Fort Bend County Celebrates Black History Month with Culture, Heritage, and Community at George Memorial Library
This February, Fort Bend County residents are invited to honor and celebrate Black History Month through a day of enriching, educational, and engaging activities at the George Memorial Library. On Saturday, February 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the library will host a full slate of free programs for all ages at its Richmond location at 1001 Golfview Drive.
Black History Month, first officially recognized in 1976, serves as a nationwide celebration of the achievements, culture, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Originally beginning as “Negro History Week” in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson, the month of February was chosen to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Today, communities like those in Fort Bend County continue to embrace this time to uplift local voices, preserve untold stories, and foster understanding across generations.
Fort Bend County itself holds deep historical significance—once home to one of the largest populations of freed slaves in Texas after emancipation. Settlements like Kendleton and the historic African American cemetery at DeWalt reflect the county’s post-Civil War legacy, while institutions such as the Fort Bend Museum and the Black Cowboy Museum preserve and share the rich heritage of African American life in the region. These milestones continue to shape the cultural fabric of Fort Bend today.
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Celebrating Through Stories, History, and Heritage
The celebration kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a special children's storytime and craft led by Houston-based author Sanyu Ntanda in the Children’s Area. A Ugandan-American writer, Ntanda draws from her East African roots to inspire her books for young readers, including Jama and the Search for Courage and Riding With Mama.
Simultaneously, in the Computer Lab, genealogist lecturer Ari Wilkins will guide participants through “Scaling the 1870 Brick Wall in African American Research.” For many African American families, tracing ancestry before 1870 poses a significant challenge. Wilkins will share strategies and historical sources that can help break through this genealogical barrier.
Culture in Motion: Hip-Hop, Cooking, and Cowboys
At 1:00 p.m. in the Bohachevsky Gallery, RAD Crew Productions will energize audiences with The Rad Hip-Hop Show!. This family-friendly performance uses music, dance, and comedy to explore the origins and positive elements of Hip-Hop culture, including MCing, DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing.
(Source: FBCL)Next, at 2:00 p.m., Sarah Anderson will host a live cooking demonstration, “A Taste of African Heritage.” Anderson, a Heritage Diet Curriculum Coordinator, will highlight the cultural significance and health benefits of African diaspora cuisine. She’ll explore how enslaved Africans adapted to new environments during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, combining local ingredients with their own culinary traditions to create what we now know as African heritage cooking.
At 3:00 p.m., local legend Cowboy Larry Callies will speak about the Black Cowboy Museum, which he founded in Rosenberg on Juneteenth 2017. A former gospel singer and professional cowboy, Larry opened the museum to honor the often-overlooked legacy of Black cowboys in Texas and beyond. Since its opening, the museum has welcomed more than 20,000 visitors and gained national recognition in media outlets including The New York Times, EBONY, and Netflix’s acclaimed docuseries High on the Hog.
All-Day Exhibit: Visual Storytelling Through Photography
Throughout the day, guests can explore an inspiring photography exhibit by Brian Edwards, Jr. titled On My Way Home: Everything the Light Touches. The Houston-based filmmaker and photographer brings the story of Black cowboy heritage to life through images captured in Dayton, Texas, a town rich with African American western tradition.
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All events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited for select presentations, so early arrival is encouraged. For more details, visit fortbend.lib.tx.us or call 281-633-4734.
This celebration of Black History Month in Fort Bend County offers more than a day of entertainment—it invites the community to reflect, learn, and unite in honoring a shared American legacy. Whether through a child’s first storybook, a family’s ancestral discovery, or a rhythmic beat that moves the soul, the history being celebrated is one of resilience, creativity, and enduring impact.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
