A variety of events are planned in and around Richmond for Black History Month.

The annual observance originated as “Negro History Week” in 1926 with Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Virginia native, and the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, which Dr. Woodson helped to found.

It has since expanded to a monthlong observation honoring the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans.

Some of the month’s events include:

•Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m., “My Story of a Sharecropper’s Life.” Matoaca author James McKnight shares his book that recounts the life and experiences of his grandfather, William Holliday, a sharecropper in South Carolina who lived to age 112. Sponsored by Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and Chesterfield Department of Parks and Recreation. Free. Limited seating, with COVID-19 protocols in place. Chesterfield County Museum, 6813 Mimms Loop on the Historic Courthouse Green along Route 10/Ironbridge Road in Chesterfield. Free. Details and to reserve a seat: Bryan Truzzie at museum, (804)751-4946.

•Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., Dance Theatre of Harlem presents “Passage,” a full-length online premiere of Claudia Schreier’s ballet. Sponsored by the Virginia Arts Festival. Artist Derek Brockington also shares his experience performing the ballet. Watch on YouTube or Facebook. Details: vafest.org.

•Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Open Studio featuring artist Jowarnise Caston and musician Calvin Presents. Sponsored by ART180 and Dream for Purpose. Part of ART 180’s “Black Is 365” programming. The artist will lead attendees in a painting project. No experience necessary. Registration required. Materials provided to a limited number who sign up. Details: https://art180.formstack.com/forms/art_180_february_open_studio_black_is_365or (804) 233-4180.

•Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 to 8 p.m., Book Launch of University of Richmond President Ronald Crutcher’s memoir, “I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership.” Virtual talk by Dr. Crutcher sponsored by Clyde Hill Publishing and co-hosted by Chop Suey Books. Details and registration: bit.ly/crutcherlaunch.

•Thursday, Feb. 11, 6 to 7 p.m., African-American Read-In. Literature and fine arts come together with notable figures from Greater Richmond giving prose and poetry readings in pairings with works by African-American artists. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Free, virtual program. Zoom registration required. Second of four Read-In days. Details: vmfa.museum or (804) 340-1400.

•Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 to 11:30 a.m., University of Virginia’s Descendant Outreach Program: Louisa County Connections presented by Dr. Shelley Murphy. Program discusses some of the Louisa County enslaved laborers who were rented out to help build U.Va. Sponsored by the Louisa County Historical Society. Free. Registration required at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApdOqsrD8qH9ylNboxZrh4xwWIv3Ng_ Zk8.

•Monday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m., “The True Status of Descendants of Enslaved Afrikans in America: A Lemon’s Legacies Porch Talk.” Attorney Jaaye Person-Lynn talks about the historical status of the enslaved population in the United States and their descendants under the law. Sponsored by The Lemon Project at the College of William & Mary in conjunction with the Williamsburg Regional Library. Details and registration: https://events.wm.edu/event/view/lemonproject/120708

•Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m., “A Celebration of Black History Featuring Victoria Eady Butler,” sponsored by the Cavalier Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Virtual talk by Victoria Eady Butler, the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, the first African-American master distiller on record and mentor to Jack Daniels. Registration required. www.eventbrite.com (CavalierABWA-Celebrate Black History) Details: Sylvia at (804) 387- 3702.

•Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., “Reality Pedagogy: Teaching and Learning from the Students’ Standpoint,” a Zoom keynote address by best-selling author Dr. Chris Emdin, associate professor of science education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Author of “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too.” Sponsored by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the RTR Teacher Residency program. Register at bit.ly/RTRkeynote.