Itinerary: Black History Month

The history of Black History Month starts with Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Assn. for the Study of African American Life and History. He got the idea for a weeklong event in 1926. After 50 years, the observance was expanded to all of February, which Woodson chose because the month contained the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery in America, and Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and 19th century civil rights leader.

Woodson wanted the world to recognize the contribution of African Americans to the nation. This weekend, start by appreciating some achievements in the arts.

Thursday

With two Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony among his collection of awards, August Wilson is undeniably one of America’s preeminent playwrights. Many of his plays examine an issue confronting blacks in a particular decade, a cycle that thus far encompasses the 1910s to the 1980s.

“Jitney,” set in the 1970s in Pittsburgh, the locale for much of Wilson’s work, tackles a complicated father-son relationship and how urban renewal could ruin the father’s unlicensed cab company. The play opens today in its West Coast premiere at the Mark Taper Forum (135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. $29 to $42. [213] 628-9772). Ends March 19.

Friday

The greatest singer of all time? Ella Fitzgerald is certainly a contender. At the California African-American Museum (600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. [213] 744-7432), the permanent exhibit “Ella Fitzgerald, Vocalist” re-creates her 1940s-era dressing room as a setting for many of her possessions, given to the museum by the Fitzgerald estate.

Jazz drummer Billy Higgins will present a “Tribute to Black American Artists”--trumpeter Art Farmer, vibraphonist Milt Jackson and pianist Horace Tapscott--Friday at 8 p.m. at the Center (10950 S. Central Ave., Watts. $10. [323] 563-5639). Higgins will play with an impressive lineup: Cedar Walton, Oscar Brashear, Benny Maupin and Jerry Ruesch.

Saturday

William H. Johnson, a pioneering African American modernist artist, is less well-known than some of his contemporaries from the 1930s because he spent his most productive years painting in Europe. Gallery owner Steve Turner, who did extensive research to curate the exhibition “William H. Johnson: Truth Be Told” will talk about the artist during a slide presentation at the California African-American Museum on Saturday at 1 p.m.

After stops at four museums, the 30 works of art in “William H. Johnson: Truth Be Told” are now on display at Turner’s new gallery space (Steve Turner Gallery, 275 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 200, Beverly Hills. Open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. [310] 271-3721) through March 25.

Sunday

Paul R. Williams was an architectural powerhouse. Working mostly in Los Angeles starting in the 1920s, his rare talent and salesmanship earned him many famous clients. He designed more than 3,000 buildings, including homes of every different style.

One project he worked on is known ‘round the world: the domed theme building in the center of Los Angeles International Airport. Enjoy a drink at Encounter, the space-age lounge and restaurant inside.