San Antonio's Black Heritage

Powerful stories, Vibrant Culture, and Can’t-miss Events Honoring the Alamo City's Black History

From the Spanish exploration of Tejas to the fight for independence and statehood, and into the present day, African descendants have contributed to the region’s history. From involuntary to voluntary migration, the residents of San Antonio include African Americans, African Mexicans, African Indigenous, African Caribbean, and African Natives.

Historically and currently, African descendants in the region worked as explorers, interpreters, soldiers, settlers, educators, pioneers, ranchers, surgeons, military officers, community advocates, publishers, politicians, preachers, doctors, attorneys, business owners, inventors, scientists, artists, entertainers, and much more! We invite you to explore the influence of Africa here in San Antonio year-round.

Exploring San Antonio’s Black Heritage in Arts and Culture

Carver Community Cultural Center

The Carver Community Cultural Center is one of San Antonio’s many meaningful places to experience the city’s Black heritage through the arts.

The Carver celebrates cultures from around the world, with a special focus on African and African American stories and creativity. Here, you can catch everything from dance and live music to theater and spoken word, all in a space rooted in community and culture.

The center features two distinct venues. The Jo Long Theatre hosts a full season of mainstage performances, while the Little Carver Civic Center offers a smaller, more intimate series.

Insider Tip: You'll find the Carver Gallery located in the Jo Long Theatre Lobby, showcasing paintings, sculptures, graphics, photography, and more by local and regional artists. Admission is free; be sure to check ahead for gallery hours.

View Carver Event Calendar

People gathering on Go Rio barge for Black History River Cruise

San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)

SAAACAM invites you to discover an untold history filled with rich local stories. Through its community-driven digital archive and engaging exhibits, SAAACAM helps deepen understanding and appreciation of Black history in our city.

Located in La Villita, the museum features digitized and audiovisual displays that bring culture, storytelling, and empowerment to life.

Insider Tip: SAAACAM periodically hosts Black History River Tours and Green Book Civil Rights Tours. Be sure to check their calendar of events for your next opportunity to attend of these events!

View SAAACAM Event Calendar

Celebrate San Antonio's Black Heritage All Year Long

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January

Spotlight On:

39th Annual MLK March

January 19, 2026

Now in its 39th year, San Antonio's Annual MLK March is one of the largest in the country.

The San Antonio community, as well as visitors from across the country, come together on the third Monday in January to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What started as a grassroots effort in 1968 by the Rev. R.A. Callies has grown into the nation's largest march.

The celebration, sponsored by the City of San Antonio, begins at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy and ends at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Don't miss this chance to gather with the community to march for human and civil rights.

Woman in hoodie in front of MLK Mural in San Antonio at Annual MLK March.

More Than a March

The 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Celebration begins with the kickoff at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, followed by a community celebration at Pittman Sullivan Park.

This day is more than a gathering. It’s a powerful show of unity, where people from all walks of life come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy and the values he stood for. The march reminds us that an inclusive society belongs to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background.

Everyone is invited to participate. As one of the most diverse major cities in the nation, San Antonio’s cultural communities converge on the East Side for a nearly 3-mile march filled with purpose and hope.

Local organizations help lead the way, but every marcher is encouraged to walk alongside the community. Review the route and parking details in advance, including VIA park-and-ride bus options, so your day feels easy from start to finish.

San Antonio crowd marching during MLK March

Spotlight On:

DreamWeek San Antonio

January 9-31, 2026

Exchanging ideas. Inspiring discussion. Igniting change. That's the goal of the 14th Annual DreamWeek San Antonio summit.

DreamWeek San Antonio is one of the city’s signature winter celebrations and a powerful part of our Black History season.

Each year, DreamWeek Summit brings people together for open, thoughtful conversations about issues that shape our world, with a focus on listening, learning, and moving forward together.

Events range from inspiring panels, symposiums, and film screenings to concerts and art exhibits, creating space for many voices and perspectives. It’s a time to celebrate culture, spotlight community leaders and creators, and join San Antonio in honoring the stories that help define who we are.

View the complete DreamWeek schedule of events and find one that speaks to you!

man painting in the dark with an overhead lamp

2026 Event Sampler

It would be impossible to list all of the exciting events to check out here, so here is a small event sampler to get you started:

SAAACAM 2026 Legacy Awards Ball | January 9, 2026: Enjoy an elegant evening celebrating Black excellence with delicious bites from local Black chefs, lively auctions highlighting culture near and far, and a festive ball-attire atmosphere.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch | January 17, 2026: Join the annual MLK Brunch for a joyful, justice-minded celebration with this year’s “Return to the Mountain Top!” theme and an inspiring keynote from Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins.
Negro Motorist Green Book and Civil Rights Tour | January 24, 2026: Discover San Antonio’s Black heritage on SAAACAM’s 2.5-hour Negro Motorist Green Book Civil Rights Tour through the historic East Side, featuring powerful stories and stops from the downtown theater district to Dignowity Hills, Denver Heights, St. Paul Square, and more.

DreamWeek San Antonio Schedule of Events

February

Black History Month

The month of February celebrates the contributions of African Americans in the United States.

Tours, concerts, discussions, art galleries, exhibitions, and shows are available daily throughout the city.

African American Book Festival

The fourth Saturday in February, the Friends of the Carver Library hosts this annual book festival celebrating the power of Black voices in writing and storytelling.

Black Restaurant Week

Black Restaurant Week San Antonio (BRWSA) is a week-long event that celebrates the contributions of Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, and businesses along with Black professionals in the culinary industry.

Appetizer surrounded by sauce — A Way to the Heart | Photo Courtesy of Black Restaurant Week San Antonio

April

Taste of New Orleans

For over 35 years, the annual “A Taste of New Orleans,” sponsored by the San Antonio Zulu Association, has become one of Fiesta® San Antonio’s most popular events. If you’re looking for fun with a focus on family, the “Taste” is the place to be.

St. Philip’s CultureFest & Rib Cook-Off

The St. Philip’s College Culture Fest and Rib Cook-Off is an official Fiesta® San Antonio and holds a Green Platinum Certificate designation. It is a high-energy and kid-friendly festival featuring a rib cook-off, live music, a car show, food and non-food vendors, and several grill raffles in one location!

Fiesta® Family Blues Festival

On the last Friday of Fiesta, the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum presents their Blues Festival, an official Fiesta event. The event features local and national blues artists, vendors, and food trucks.

three women selling jewelry — St. Philip’s CultureFest & Rib Cook-Off

Made in San AntonioMeet Artist Ismani Sun

San Antonio’s creative community is full of visionary artists who bring depth, color, and cultural richness to the city. Among them is Ismani Sun, a painter, illustrator, and muralist whose work blends spirituality, ancestry, and imagination.

May

Pan African Cultural Festival

Annually, on the first Saturday in May, San Antonio is home to the Pan-African Cultural Festival, a free community celebration to promote unity and culture in the African world community.

Enjoy engaging conversation and meet brothers and sisters from the Caribbean, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and Mexico. The festival features African drumming and dancing, an African fashion show, a Capoeira demonstration, poetry, storytelling, children’s activities, a Pan-African panel discussion, and more.

June

Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a federal holiday observed on June 19th, celebrating the end of slavery. Although President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 started the nationwide abolishment of slavery, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Texans were informed and enforced to comply with the Emancipation Proclamation.

The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution, passed in January of 1865 and ratified on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. San Antonio has celebrated Juneteenth for decades all over the city with a large festival, parade, and many neighborhood events.

July

Reggae Festival

The last weekend of July, San Antonio is home to the Reggae Festival. In addition to music that will keep you rocking all night long, enjoy over 50 food and cultural vendors, including food trucks, frozen treats, Jamaican foods, a children’s playground, face painters, hula hoops, and much more!

August

Omega Psi Phi Annual White Party

The Psi Alpha Foundation (PASF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping create a brighter future for young adults in our community. The annual White Martini Party is the biggest fundraiser of the year, providing scholarships for San Antonio’s Black, Bright, and Bold youth.

October

San Antonio Black International Film Festival

The mission of the San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) is to showcase quality film genres indicative of vast Black experiences, advocate for, and support filmmakers of African descent. Held the first weekend of October, here you’ll find many stories, subject matters, voices, and diverse images of Black people throughout the global diaspora that have been historically under-represented.

December

Kwanzaa Market

The Kwanzaa Market is a place where Black businesses and Black entrepreneurs can connect with African American consumers and an opportunity to sell and purchase culturally enriching products, handmade goods, items for Kwanzaa celebration, African-inspired clothing, and accessories. It gives us an opportunity to prepare for the official holiday (Dec 26 – Jan 1) while practicing one of its major principles – Ujamaa (cooperative economics)!