Keke Palmer and her 23-month-old son, Leodis “Leo” Jackson, had a moment to remember at the Empire State Building in New York City on February 6, 2025. The pair helped light up the iconic building to celebrate Black History Month.

For the event, Keke wore a stunning red gown, while Leo looked adorable in a gray sweatsuit, black beanie, and Adidas sneakers. The duo stood together on stage, where Keke delivered a speech about the significance of the month.

“I’m so happy to be here, especially during Black History Month,” she shared. “It’s such an honor to celebrate this month—especially during these times.”

In an interview with Good Morning America, she emphasized that Black History Month is a chance to remind everyone that “Black history is American history.”

“It’s wonderful when we get the opportunity to remind ourselves of that—to celebrate one another, our progress, and all the progress we want to make in the future,” she added.

Palmer also spoke about celebrating progress while pushing for more in the future.

“I’m so proud to be a millennial, and I’m very proud of my siblings who are Gen Z and all the ways that they’ve pushed things forward. And so, when I look at my son, I’m hoping that he can do the same, that we can represent. Um, because I think that’s a big thing is representing ourselves and seeing ourselves in nuanced stories creatively.”

Keke also posted some photos from the event on Instagram, including a sweet shot of Leo looking at a statue at the Empire State Building

She captioned, “Fashion week is off to a great start, it’s BLACK HISTORY MONTH! And I’m so thrilled I got the opportunity to honor it by lighting the Empire State Building! So amazing to do with my son and family!”