Celebrate Black history, Black present & Black futures in Tempe
In Tempe, Black History means taking a look back to reflect on this city’s past. But also, celebrating the present day milestones and triumphs within the Black community, and recognizing the year-round efforts that are paving the way for future generations.
“This month, and every month, shall honor the history of Black Americans and continue to make multi-cultural diversity a priority,” reads Tempe Mayor Corey Woods’ proclamation designating February as Black History Month. Read Mayor Corey Woods’ proclamation.
For insights into Black history in Tempe, check out “Downtown Tempe Authority’s Black History Month Project,” an ongoing effort to compile Black stories, celebrate Black tastemakers and honor the city’s Black pioneers.
“The African American Experience in Tempe,” written by Jared Smith, is a publication of the Tempe History Museum and its African American Advisory Committee that features photos courtesy of the Tempe History Museum. This digital read details the experiences of families, including that of Mary Green, the first African American settler known to have purchased land in what is now Tempe; Education, ranging from Tempe’s Black Residents and Public Education before 1940 to The Early Years of African Americans at Arizona State; and more.
Today, our leaders, tastemakers, athletes, politicians, restaurateurs, educators, artists and other creatives have made their mark on this city — both in the past and in the present — and we’d like to tell you more about them. Here are a few events, businesses, spaces, facts and resources, that showcase Black history, Black present and Black futures in Tempe — and give us a reason to celebrate every month of the year.
- Black History Month Events
- Beyond Black History Month
- Juneteenth
- Support Black-Owned Businesses
- City of Tempe
- Tempe Tourism
Black History Month Events
Feb. 6, 2026 | Faith in Action Prayer Breakfast
Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281
Mark your calendars for the annual Faith in Action Prayer Breakfast, taking place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Presented by the African American Advisory Committee (Tempe), this event unites faith and civic leaders for the good of our city. Breakfast will be held in the beautiful Lakeside Room overlooking Tempe Town Lake.
Feb. 7, 2026 | Black Love: The Exhale presented by Centered.PHX
Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008 | 480-941-1225
The Desert Botanical Garden invites you to celebrate Black History Month with Black Love: The Exhale, an evening celebrating the richness, resilience and range of Black love in the heart of the desert. Presented by Centered.PHX, this event will feature Black couples from across Arizona and highlight their real stories of connection, commitment, growth and joy. The event takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Admission to this experience includes full access to FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse.
Feb. 11, 2026 | Tempe History Society Lunch Talks
Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-350-5100
Join Tempe History Museum and Black Family Genealogy and History Society for “Researching Ancestors in Louisiana: Who are my Grandmother’s People,” a presentation highlighting a granddaughter’s efforts to put the puzzle pieces of her maternal grandmother’s family in order, using oral history, photographs, sacramental records of the Catholic Church, vital records, and more. All talks are held at 11:30 a.m. in the museum’s Community Room.
Feb. 14, 2026 | Black History Month Kids Activity Day
Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-350-5100
The African American Advisory Committee of Tempe History Museum presents a fun, interactive kids’ day to celebrate Black History Month. This free event will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and include hands-on activities, games, a book vendor, story time and more for the entire family.
Feb. 19, 2026 | 48 LIVE: Giovanni Kiyingi
Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-350-2822
Talented Ugandan folk singer-songwriter and world music artist Giovanni Kiyingi captivates audiences worldwide with his extraordinary skills as a multi-instrumentalist. His mesmerizing performances and soulful vocals have earned him prestigious invitations to share the stage with renowned artists at major music festivals and cooperative events across Uganda and the globe. Enjoy his mastery of diverse instruments such as the local Ugandan Endingidi, Akogo, Adungu, Endere, Djembe, Embuutu, Calabash, Congas, and more which set him apart in the music industry.
Feb. 26, 2026 | Valley Suns Black Excellence Night
411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281
Join the Valley Suns — the Phoenix Suns NBA G League affiliate — as they host Black Excellence Night versus the South Bay Lakers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena, and the evening’s programming will include recognition of the impact made by the Black community throughout the Valley.
Beyond Black History Month
Sundays (Year-Round) | BLK Arizona Run Club
850 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281
Taking place year-round, the BLK Arizona Run Club is a social- and fitness-focused meetup that brings a community to Tempe Town Lake every Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Preregistration or advance sign-up is not required. Be sure to check out @blkazrun on Instagram in advance to make sure you have all the details.
Jan. 12, 2026 | Valley Suns MLK Day Celebration
411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281
Join the Valley Suns — the Phoenix Suns NBA G League affiliate — as they host Black Excellence Night versus the Stockton Kings. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena, and the evening’s programming will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a night dedicated to unity and equality.
Jan. 16-19, 2026 | DREAM Series
Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282
Established by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball in 2017, the DREAM Series is a showcase event that focuses on the dynamics of pitching and catching for a diverse and elite group of predominantly African American high school athletes from across the country. Hosted in Tempe over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, the event provides an avenue specifically geared to diversify the talent pool of pitchers and catchers — two positions that lack Black representation at the Major League level.
Jan. 21, 2026 | MLK Diversity Awards
Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes, 2000 W. Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ
Each year, the City of Tempe and the Human Relations Commission host an MLK Diversity Awards breakfast to honor and recognize community members and organizations demonstrating a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and who exemplify the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s program honors people and organizations, including students, who work to make Dr. King’s dream a reality.
Jan. 24, 2026 | Regional Unity Walk
Tempe Beach Park & Tempe Town Lake, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281
For nearly 20 years, hundreds of residents from Chandler, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe have gathered at Tempe Town Lake for the Diversity Festival, followed by participation in the Regional Unity Walk. For 2025, the event takes place at Tempe Town Lake on Saturday, Jan. 24. Festivities, including music, food and fun, kick off at 4:30 p.m. Then, the one-mile walk starts at 6 p.m. Participation is free, and all walkers will receive a free t-shirt commemorating this walk for unity, mutual respect and understanding.
Participation is open to the public, and families, schools, community groups, scout troops, and church groups are encouraged to attend. Walkers are welcome to carry signs celebrating our community’s diversity and unity.
Jan. 24, 2026 | Step Afrika!
ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281
Step Afrika!’s signature work “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence” is based on Lawrence’s iconic painting series that chart the story of African Americans moving from the South to the North in the early 1900s. Each piece uses the images, color palette, and motifs in the painting series to tell this astonishing story through pulsating rhythms and visually stunning movement.
March 14, 2026 | “Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque”
Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-350-2822
An unforgettable celebration of strength, excitement and African culture, “Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque” fuses acrobatics, Afro-jazz, and traditional Guinean dance into a high-energy spectacle that bursts with color, rhythm, and spirit. More than a show, it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the magic of live performance. Experience the beauty, rhythm and soul of Africa.
Where to Celebrate Juneteenth in Tempe
Celebrated each year on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Tempe was the first city in the Valley of the Sun to officially recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday on an annual basis. In 2021, President Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday.
Making Juneteenth a holiday is just one way to draw awareness to the importance of this holiday. Another way Tempe honors this holiday is by flying Juneteenth flags throughout the streets of downtown all month long to raise awareness and visibility for residents and visitors.
This holiday wouldn’t be possible without the partners and event producers who specialize in creating spaces that acknowledge history, celebrate the future, encourage Black joy and welcome community.
Check out the Juneteenth events taking place in Tempe here.
Support Black-Owned Businesses
If you’re looking to shop Black-owned businesses in Tempe, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve assembled this list of local Black-owned restaurants and other various businesses to connect you with opportunities to shop, dine and support this valuable segment of our Tempe community.
From luxe nightlife and our very own local celebrity pit master to international markets and DIY experiences, we invite you to support these Black-owned restaurants and businesses in Tempe.
City of Tempe
The City of Tempe details noteworthy firsts that mark Black history within this municipality, including:
- Benton James was the first African American graduate of ASU (1924).
- Love Hatton Jordan was the first African American female graduate of ASU (1928).
- The Dunbar Social & Literary Society, the first African American student social organization, was formed in 1936.
- Emerson Harvey was the first African American football player at ASU. He started playing in 1937.
- Jesse Wilmer Jones was the first African American PhD recipient at ASU (1963).
- Warren and Carol Livingston were the first African Americans to buy property in Tempe (1965).
- Joshua Bursh and Charles Murray were the first African Americans to graduate from Arizona State University Law School (1970).
- Clovis Campbell was the first African American elected to the Arizona State Senate (1972).
- Ed “Butch” Cowings was the first African American officer on the Tempe Police force. He joined the force in 1974.
- Dr. Betty Greathouse was the first African American to serve on the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Board at Arizona State University (1973) and the first African American female member of Arizona State University’s Athletic Board (1976). She also was the first African American Tempe All American Woman Educator, selected by the Arizona Women’s Partnership and then-Mayor Harry Mitchell (1985).
- Cecil Patterson earned his law degree at Arizona State University and became the first African American Superior Court Judge (1980), later serving on the Appellate Court.
- Gladys Styles Johnston, Dean of Education, became the first African American Dean at ASU (1986).
- Corey Woods was the first African American to serve on the Tempe City Council. He was elected to Tempe City Council in 2008. He was elected as Mayor of Tempe in 2020.
For more on African American contributions to Tempe — from the African American to graduate from ASU (Benton James, 1924) to the first African American to serve on the City Council and as Mayor (Corey Woods, 2008 and 2020, respectively) — the city also maintains this list of recognition.
African American Advisory Committee
The African American Advisory Committee of Tempe History Museum meets monthly to plan events for Black History Month and Juneteenth. The group has also formed a book club and hosts “Community Chats,” which are both forums to discuss topics of interest and importance to the African American community of Tempe.
Tempe Tourism
The Tempe Tourism works with the Black Travel Alliance and partners with Black content creators to increase representation in the travel industry and celebrate diversity in destination storytelling.
Each year, Tempe Tourism partners with DiveRVA to host Dive into Diversity Event Series and Festival, which aims to be a catalyst for change and inclusion in the Olympic sport of diving by empowering members of underrepresented communities through awareness, exposure and access.
If you are a Black-owned business or event producer, or know of Tempe happenings that we missed here, please reach out to us to let us know by contacting KJ Philp, Director of Communications, at kj@tempetourism.com.
