100 Moments for 100 Years: Celebrating Black History in Brooklyn

At Brooklyn Org, we have the privilege of learning from and investing in Black-led organizations and seeing firsthand how history continues to shape Brooklyn’s present and future. We believe the legacy of Black history is inseparable from the ongoing work of racial and economic justice and is something that shapes how we show up today, through local grantmaking, partnership, and investment across communities.

2026 marks 100 years of Black History Month. What began as a week-long effort to recognize Black history has grown into a month that invites reflection, celebration, and continued learning. And in Brooklyn, Black history is not just something we look back on. It is something we live every day, across our neighborhoods, cultural spaces, and community institutions.

This year for Black History Month, we’re inviting you to spend 100 intentional moments in our borough, engaging with Black history and culture in ways that are truly local and actionable.

Here Are Some Ways To Spend 100 Moments Celebrating The Legacy Of Brooklyn’s Black History:

Explore the history of Brooklyn’s Black communities:

• Visit the Weeksville Heritage Center, which preserves the legacy of one of the earliest free Black communities in the United States. Through exhibitions, events, and public programming, Weeksville grounds Black history in place and community.
• Join Friends of Abolitionist Place for walking tours that highlight Brooklyn’s role in the abolitionist movement and Black liberation struggles.
• Explore In Pursuit Of Freedom, a multifaceted public history initiative documenting the everyday heroes of Brooklyn’s anti-slavery movement.
• Visit The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), which celebrates the cultural breadth of the African diaspora by connecting the intersectional experiences of African people worldwide through the lens of art, education, and advocacy.

Read about a Black-led nonprofit supporting communities across our borough today:

• Cool Culture
• Muslim Community Network
• The Black Institute
• Global Trauma Research
• Power of Two
• Drive Change
• PureLegacee
• CLSJ
• Good Call
• PISTE Academy
• Girls for Gender Equity
• The Alex House Project
• The BRO Experience Foundation
• Kindred Bakery BK
• JMAC for Families

Listen to Brooklyn’s soundtrack:

• Hip-Hop / Rap: Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Mos Def, MC Lyte, Pop Smoke, Talib Kweli, Lil Kim, Joey Bada$$
• Soul / R&B / Funk: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Maxwell, Stephanie Mills, Aaliyah
• Jazz: Lena Horne, Noel Pointer, Max Roach, Randy Weston, Cecil Taylor

Learn about a Black leader or movement based in our borough:

Support a Black-owned business in Brooklyn:

• Explore stories of local entrepreneurs at blackownedbrooklyn.com
• Shop from Black entrepreneurs at at The Brooklyn Made store
• Visit a Black-owned café, bookstore, or restaurant in your neighborhood

Follow performing arts organizations that celebrate Brooklyn’s Black diaspora:

• BTFA Collective
• Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet
• Billie Holiday Theatre
• 651 Arts

As we mark 100 years of Black History Month, we are reminded that remembrance and responsibility go hand in hand.

Honoring Black history means supporting Black leadership, advancing racial and economic justice, and strengthening the communities that make Brooklyn home.

At Brooklyn Org, we are proud to partner with Black-led organizations year-round, investing in the leadership and creativity that continue to define Brooklyn’s future.

We invite you to keep engaging with the people and organizations shaping a more just borough — this month and all year long.