Black/African Americans of Santa Barbara County invite community members to join in celebrating the historical achievements Black/African Americans have made nationally and locally.

The national theme is African Americans & Labor, a thread throughout history and today of how this community has worked for free and seldom paid for the betterment of America.

“Now more than ever, we must work to share the historical and current achievements of our Black community,” said Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, president of the NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc chapter.

“With federal agencies not acknowledging Black History Month and other significant cultural holidays, we stand firm that in Santa Barbara County, we still celebrate, acknowledge, and respect our diversity, which only strengthens us,” Lyons-Pruitt said.

Santa Barbara County community organizations providing events include Allan Hancock College, Chaucers Books, Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Black Culture House, NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc, UCSB Multicultural Center, and UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Check out the calendar of events below and at JuneteenthSB.org. 

“There is strength in community, especially our Black community,” said Jordan Killebrew, co-founder/executive director of Juneteenth Santa Barbara. “Despite what comes our way, we will not deter progress but work together, yet again, to educate and celebrate about the labor we have done to make our region and communities the best they can be.

“We dare to truly believe that all Americans are created equal and will continue to fight till that is whole and true.”

Some Black History Month events have become traditions, while new events have popped up this year.

Brazilian artist Paulo P. Lima will showcase artwork inspired by Afro-Brazilian culture during the celebrations of Black History Month at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

The exhibit, composed of photographs depicting Candomblé religious ceremonies and sculptures inspired by African and Afro-Brazilian cultures, is an attempt to broaden conversations on the Black diasporic experiences of Brazilians and Americans.

The display will be Feb. 3-28 in the Student Gallery, Bldg. F, 800 S. College Drive, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday,

Santa Barbara Black Culture House returns with a lineup of free events on Saturdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 with live music, poetry slam, and community talk. Doors open at noon and events start at 1 p.m. at Soul Bites on Lower State Street in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Black Culture House has also partnered with Chaucer’s Book Store, 3321 State St., for events displaying Sally A. Foxen McNeill’s photos of noted Black music icons, Feb. 1-28, and a book talk featuring Darrell M. McNeill’s 33⅓ book “The Isley Brothers: 3+3” 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23.

The NAACP of Santa Maria-Lompoc will hold an event at the Lompoc Library, Sunday, Feb. 16, with music, arts and crafts, and resources; and a second event, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 in Allan Hancock College’s Boyd Concert Hall, courtyard and terrace with a barbecue dinner, music, arts and crafts and resources.

UCSB Multicultural Center in partnership with the Office of Black Student Development bring back the 3rd Annual Black Flea Market. Celebrate with an evening of free goodies, food, Black creatives, entrepreneurs, and organizations on campus, 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12 in the Multicultural Center lounge/lobby. Register today. 

UCSB Arts & Lectures is bringing several events to the South Coast starting with Cirque Kalabante an ex-Cirque du Soleil performer Yamoussa Bangoura which brings African music and flavor to dazzling, state of the circus arts athleticism in a family friendly night of live music and spectacular strength and agility. Limited tickets available for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Lobero Theatre. 

Saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin comes to UCSB Campbell Hall, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, with a performance fusing soul and hiphop with a foundation in the canon of modern jazz.

Also at Campbell Hall will be Baratunde Thurston, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. The Emmy-nominated host of PBS’ “America Outdoors,” bestselling writer and comedian, Thurston tells stories of interdependence through our relationship with nature, each other and technology.

Thurston is the author of the comedic memoir “How to Be Black,” creator of the “How to Citizen” and “Life with Machines” podcasts, former director of digital for The Onion, and former supervising producer for “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.”

Juneteenth Santa Barbara will bring back its Black Community Happy Hour, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26.

The confidential Santa Barbara County State of the Black Community Survey led by Juneteenth Santa Barbara is open until Feb. 28.

The first survey of its kind for Santa Barbara County asks questions of those who identify as Black/African-American about their experiences and perceptions of life within Santa Barbara County.

With completion of the survey, respondents can enter to win a $200 gift card. In partnership with UCSB Center for Evaluation & Assessment which is facilitating the survey.

Thanks to the Santa Barbara Foundation for a Small Capacity Building Grant to help build the survey, and NAACP, Santa Maria-Lompoc for sponsoring the gift card incentives.
View our Community Events Calendar.

Learn more about the NAACP, Santa Maria-Lompoc at santamarialompocnaacp.org.