Image by Flickr user dotmatrixproject

First reporting, updates at the bottom: According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History the 2011 National Black History Month theme is 'African Americans and the Civil War.'

This month, the Lowcountry is host to numerous Black History Month events. Below are a few upcoming and ongoing happenings worth checking out.

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble and its smaller member group, the CSO Spiritual Ensemble Chorale, will present a series of three concerts in celebration of National African-American History Month. The Post and Courier has a detailed post on the upcoming concerts which celebrate black history through both a capella and choral concerts.

In recognition of Black History Month, Middleton Place is offering a daily African-American Focus Tour seven days a week. According to the description in The Post and Courier, "The tour provides insight into the lives of African-Americans at Middleton Place and other Lowcountry rice plantations."

On February 18th, Bernard Powers of the College of Charleston will be giving a free talk about the city's role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The lectures begin at 6 p.m. in the Old Exchange Building at 122 East Bay Street.

Update February 7: The Post and Courier has compiled an extensive list of Black History Month activities, lectures, essay contest, read ins and more.

Here's the link to the guide.