This February, celebrate Black History Month in Rockford by exploring Black-owned dining and shopping and discovering public art that spotlights Black artists and culture. It’s a simple way to travel with intention and leave with a few new favorite places. Celebrate Black History Month in Rockford in three simple ways: Eat, Shop, and Explore.
Eat
Rockford’s Black-owned dining scene has everything from comfort food classics to bold flavors and sweet treats worth planning around. Some spots are only open seasonally, so consider this your reminder to come back in the summer and support these businesses year-round, not just in February.
Kick off your culture stops at the Ethnic Heritage Museum, where the African-American Gallery and annual Black History Month exhibit spotlight local stories, then pair it with AARC at Booker, a Rockford cornerstone building community through education, art, mentorship, and cultural programs. For even more local history, visit Midway Village Museum, home to the updated exhibit “Traveling While Black: Visiting Rockford in the Era of the Green Book,” which shows how Black travelers relied on local businesses when many hotels, restaurants, and shops refused service before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. You can also visit their Camp Grant exhibit which explores the history of Black nurses, doctors, and soldiers who trained and were stationed at Camp Grant.
(From left to right) Corey Barksdale (Atlanta) brings bold color and cultural storytelling, with a Rockford mural full of movement—flowing dress, bright skyline, and musical lines. Anthony Lewellen (Chicago) pairs graffiti roots with clean storytelling; find his Auburn Street pieces (telescope portrait, dragonfly + chamomile symbolism, and mini “stamp” murals of local landmarks) plus “When Dreams Become Reality,” where two adolescents imagine a STEM-bright future. Dysen “Dice” White (Rockford) creates emotion-forward work rooted in resilience, created as part of 2024 CRE8IV transformational art.
These murals celebrate diversity through community pride and local storytelling: the Chuc-a-Luc’s Fish Market Grill & Soul Food building transformation mural by Jesse Melanson honors a long-time Black-owned business with a bold catfish design. “Thinking of You Periodically” by Rafael Blanco is a playful, science-themed mural of a Black child dreaming big, with “Rockford” spelled using periodic table letters. “We Are Rockford” by Ryan “Stuk One” Lape highlights community trailblazers, including NBA star Fred VanVleet and Grammy award winner Michelle Williams.
To learn more about Black History Month events and things to do in Rockford, please visit our Black History Month page.
Author
Amanda August
Amanda August is the Social Media and Communications Specialist for the GoRockford. Amanda attended North Central College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Before her time at the bureau, Amanda spent two years as a staff composer writing original music for advertisements in Chicago and three years as the office manager of a local organic farm. Amanda is a native of Roscoe, IL and enjoys exploring the area's diverse culinary scene.
