Baton Rouge's celebration of Black History Month ramps up with two back-to-back events designed to honor African American culture, heritage, and resilience. Mayor-President Sid Edwards's office has planned these gatherings to reflect on the contributions of the Black community and recognize figures who have made a lasting impact, as reported by the City of Baton Rouge.

First on the agenda is the Black History Luncheon, set for Saturday, February 22, at Boudreaux Catering. Scheduled for noon, the luncheon will celebrate Joe Delpit, the founder of Chicken Shack, and feature a keynote address from Deborah Watts, President of the Emmett Till Foundation and cousin of the civil rights icon. In a statement obtained by the City of Baton Rouge official website, Watts is anticipated to share, "powerful insights on preserving Black history and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality." Those interested in joining can RSVP on the city's website under the Mayor-President tab.

Continuing the festivities, a Black History Celebration will take place on Sunday, February 23, at 2:00 PM, at Galvez Plaza. The office of Mayor-President Sid Edwards invites the community to this free event, which aims to spotlight Black excellence through various forms of art and culinary delights, as per the City of Baton Rouge.

Specific highlights for the Sunday event include live performances by SU Gold N Bluez, Kenny Neal, and the Michael Foster Project. Revelers can also sample a myriad of food offerings, that delineate both traditional and modern threads of Black cuisine. With local talent on display and flavors to savor, the Galvez Plaza gathering aims to bring together the City of Baton Rouge community in a shared acknowledgment of Black history and its ongoing narrative.