The Princeton community is marking Black History Month 2026 with a series of public events and educational programs throughout February. The schedule includes book talks, art museum presentations, lectures, special collections showcases, and symposiums, many featuring Princeton faculty and invited guests.
On February 5, D. Vance Smith, professor of English at Princeton, will discuss his book “Atlas’s Bones: The African Foundations of Europe” in conversation with Simon Gikandi, the Class of 1943 University Professor of English and department chair. According to the publisher University of Chicago Press, Smith’s book examines Africa’s influence on European culture and how colonization reshaped Africa based on a medieval European model. The event is organized by the Princeton Public Library in collaboration with the Humanities Council and the Program in Humanistic Studies.
Perrin Lathrop, associate curator of African Art at the Princeton University Art Museum, will give a talk on February 6 about installing galleries dedicated to African art in the new museum building that opened in October 2025. Attendees are invited to visit these galleries following her presentation.
Eddie S. Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and professor of African American Studies at Princeton, will deliver the Malcolm X Memorial Lecture titled “Why Malcolm X Matters, Now” on February 10. Event co-sponsors note that Glaude “will address how through acts of individual character and collective action, we can all learn to confront uncomfortable truths in turbulent times.”
Douglass Day 2026 events begin on February 13 with a showcase from Special Collections at Firestone Library highlighting materials related to Frederick Douglass—including an 1867 portrait—and continue with transcribe-a-thon activities at several local venues such as Commons Library in SEAS+ES complex and the Princeton Public Library.
A conversation between Eddie S. Glaude Jr. and Khalil Gibran Muhammad—professor of African American Studies and public affairs—titled “Race, History, and Memory in the 250th Year of the U.S.” will take place on February 17 as part of discussions around America’s quarter-millennium anniversary.
Shatema Threadcraft from Vanderbilt University will speak about her book “The Labors of Resurrection: Black Women, Necromancy, and Morrisonian Democracy” with Reena Goldthree from Princeton’s Department of African American Studies at another library event scheduled for February 23.
The month concludes with a symposium called “Black Studies is for Everyone” hosted by the Department of African American Studies on February 27. This daylong program features three panel discussions led by scholars including Joshua Guild; Tera Hunter; Marcus Lee; Vinson Cunningham; Eddie S. Glaude Jr.; Khalil Gibran Muhammad; Naomi Murakawa; Kinohi Nishikawa; Chika Okeke-Agulu; Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor; among others.
All events are open to the public but may require advance registration.
