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Minnesota Historical Society Celebrates the History and Voices of Minnesota’s Black Community
Black History Month highlights a variety of educational programs and resources
For immediate release
Dated: January 27, 2026
Contacts:
Jack Bernstein, 651-259-3058, jack.bernstein@mnhs.org or Allison Ortiz, 651-259-3051, allison.ortiz@mnhs.org
Location: Minnesota History Center
In partnership with members of Minnesota’s Black community, these resources and programs aim to provide knowledge about a wide range of topics, including film, cooking, entrepreneurship, community archiving, military history, and themes of resilience, resistance, and joy.
Join MNHS for the following events throughout February:
First Thursday Films at The Capri: "Acts of Reparation" Screening, Thursday, February 5
In Acts of Reparation, two filmmaking friends, Selina, a Black woman, and Macky, a white man, head south together to explore their roots and the insidious legacy of slavery. Visiting with family in Louisiana, Selina discusses the secret histories of her family, while Macky, in Georgia, confronts his family’s inherited privilege. What emerges is an eye-opening story of hope and redemption. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the Capri Theater doors. This program is in partnership with the MSP Film Society.
Being Black and Betty Crocker, Saturday, February 14
Barbara Jo Taylor received her first Betty Crocker cookbook as a teenager in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She looked at photos of women working in General Mills’ test kitchens and said, “That’s what I want to do.” In 1968, she launched her 20-year career with the company.
This free program at the Minnesota History Center will feature a screening of TPT’s Being Black and Betty Crocker, a moderated conversation with Barbara Jo Davis, a Q&A session, and reception with light refreshments. A virtual option is also available via Zoom. Registration is recommended.
Booked on Thursdays: "A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars", Thursday, February 26
This free event at the Minnesota History Center offers an informal space to connect with people who share interests related to book themes and also learn about resources related to the history of communities featured in the selected book. February’s featured book is A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars by Erin Sharkey. Registration is recommended.
Coffee Chat: 25th Infantry, Thursday, February 26
Historic Fort Snelling hosts a coffee chat about the Twenty-Fifth Infantry Regiment (“Buffalo Soldiers”). Assigned to Fort Snelling from 1882-1888, the soldiers and musicians of the Twenty-Fifth Infantry Regiment (“Buffalo Soldiers”) contributed to the rich social and cultural life of Black communities in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Attendees will learn about the Band’s participation in Emancipation Day celebrations throughout Minnesota and Dakota Territory and the social life of the soldiers at Fort Snelling as seen through archeological evidence and contemporary local newspapers. The program will highlight the story of the Bicycle Corps experiment of 1897, in which 20 soldiers rode fixed gear bicycles 2,000 miles across mountains, rivers, rattlesnakes, and mud. The ticketed chat will also briefly cover the long history of Black service in the US Army, the patriotism of Black soldiers, and the continuing legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Artist and Archives: Community Collaging Event, Saturday, February 28
Minnesota History Center invites guests to participate in a hands-on community archiving collaging event. Event attendees can bring copies of photos, letters, flyers, or stories that reflect their lived experiences, families, and neighborhoods. Collages will be created using copies of archives made on-site. Through collage-making, the program will explore how everyday materials can preserve culture, identity, and shared memory. No art experience is needed. This is a free event and registration is recommended.
Funding for Being Black and Betty Crocker, Booked on Thursdays: "A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars,” and the Artist and Archives: Community Collaging Event is provided by the State of Minnesota's Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, and our generous donors and members.
About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.