3 Montclair Events Celebrating Black History Month For 2023

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A discussion about the James Howe House, a specially brewed beer, and a rhythm and blues art exhibit are among the ways that the Montclair community will be recognizing Black History Month for 2023.

Here are three upcoming events to keep your eye on.

PANEL DISCUSSION

On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m., the Montclair Public Library will partner with several local groups to present a panel discussion about The James Howe House at 369 Claremont Avenue, the first African American-owned home in Montclair.

Formerly enslaved by Major Nathaniel Crane, a member of Montclair’s founding family, Howe received his freedom and the house in Crane’s will in 1836. The home, which dates back to the 18th century, was recently purchased by a group of local preservationists.

According to a news release from the library:

“The story of the Howe House invites timely questions and reflections about local history: Did you know that New Jersey was the last Northern state to abolish slavery? Did you know that enslaved people helped to build Montclair? Did you know that the Underground Railroad ran directly through New Jersey's communities of free Blacks and abolitionists? The history of the Howe House takes us to all these places and more.”

This hybrid program is co-presented by The Montclair Public Library Foundation, The Friends of Howe House, The Montclair History Center, Montclair African American Heritage Foundation, The Universalist Unitarian Congregation at Montclair and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair.

Registration is required. Register to attend in person or online at montclairlibrary.org/events. Masks are optional but “strongly encouraged” at all library programs, organizers said.

SPECIAL BEER

As part of its annual Black History Month beer series, the Montclair Brewery will brew a special ale to help raise funds to preserve the historic home owned by James Howe, the first African American home owner in Montclair.

The Howe House Belgian-Style ale is expected to release in mid-February, and will be available on draught and in cans in Montclair Brewery’s taproom and at several New Jersey and New York bars, restaurants and bottle shops.

A portion of all taproom sales will be donated to Friends of the Howe house, the brewery stated.

A can release party is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m., with a small program at 6 p.m. Members from Friends of the Howe house are expected to be in attendance. The evening will end with a live music performance from the West African jazz band, Faso Band, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. A $5 cover charge per person will be charged to those staying during the live music session.

“When I first heard about the surprise listing of the Howe house and the potential of it being sold to an investor, I knew I wanted to do something to help,” co-owner and general manager Denise Ford Sawadogo said.

Each year, Montclair Brewery puts out special beer releases to pay homage to notable people from the African diaspora for Black History Month. In 2021, the brewery developed a beer to honor Aubrey Lewis, a Montclair hero as well as Thomas Sankara, the former Burkina Faso prime minister and African leader. Visit the Black History Month beer series on their website at https://www.montclairbrewery.com/black-history-month-beer-series to learn more about this year’s and past years beers.

• See related: Montclair Brewery Uses Love Of Beer As Platform For Change

ART EXHIBIT

In honor of Black History Month, Studio Montclair will present “Rhythm & Blues,” its first exhibition of the new year.

Celebrating the “intersection between music and art in its many permutations,” the exhibit examines the visual artist’s perceptions of the rhythm and blues musical traditions. Included are paintings, drawings, mixed media, electronic and digital art.

The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 2 to March 10 at Studio Montclair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield Avenue, with an opening reception on Feb. 2. Learn more here.

According to curator, Onnie Strother, the music known as “rhythm and blues” combines many different genres and traditions, including jazz, gospel, spirituals, hip hop and the blues.

Participating artists include: Arri, Carlos Arteaga, Roxanne Baechler, Bob Barnett, Onaje Benjamin, Marcia Miele Branca, Cathleen McCoy Bristol, Judith Carlin, Jill Cliffer Baratta, Dennis Connors, Robin Cross Keller, David Derr, Anne Dushanko Dobek, Stephen B. Ellis, Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Steven Epstein, Maria Estrela, James G. Ferrara, Tracy Finn, Anthony Gartmond, Andrea Geller, Bart Gorin, Curtis Grayson III, Geri Hahn, Jeanne Heifetz, Helen Hosking, Pamela Jenkins, William Jones, Veronica Kairos, M. Malcolm King, Dave Magyar, Patricia Malarcher, Victoria Marin, Barbara Martin, Beverly McCutcheon, Chuck Miley, Warren Murray, Mansa K. Mussa, Suliman Onque, Yvonne Onque, Maria Ortiz-Haynes, Steven Patrick, Fausto Sevila, Margo Stahl, Linda Steinhardt Majzner, Miriam Stern, Oni Strother, Rachel Westerwelle, Adrienne Wheeler, Juno Zago.

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