Long Beach Marks Black History Month with ‘Black Mosaic’

The city of Long Beach is hosting performances of “Black Mosaic,” a free music and dance showcase celebrating Black history and contributions. The event series is part of the city’s Black History Month programming.

This year’s event features local elementary school students alongside professionally trained actors.

Event Details

“Black Mosaic” is a collection of literature, poetry, music, and plays designed to illuminate Black history and culture. Performances will include works by authors such as William Shakespeare and Maya Angelou, exploring Black history through humor, reflection, resilience, and critique. Students from Burbank Elementary School’s LB WRAP After School Program are participating in this year’s cast.

Performance Schedule

Performances are scheduled as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave.
Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m., Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.
Monday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m., Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 E. 4th St.

LB Performing Arts Collective

The “community-centered performance initiative” is curated and directed by Melanie Curtis Andrews, co-founder of the former Inner City Shakespeare Company. The city partnered with Andrews last year to host community performances for Black History Month. Over the past year, the Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) department collaborated with Andrews to establish the LB Performing Arts Collective. This initiative aims to bring performing arts to underserved neighborhoods, engaging diverse youth and community members through collaborative productions, mentorship, and creative engagement.

Statements from City Officials

Mayor Rex Richardson stated that the performances are inspiring, showcasing local youth bringing Black culture and history to life. Stephen P. Scott, director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, emphasized the commitment to quality and accessible youth programming and the opportunity to expand partnerships with local arts organizations. Melanie Curtis Andrews expressed her honor in continuing her tradition of creating events for Black History Month, particularly during its 100th anniversary, and highlighted her work with talented young artists, many of whom are Long Beach residents.

Additional Information

PRM’s full lineup of parks, facilities, programs, and services is available online at LBParks.org.