Even though February is coming to a close, it is never too late to celebrate black history. Philadelphia just happens to be one of the best places to do so.
As a stop along the Underground Railroad and a destination for southern African-Americans seeking to escape from the segregated Jim Crow south, Philadelphia is home to a rich black history that the city is committed to commemorating.
For some fresh air, take a tour around Philadelphia with The Mural Arts Program. The Albert M. Greenfield African American Iconic Images Collection includes nearly fifty murals around the city that depict milestones in Black history, featuring figures like Jackie Robinson and Harriet Tubman.
Newly opened, The President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation is an exhibit at Independence Mall that displays pieces of the home where our founding fathers stayed, along with their slaves. Read their stories and learn how Washington, a slave-owner, fought for equality and freedom.
The African American Museum is open all year, but every Saturday during the month of February it will offer workshops included with the price of admission. Class subjects include Haitian quilting arts, traditional book binding and African American oral traditions.
On Sunday, worship at a historical landmark. In the ‘70s, Mother Bethel became the first African Methodist Episcopal church in the city. With its own museum attached, Mother Bethel can provide a learning experience about the history of this church’s unique role in the community.
The last stop on your trip should be a railroad station—The Underground Railroad, that is. The Johnson House on Germantown Avenue serves as a crucial site for slaves escaping the harsh south. While exploring the house, learn about its role during the Civil War and in slavery.