” which intends to bring focus to Black labor's transformational role in the United States.
This year’s theme aims to strengthen awareness of the intersections between Black people’s work, workplaces, key moments, and events in Black cultural history throughout the U.S., Africa and the Black Diaspora.
African American labor struggles, such as religious, educational and social justice movements, provide historical context to interpretations of the Black past, present and future.
Read on for a list of exhibits, screenings and community events to help you celebrate Black History Month in Portland.
Cascade Festival of African Films
Experience the longest-running African film festival in the United States every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until the end of the month.
Portland Community College Cascade Campus will host the 35th annual Cascade Festival of African Films until March 1. The films showcased in the festival aim to celebrate African filmmaking and stories that are free and open to the public.
Those attending can access the full schedule of screenings here.
Pop-up Museum
For the first time, Creative Homies at The Horizon Enterprise Building in Old Town will display a pop-up museum celebrating Black culture between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday until the end of February. Sponsored by 1803 Fund, the exhibit will feature significant Black figures, history, music and the next generation of Black creators.
Attendees can expect three floors of displays. The first floor will present a gallery of photos and visual displays, the second will be a space for open mics and micro-cinema and the third will be for vendors and small businesses.
A detailed list of the galleries, screenings and events featured can be found here.
Black History Festival NW
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is bringing back its 8th annual Black History Festival NW at the World Stage Theater until March 3.
The festival collaborates with more than 100 Black leaders, artists, organizations and businesses to bring a series of performances, displays, community events and games to the Pacific NW.
Interested participants can find the festival’s event schedule here.
Oregon Black Pioneers
The nonprofit Oregon Black Pioneers will be hosting a collection of events until Feb. 29 to spotlight the contributions of Black Oregonians.
Join Oregon Black Pioneers for stimulating exhibits, conversations and community events about Black history and influential figures. Admission to events is free and varies in location.
A full schedule of upcoming events can be found here.
Kalena O’Connell is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu
