UC Events Celebrate Black History Month in February

The University of Cincinnati presents a calendar of events through February to celebrate Black History Month, which recognizes the contributions of African-Americans to the nation’s history.

U.S. President Gerald Ford first officially declared Black History Month across the nation in 1976

, the year of the nation’s bicentennial. The month of February has been observed as Black History Month by every U.S. president since 1976.

Efforts to formally recognize the contributions of African-Americans during the year stretch back to 1926, when the Association for the Study of African American Life and History first sponsored Negro History Week during the second week of February. The date coincided with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglas.

UC holds a history of its own in counting the contributions of its African-American alumni. A visual history is presented on the African American Cultural and Resource Center’s (AACRC) Harambee Room wall, featuring UC’s black trailblazers who changed the history and charted the future of the university. The wall includes civil rights activist Marian Spencer (A&S ’42), who in 1983 became the first African-American woman elected to Cincinnati City Council and was the first female president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP (1983-85). The wall also honors other alumni who became leading politicians (including Cincinnati’s first black mayor, Theodore Berry), as well as scholars, entertainers and internationally revered athletes, including Olympic gold medal recipients Oscar Robertson and Mary Wineberg.

Last fall, UC formally announced the acquisition of a historical collection that links

Louise Shropshire,

an African-American Cincinnati woman and composer, to the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement – the song, “We Shall Overcome.” The collection is being processed and will be stored in UC’s Archives and Rare Books Library. 

The University of Cincinnati embraces diversity and inclusion as core values

that empower individuals to transform their lives and achieve their highest potential.

Many of UC’s Black History Month events are free and open to the public. Here’s a look at the schedule:

Feb. 1-28

Archives & Rare Books Library Exhibit, 8th floor, Blegen Library

The exhibit, “Darwin T. Turner: A Scholarly Life,” will look back on the life and career of Darwin T. Turner, one of the greatest scholars in African-American literature. In 1947 at age 16, Darwin T. Turner became the youngest person ever to graduate from the University of Cincinnati when he earned a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned his master’s degree in English in 1949. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact: (513) 556-1959

Feb. 2

United Black Student Association Black History Month Opening Ceremony, 6-7 p.m., African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC), 60 W. Charlton

The student-organized ceremony is a festive kickoff to the campus-wide events. This program will highlight and celebrate the efforts of campus collaborations to highlight Black History Month.

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the United Black Student Association. Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 4

Academic Health Center Diversity and Inclusion Series, Noon-1 p.m., Vontz Auditorium

UC’s College of Nursing presents, “Emotional Intelligence and Diversity,” with speaker Tommie Lewis, President and CEO of Make It Plain Consulting, LLC. CME credits are available. The event is free and open to the public. Information: Kelly Lyle, health affairs program officer, (513) 558-7424, kelly.lyle@uc.edu

Feb. 5

Malcom London, “A(r)tism,” 4 p.m., Taft Research Center (Edwards I, suite 1110)

Called the “Gil-Scott Heron of this generation” by Cornel West, Malcom London is a poet-activist, passionate about education and the youth in his native Chicago. In 2011, he won the “Louder than a Bomb” Chicago poetry competition as an individual performer and with his team. London is a member of the Young Adult Council of the prestigious Steppenwolf Theater, a member of UCAN’s National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, and a teaching artist on staff at Young Chicago Authors. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Taft Research Center and Africana Studies in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, please contact the Taft offices at Taft@uc.edu or (513) 556-0675

“Do the Right Thing” Movie Screening, 7:30 p.m., MainStreet Cinema, Tangeman University Center (TUC)

Open to the public. Admission: $2. Sponsored by the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association. Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 9

Black-ish, 6-8 p.m., AACRC

Much like the new television series Black-ish on ABC, the United Black Student Association (UBSA) will facilitate a conversation around race, identity, culture, colorism, feminism and masculinity within and outside of the black community. We will analyze clips from the show, Black-ish, as a focal point for discussion. The event is featured as part of Black Love Week, sponsored by the United Black Student Association. Free and open to the public. Information: (513) 556-1177.

Feb. 11

Academic Health Center Diversity and Inclusion Series, Noon-1 p.m., Vontz Auditorium

UC’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy presents, “Holistic Admissions to the Health Professions,” with Greer Glazer, dean and Schmidlapp Professor of Nursing, UC College of Nursing, and Karen Bankston, associate dean, UC College of Nursing. CME credits are available. The event is free and open to the public. Information: Kelly Lyle, health affairs program officer, (513) 558-7424, kelly.lyle@uc.edu

AACRC Choir Love Concert, 6:30-8:30 p.m., AACRC (60 W. Carlton)

Free and open to the public, the concert is sponsored by the AACRC and is part of Black Love Week. Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 12

"Black Existentialism," Philosopher Lewis Gordon, 4 p.m., Taft Research Center (Edwards I, suite 1110)

Lewis Gordon is an American philosopher who has written extensively on race and racism, postcolonial phenomenology, Africana and black existentialism, and on the works and thought of W. E. B. Du Bois and Frantz Fanon. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Taft Research Center and Africana Studies in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, please contact the Taft offices at Taft@uc.edu or (513) 556-0675

Family Feud, Black History Edition, 5-7 p.m., AACRC (60 W. Carlton)

In this fun, interactive program students compete against one another in teams, answering questions about people and events in Black History. This winning team will receive prizes. The event, sponsored by the United Black Student Association, is part of Black Love Week. Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 18

Academic Health Center Diversity and Inclusion Series, Noon-1 p.m., Vontz Auditorium

The UC College of Medicine presents, “Current Topics in Culturally Competent Care,” with Charla Weiss, human resource consultant, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The event is free and open to the public. Information: Kelly Lyle, health affairs program officer, (513) 558-7424, kelly.lyle@uc.edu

Sankofa Lunch & Learn, Noon-1 p.m., African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC), 60 W. Charlton

The AACRC will feature a number of programs for Black History Month reflecting the theme, "The Act of Sankofa: Seek, Reach, Achieve."

Sankofa, an African principle, is the act of "reaching back" to help others achieve. Its symbol is the Sankofa bird that looks backward with an egg, which represents the future. The featured programs will highlight educational, cultural and artistic programs ranging from motivating presentations to music, with a concert featuring the AACRC Choir. There also will be Brother-to-Brother and Sisters-to-Sisters programs with a focus on the older generation of black elders reaching back to the younger students to demonstrate the principle of Sankofa.

The AACRC events will challenge the African-American community to look back in time to advance the newer generations.

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the AACRC.  Information: (513) 556-1177        

Feb. 19

“Pariah”-Movie Night/Discussion, 7-9:30 p.m., Mainstreet Cinema (TUC)

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the AACRC and the UC LGBTQ Center.  Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 21

Fourth-annual Black Girls Rock, 6-8 p.m., MainStreet Cinema, TUC

This event is free and open to the campus community. There will be a live band, refreshments and a surprise guest speaker. The event will honor five UC students: Tiffany Peterson, Sonya Sorrells, Tamika Jones, Khalila Montgomery and Stella Udeozer. Five faculty or staff members will also be honored: Cheri Westmoreland, Faye Lattimore, Littisha Bates, Adison Nelson and Patrice Barnes. Sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Beta Eta Chapter. Information: (513) 556-1177

Feb. 23

Second-annual Sip-&-Paint, 6-7:30 p.m., AACRC

You are cordially invited to attend S.I.S.’s Second-Annual Sip-and-Paint event, where participants will paint a canvas while enjoying conversation and mocktails.  Space is limited to 40 participants. Please RSVP to Ms. Tamar Kinebrew at kinebrte@ucmail.uc.edu by Feb. 16. Sponsored by the AACRC’s Sisters Impacting Sisters (SIS). Information: (513) 556-1177

All We Do is Step, Stroll and Hop?! What is a Black, Greek-Letter Organization? 7-9 p.m., Tangeman University Center (TUC) Rooms 400-A,B,C

African-American Collegiate Greek-Letter Fraternities and Sororities boast a rich legacy. Unfortunately, undergraduate collegiate members often hold misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding the purpose, mission, and history of their beloved organizations. “All We Do is Step, Stroll and Hop?!” is an interactive, innovative, fun, engaging and educational session that dispels these stereotypes. The session also offers practical short-term and long-term solutions for both Divine Nine members and non-members to positively change the expectation and culture related to these organizations. With special guest Rasheed Ali Cromwell of The Harbor Institute. Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by Fraternity & Sorority Life. Information: Leah Howell, program manager, (513) 556-0896; leah.howell@uc.edu

Feb. 24

Brother 2 Brother, 4-5:30 p.m., African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC), 60 W. Charlton

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the AACRC.  Information: (513) 556-1177        

Feb. 25

Academic Health Center Diversity and Inclusion Series, Noon-1 p.m., Kresge Auditorium

UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences presents, “Inclusion: Making it Real,” with Janet Reid, executive management consultant. The event is free and open to the public. Information: Kelly Lyle, health affairs program officer, (513) 558-7424, kelly.lyle@uc.edu

Discovering Your Roots, 3 p.m., Fourth Floor of Langsam Library at the Triceracopter

Have you always wanted to trace your family history? Come learn how to use Ancestry.com, available through UC Libraries to the UC community, and also enjoy interesting and in-depth dialogue about the link between African history and black culture. The session will be hosted by Karen Cudjoe, library associate and instructor of Africana Studies, and Nick Wantsala, president of the UC African Student Association. The event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the University of Cincinnati African Student Association (UCASA) and Langsam Library. Information: pamela.bach@uc.edu (513) 556-1580

Feb. 26

Taste of the Caribbean, 4-7 p.m., AACRC, 60 W. Charlton

This event is a cultural feast of ethnic cuisine, music and art from various Caribbean countries and is sponsored by Caribe, UC’s new Caribbean student association. Free and open to the public. Information: (513) 556-1177       

Feb. 28

Salute to Black Entertainers, 6-9 p.m., Zimmer Auditorium

Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the United Black Student Association. Information: (513) 556-1177       

Through Feb. 28

Archives & Rare Books Library Exhibit, Blegen Library lobby

The Archives & Rare Books Library is featuring an exhibit on

Theodore Berry

, Cincinnati’s first African-American mayor, and a UC alumnus. Available for research and study in the Archives and Rare Books Library, the Theodore Moody Berry Papers provide an historical record of civil rights and community politics during the 20th century, including issues surrounding Cincinnati politics and history, housing and fair treatment for the poor and neighborhood activism. This history covers Berry’s involvement in Cincinnati City Council, the NAACP and the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity. They also include civic activism records, his personal papers and biographical material. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact: (513) 556-1959

Map of West Campus

Black History Month Events at UC Blue Ash College (All events are free and open to the public)

Feb. 5

12:30-2 p.m., Walters Hall, Room 100 – Humanities Lecture: “The Black Man’s Burden: Freedom, Citizenship, and Rhetorical Progress in a Post-Racial America,”

Holly McGee, UC assistant professor of history. Sponsored by the UC Blue Ash College History Department.

Feb. 9

11 a.m.-1 p.m., Walters Hall, Room 100 (lecture), Walters Hall, Room 119 (testing) – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The event includes free HIV testing by IV-Charis and a lecture by a representative from the City of Cincinnati Health Department. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) was first observed in 1999. The focus of NBHAAD is to get African-Americans educated about the basics of HIV and AIDS in their local communities. Testing is private and results are available in about 15-20 minutes.  Post testing counseling from IV-Charis will be available for all individuals. Additional resources will be passed out at the lecture.

Feb. 24

11 a.m.-1 p.m., Walters Hall, Room 100 – African-American Read-In

Come listen to selected works from African-American authors, including some of Blue Ash’s faculty, staff and students. A “soul food” lunch will be served. The event is co-sponsored by UC Blue Ash Multicultural Affairs and the UCBA Library.

Contact information for all Black History Month events at UC Blue Ash: CJ Witherspoon, (513)745-5773 or witherce@ucmail.uc.edu

Blue Ash College Map

Diversity at UC

Other UC News Related to Black History Month

UC Historical Collection Reveals the Songwriter Who United the Voice of the National Civil Rights Movement

Louise Shropshire: An Online Exhibit

The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC) Collection: A Recollection of Cincinnati’s Unrest

Theodore M. Berry Collection

Urban Studies Collection