SB Black Culture House Events for Black History Month

Santa Barbara Black Culture House, founded and headed by Darrell M. McNeil and Sally A. Foxen McNeill,are inviting all community to their monthly series of cultural events, music, programs, community talks, exhibits, and poetry, for Black History Month 2025.

The events are at their pop-up location, Soul Bites Restaurant (423 State Street), and two events will be offered in partnership with Chaucer’s Books (3321 State Street). Soul Bites is owned and run by Stirling and Rose Nix-Bradley.

Saturday, February 1, at 1 pm at Soul Bites – Live Poetry Slam hosted by Ademola Oyewole-Davis and Tayllor Oyewole-Davis, featuring up-and-coming Santa Barbara area Black poets.

February 1 through February 28, at Chaucer’s Books – Photo exhibit of noted Black music icons taken by Sally A. Foxen McNeill.

Saturday, February 8, 1 pm at Soul Bites – Community Discussion: “Coffee with a Black Guy” with James Joyce III. Journalist and community leader James Joyce III returns to discuss matters centered around race in America. This edition will focus on the current political climate and what it will mean for people of color.

Sunday, February 15, 1 pm at Soul Bites – Book Talk: Professor Christopher McAuley of UCSB’s Black Studies Department will be in conversation with Professor Gregory Freeland of Cal Lutheran’s Political Science Department about Freeland’s book Music and Black Community in Segregated North Carolina: It’s All Right.

Saturday, February 22, 1 pm at Soul Bites – Live Music: BFunkn.The return of in demand Los Angeles-based funk band, playing crowd favorites.

Sunday, February 23, at 3 pm at Chaucer’s Books – Talk by Darrell M. McNeill about his book, The Isley Brothers: 3+3.

The McNeills shared in their press release that, “With so much distress over reducing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and pushing people of color, women, LGTBQIA and other groups into the background, Black History Month and Black Culture House are needed more than ever. The political climate is exactly why we’ve been doing this since 2020. Soul Bites has been like family to us. They are an amazing partner and passionate community advocates.” 

The Santa Barbara Black Culture House is sponsored by the Black Rock Coalition and made possible by a grant from the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture.  

411: SBBlackCultureHouse@gmail.com
www.instagram.com/sbblackculturehouse