Black History Month Festival FAQs
ASALH is the acronym for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, an organization founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, the second African American to earn the doctorate from Harvard University. The organization was founded to address the dearth of information on the accomplishments of Black people and to disseminate information on Black life, history, and culture to the global community. Click here for more information or visit the ASALH webpage at www.ASALH.org.
The 2024 Black History Month Theme is “African Americans and the Arts.”
Click here to see the executive summary of the theme. You may also download a printable copy of the theme or visit www.ASALH.org and click on “annual themes.” All themes from 1928 to the present are shown.
ASALH determines the annual Black history theme which is used nationally and internationally for Black history programs during the year. A team, which includes scholars and students, research and propose themes based on historical, cultural, and social topics significant to the Black experience. The themes are presented to and voted on by the ASALH Executive Council and upon adoption they are shared on the ASALH website with an executive summary.
The month-long festival is now in its fourth year. The 2024 Festival is a Virtual Plus Experience. The festival is composed of virtual programming and a luncheon in Washington, DC..
The festival is a specially planned observance and celebration of the strengths and triumphs of people of African descent. It is built around the annual Black history theme.
ASALH’s Black History Month Festival was created in 2021 in response to the need to continue Black history programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have since continued the festival and 2024 will mark the fourth. The month-long virtual programming opened new vistas way beyond ASALH’s traditional luncheon held in Washington, DC. It has been our pleasure to feature in previous festivals conversations with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., of Harvard University; Mr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of The Smithsonian Institution; Ms. Daphne Maxwell Reid, award winning actress; and several former National Football League players.
Individuals from all walks of life, in brief–everybody! The history of Black people in the diaspora has a message for all people. Black history is American history and world history.
The virtual programs will happen on selected days, please check the website for specific dates and times of programs. The luncheon will be held on Saturday, February 24th at 12pm EST at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (formerly The Renaissance) 999 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 .
The free 2024 Black History Month Festival programs can be viewed on ASALH TV via YouTube.
You will need to purchase a ticket on the ASALH website.
Everyone is encouraged to join. Individuals, institutions, and organizations can become members. Please see here for more information. Join Here
Individuals can join ASALH online at www.asalh.org or by calling the office at 202.238.5912. Institutions and organizations should call the office at 202.238.5912.
Black History Month Luncheon FAQs
The Luncheon will be hosted on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
The luncheon will feature a conversation between House Minority Leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Historian, Dr. Hasan Jeffries of The Ohio State University, who happen to be brothers. Ms. Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher of the Washington Informer, and scion of the Black Press, will serve as emcee. Tiffany Cross (journalist, TV host, podcast host, author, and speaker) will serve as moderator.
Parking at the Westin Downtown Hotel – IMPORTANT
On-Site Parking: Daily: $48 Long Term Parking
Valet: Daily: $60.18 Electric Car Charging Station
Daily fee includes In/out privileges. Garage height clearance 6 ft 4 in.
All pricing is subject to appropriate DC taxes
Alternative Parking Options
In the instance that the Colonial Parking Garage is fully committed, the neighborhood has other parking options and are listed below.
- PMI Parking (900 9th Street NW)
- City Center Garage (870 9th Street NW)
- 601 K Street NW Parking
Metro Directions
- Exit Gallery Place-Chinatown accessible by (Green, Yellow, and Red Lines)
- Take the 7th and H Street Exit.
- Make a right turn when you have arrived at street level.
- 0.3 miles SW to Westin Hotel (about 5 minutes of walking)
Yes, you are able to stay at the Westin. Please use this link to make your reservation. You can also call the hotel directly at (202) 898-9000 and reference the 98th Luncheon.
Before the luncheon we will have a featured author signing and the United States Postal Service will be selling the 2024 Black Heritage Stamp of Constance Baker Motley.
Business attire is advised for the Luncheon.
Black History Month Virtual Festival FAQs
Opening panel discussion on February 1st titled “The Black Presence in Sci-Fi, Anime and Comics”; on February 8th there will be a conversation titled “Street Art in the African American Community”. We are excited to collaborate with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor National Heritage Area to present a program on “The Impact of the Arts in the Gullah Geechee Community” on February 15th.
These events will be streamed on our YouTube channel ASALH TV.
ASALH will not be offering a paid event prior to the end of February but stay tuned for more great programming in the coming months.