Tag: Freedom Center

Date and Time

Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Location

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Harriet Tubman Theater

Event Type

Special Event

Cost

Free with museum admission

Details

Celebrate Black History Month with a vibrant showcase of contemporary Black creativity through spoken word, music, and dance. Unbound Voices features live performances by poets Desirae Hosley, Isabella Gordo and Zinnia Stewart, as well as Wordplay, the dynamic (CA)^2 Dance Crew and the soulful sounds of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy. 

This talent showcase guides audiences through an engaging flow of poetry, music, and movement, with collaborative pieces and ensemble performances highlighting resilience, cultural memory, and collective joy. Anchored in the Freedom Center’s mission, this event positions artistic expression as a vehicle for truth-telling and community connection, bridging the historical narratives of the Underground Railroad with present-day voices shaping the future of freedom. 

This interactive and inspiring showcase is free with museum admission and offers a unique opportunity to experience how creativity and storytelling continue to illuminate the ongoing journey toward liberation. 

Performers include:

  • (CA)^2 Dance Crew
  • Cincinnati Jazz Academy with Mason Daugherty
  • Isabella Gordo
  • Zinnia Stewart
  • Wordplay with Desirae Hosley

Free with cost of admission.

Celebrate Black History Month with us at our February Fifth Third Community Day, filled with talks and activities that honor the courage, resilience and legacy of African Americans in U.S. history.

Historians, researchers, and living-history experts will share stories from the Revolutionary era, the Civil War and today’s work to preserve family and community histories.

In the morning, you can hear from Dr. Karen Sutton (The Nickens Nine: African American Patriots of the Revolution), Dr. Mark Attucks (First to Defy—First to Die), Muriel Roberts (Living History: Reenacting African American Heritage) and Nikki Williams Sebastian (Researching and Preserving African American Family History).

In the afternoon, 2025 Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Dr. Edda Fields-Black will talk about her book Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War, with a book signing to follow.

This Community Day is a chance to connect with Black history through learning, storytelling, and conversation. It links the struggles for freedom in the past with today’s efforts to preserve and honor African American heritage.

Join the Underground Railroad Freedom Center for an unforgettable afternoon of music that transcends time — spirituals, gospel, and songs that tell the story of resilience and freedom. For over 150 years, the Fisk Jubilee Singers® have lifted their voices to preserve and share the legacy of African American spirituals. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness their unmatched artistry and soul-stirring sound live in concert.

Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey will occupy the Freedom Center’s Skirball Gallery from January 19-June 21, 2026, allowing visitors to learn about the Fisk Jubilee Singers®, the Grammy-Award winning world-renowned ensemble group comprised of students from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Martin Luther King Day on January 19 is more than a commemoration; it’s a catalyst. The Freedom Center will host its 21st annual King Legacy Celebration the morning of MLK Day in our Grand Hall, featuring an invigorating keynote speaker, Gen Z historian Khalil Greene, and an inspirational performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Whether you continue on with your day by participating in the MLK Coalition’s Commemorative March or sticking around for the opening of Jubilation! and additional service-oriented programming, the Freedom Center is the perfect backdrop for the day. Registration and opportunities for additional sponsorship will be announced soon.

Inclusive Holiday Celebrations at the Freedom Center on December 7!
Celebrate the season with us at the Freedom Center’s Community Day, a celebration of inclusive holiday cheer for families, friends, and neighbors of every age. In partnership with The Voice of Black Cincinnati, enjoy a festive lineup featuring seasonal activities and Black Santa photo opportunity and a live DJ!
The Freedom Center is excited to welcome Band in a Bus from 12:00 to 4:00, leading interactive jam sessions throughout the day. Kids and families can explore music games, rhythm and movement routines to popular songs, and even learn how to create instruments from everyday household items. All ages and all skill levels are welcome.
Free admission for all during regular hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Black Santa: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
View important rules to remember and procedures on The Voice of Black Cincinnati website.
Live DJ: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Band in a Bus: 12-4:00 p.m.
Join us for a day filled with joy, music, creativity, and community. Reserve free tickets online or in-person at the guest services desk.

The righteous, arduous journey to freedom.

May 23 – December 7, 2025

The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal… and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Faith & (in)Justice traces America’s two-and-a-half-century struggle for equity and the role of the country’s three largest religions – Christianity, Islam and Judaism – in that struggle.

The Freedom Center is celebrating the minority- and women-owned businesses that support our thriving community. When you come the the Freedom Center, you can spend an afternoon supporting local businesses.

Admission to the Community Market is free as part of our Fifth Third Community Days, made possible by the Fifth Third Foundation.

Stories of community, business innovation and creative self-determination

July 13 – October 13, 2024

The Negro Motorist Green Book offers an immersive look at the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America and the annual guide that served as an indispensable resource for the nation’s rising African American middle class. The exhibition includes artifacts from business signs and postcards to historic footage, images and firsthand accounts. Together, they convey the apprehension felt by African American travelers but also the resilience, innovation and elegance of people choosing to live a full American existence. The Negro Motorist Green Book showcases the vibrant parallel world of African American business, the rise of the Black leisure class and the important role of “The Green Book” played in facilitating the second wave of the Great Migration.

The Negro Motorist Green Book was developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with award-winning author, photographer and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor. The exhibition was made possible through the support of Exxon Mobil corporation. The exhibition is supported locally by the Procter & Gamble Company.

The Freedom Center is excited to present the final Fifth Third community Day of 2022!

Bring your friends and family to the Freedom Center to enjoy free admission, moving exhibits and engaging programming all day.

*Free tickets can be reserved online HERE, but walkups are welcome.*