Arlington Invites Residents to Join Black History Month Celebrations

ARLINGTON — The Arlington Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to celebrate Black History Month and Arlington’s cultural diversity and spirit of inclusivity, and invites the community to partake.

Throughout the month of February, the Town of Arlington and the AHRC will be celebrating Black History Month. A total of 16 poles in the center of town will commemorate prominent figures in African American history with a direct connection to Massachusetts on beautifully designed banners. Featured figures include Arlington’s own Prince Hall, the founder of the first African American Masonic group in the United States, and the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry who was at the center of one of the most famous episodes of the Civil War.

Additionally, the AHRC is hosting a Black History Month Film Festival.

Film Festival Dates

Wednesday, Feb. 12 – “Loving” (PG-13) at the Arlington Center for the Arts, 20 Academy St.
To kick off the film festival, the AHRC will screen “Loving,” a film that depicts the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in Virginia in the 1960s began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court’s historic 1967 decision.

Tuesday, Feb. 18 – “The Hate U Give” (PG-13) at the Robbins Library, 700 Mass Ave.
During the following week, the AHRC will screen “The Hate U Give” and the animated documentary short “Hair Love.” “The Hate U Give” is the film adaption of the popular young adult book by the same name about an African American teenager who witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed childhood friend.

Wednesday, Feb. 26 – “Glory” (R) at the Regent Theater, 7 Medford St.
On the last night of the film festival, the AHRC will present a screening of “Glory,” with a special presentation given by the 54th Regiment volunteer company reenactors and a meet and greet with the artist who designed Arlington’s Black History Month banners, Joey James.

The film festival is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. for each screening.

For more information on Arlington Celebrates Black History Month go to arlingtonhumanrights.org.

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