This August, West Philadelphia will honor a vital piece of local civil rights history as Freedom Now Fest returns to Lancaster Avenue. The festival commemorates the 61st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic Freedom Now Rally speech, delivered at 40th and Lancaster in 1965.

On Sunday afternoon, Lancaster Avenue will transform into a lively block festival connecting Dr. King’s enduring legacy with neighborhood culture and community empowerment. This free event will feature:

• Live Performances & Art: Live music, spoken word, public art installations, and wellness experiences.
• Family & Youth Activities: Interactive programming including the Dream Builders Kids Zone.
• Film & Tradition: The return of the popular “King on the Avenue” film screening alongside the Lancaster Avenue Living Legacy Bell, featured as part of the statewide America250PA initiative.
• Local Economy & Culture: Food vendors, local artists, community organizations, and Black-owned businesses lining the corridor.

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The Free Library of Philadelphia has launched a new club focused on black genealogy, part of The Legacy Lab series. Club events will be held at the Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Library and the Kingsessing Library and are timed with the nation’s 250th anniversary. The series offers community members opportunities to research, document, and celebrate their own family histories.

“The Legacy Lab demonstrates how libraries can expand access to powerful tools and for learning and discovery,” said Kelly Richards, President and Director, the Free Library of Philadelphia. “By offering free resources, guidance, and welcoming spaces, we are helping ensure that Black families explore their family histories, reclaim their narratives, and pass the knowledge on to future generations.”

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On Sunday, Aug. 3, the Black Bottom community will host a day of remembrance, celebration, and neighborhood activation to mark the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1965 visit to the neighborhood. Themed “Honoring Rev. Dr. King’s Legacy in the Black Bottom—60 Years Later,” the event will center on community engagement, cultural storytelling, and the preservation of neighborhood history.

Planned in partnership with community leaders, institutions, area businesses, and grassroots organizations, this commemorative event will take place at 40th and Haverford and surrounding areas in the Black Bottom. A rich lineup of programming between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. will include live performances, spoken word, storytelling, wellness services, free classes, food trucks, and a historical guide along Dr. King’s 1965 route through the neighborhood.

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City officials, community members, and organizations are honoring MOVE bombing victims on the 40th anniversary of the tragic event.

Eleven people, including five children ages 9-14, were killed on May 13, 1985 when the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a military-grade bomb on the residence of the MOVE organization, a Black liberation group, at 6221 Osage Ave. The resulting explosion caused a devastating fire that destroyed dozens of homes in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood – two full city blocks were burned to the ground, destroying 61 houses.

In 2020, the Philadelphia City Council formally apologized for the bombing and passed a resolution to establish the MOVE bombing day, May 13, as an annual day of “observation, reflection and recommitment.” The first Day of Remembrance of the MOVE bombing, which included a march to Malcolm X. Park, was held on May 13, 2021.

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Hakim’s Bookstore and its historical marker.

Visit Philadelphia has launched a new series celebrating generational Black-owned businesses ahead of Black History Month. A four-part video series, titled Legacy & Love, celebrates the contributions of Black-owned businesses in Philadelphia that have been passed down through generations or built as a tribute to loved ones. The series features two West Philadelphia-based businesses – Hakim’s Bookstore and Arterial Coffee.

The national theme for Black History Month, “African Americans and Labor,” is explored through the stories of four businesses that highlight the perseverance, legacy and entrepreneurial spirit within the city’s Black community. Here are more details about the West Philly-based businesses featured in the series:

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Here’s a unique opportunity to visit and learn more about some of the most interesting but often forgotten historic and cultural places along 52nd Street, aka “The Strip.” A walking tour titled West Philly’s Main Street: A Walk Through Time, will take place Saturday, Oct. 5, and is organized by All That Philly Jazz, a public project exploring the history of jazz in Philadelphia. The 52nd Street stroll and talk, led by All That Philly Jazz Director Faye Anderson, will uncover the Strip’s hidden past as an entertainment destination for African Americans.

The 52nd Street Stroll dives deep into the Strip’s social and cultural heritage. Uncovering hidden landmarks, it will revisit forgotten stories and remember the iconic figures who shaped the historic corridor.

Here are some of the stops during the stroll:

• Nightclub frequented by celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, Cab Calloway, Joe Frazier, Teddy Pendergrass and Stevie Wonder.
• First-ever Walk of Fame memorializing African American artists of stage, screen and television.
• Oldest Black-owned bookstore on the East Coast.
• Sites featured in the 1972 Blaxploitation film “Trick Baby.”
• Restaurant where President Bill Clinton ordered soul food.

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