University of Cincinnati Events Observe Black History Month

Lectures, movies, musical performances and panel discussions are all on the calendar of University of Cincinnati-sponsored events to observe Black History Month in February. In addition, a number of weekend events will appeal to children as well as adults.

Here’s what’s in the planning:

Jan. 30-Feb. 28

UC Bookstores Display, Level 3, Tangeman University Center (TUC)

The display will feature 17 titles about significant people or events in black history, including “Letter to My Daughter” by Maya Angelou; “The King Years: Historic Moments in Civil Rights” by T. Branch; “The Making of African America” by I Berlin; “Why We Can’t Wait” by Martin Luther King Jr.; and “The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks” by J. Theoharis.

Contact:

UC Bookstores, 513-556-1700

Friday, Feb. 1

7 p.m., Great Hall. TUC – Taft Keynote Address: The Importance of Black Cultural Institutions in America

The keynote speaker is Maulana Karenga, chair of the Africana Studies Department at California State University-Long Beach. Karenga was a major figure in the Black Power movement in the '60s and '70s and is credited with creating the week-long Kwanza African-American holiday. The event, sponsored by the UC Department of History and Africana Studies, is free and open to the public.

Contact:

  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Saturday, Feb. 2

10 a.m., MainStreet Cinema, TUC – MainStreet Cinema Saturday Screening

Youth ages 10 and above are invited to attend a free movie screening at MainStreet Cinema on UC’s West Campus from 10 a.m.-noon.  Film and media studies faculty will introduce a film that follows the week's assigned theme, "History," and facilitate a brief discussion immediately following the screening. Capacity is limited to 125, and outside of co-sponsoring community organizations seating will occur on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact:  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Monday, Feb. 4

3 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – 24-Hour Middle Passage Records Reading

Join us for a very special 24-hour reading to honor those lives forever changed by the voyage known as The Middle Passage. Every two hours, a brief essay will be read, detailing the place of the Middle Passage in the Americas. UC students, faculty and staff volunteers will then begin a continuous public reading of records associated with African slaves bound for the Americas.  This is intended as a solemn event to recognize the difficult journey of faceless millions. The event is free and open to the public. The Freedom Center will remain open to the general public for the duration of the 24-hour reading.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

Tuesday, Feb. 5

3 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – Conclusion of 24-Hour Middle Passage Records Reading

6 p.m., African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC) – Black Wall Street: Tulsa, Oklahoma 1921

The film examines one of the worst race riots in the nation’s history, which occurred in a once thriving African-American community. The event is free and open to the public. The movie is sponsored by the ADVACE program in the Career Development Center. ADVANCE is a student African-American and professional development organization at UC. Other student organization sponsors are: GQ: Gentleman’s Quarterly, Shades of You, University of Cincinnati African Students Association (UCASA), The Lambda Society, Collegiate 100, United Black Student Association (UBSA),Black Arts Collaborative (BAC), AACEC and Ethnic Programs and Services.

Contact:

Morgan Taylor Lee, bleichmt@email.uc.edu

Wednesday, Feb. 6

6 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – Black Male Identity in the 21st Century

Join the young men of M.O.R.E. (Men Organized, Respectful and Educated), a new initiative designed to nurture academic success and strong character among African-American and other at-risk young men in Cincinnati, for an open conversation about the challenges facing young men in contemporary society.  UC Africana Studies Department faculty will moderate a panel discussion comprised of four speakers –two members of MORE and two UC students – and the audience will be invited to participate in an interactive Q & A session following the panel. This event in the Harriet Tubman Theatre is free and open to the public.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

Thursday, Feb. 7

7 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – The Gravity of Black History and Culture

Join an esteemed panel of university faculty from Ohio and Kentucky, and community organizers for an open and frank conversation regarding history and culture in contemporary America.  Members of the audience are invited to participate in an interactive Q&A following the discussion. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact:

  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Friday, Feb. 8

7 p.m., African American Cultural Resource Center (AACRC

, West Charlton Street, the location of the former Sander Dining Center,) – Taft Keynote Address: Creating Culture

The featured speaker is Pero Gaglo Dagbovie, professor of history at Michigan State University. His keynote address will discuss his current research on Carter G. Woodson and the creation of culture in contemporary societies. The event, sponsored by the UC Department of History and Africana Studies, is free and open to the public.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

Saturday, Feb. 9

3:30 p.m., MainStret Cinema, TUC – MainStreet Cinema Saturday Screening

Youth ages 10 and above are invited to attend a free movie screening at the MainStreet Cinema.  Film and media studies faculty will introduce a film that follows the week's assigned theme, "Health and Wellness," and facilitate a brief discussion immediately following the screening. Capacity is limited to 125, and outside of co-sponsoring community organizations, seating will occur on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact:

  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Tuesday, Feb. 12

10 a.m.-2 p.m., TUC Atrium – Health Fair

Members of the University Hospital Ambassadors program will be on hand to offer free medical screenings and services to members of the UC campus and larger Cincinnati community.  They'll be joined in their efforts by both students and faculty from the UC College of Medicine and the College of Nursing, and a community co-sponsor, IV-CHARIS.

This event is free and open to the public, and free (1-hour) parking on both Clifton and Jefferson avenues will be available for visitors. Church vans are highly-encouraged to come and large busses should e-mail mcgeehy@ucmail.uc.edu immediately to arrange parking.

4-5 p.m., AACRC – Bone Marrow Drive

AACRC has teamed up with the Be The Match Registry to host a donor drive to help raise awareness for the more than 28 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. There is no greater gift than the gift of Life! The event will feature a bone marrow recipient who will share her story.

The need of bone marrow donors is on the rise in the African American community. Today, African Americans comprise only 7 percent of the donor registry. To join the registry, a simple cheek swab is all that is needed.

Contact: 

513-556-1177

Wednesday, Feb. 13

10 a.m.-2 p.m., TUC Atrium – Health Fair

Saturday, Feb. 16

10 a.m., MainStreet Cinema, TUC – MainStreet Cinema Saturday Screening

Youth ages 10 and above are invited to attend a free movie screening at the MainStreet Cinema from 10 a.m.-noon.  Film and media studies faculty will introduce a film that follows the week's assigned theme, "Culture," and facilitate a brief discussion immediately following the screening. Capacity is limited to 125, and outside of co-sponsoring community organizations seating will occur on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

4-7 p.m., Great Hall, TUC – Black Girls Rock

UC’s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has selected five UC students and five faculty/staff African-American women to be honored at the fraternity’s second-annual Black Girls Rock event. There will be live music, food and wonderful company.

Contact:

Nloh Masango-Dibo at masangnh@mail.uc.edu

Tuesday, Feb. 19

7 p.m., Great Hall, TUC – Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Exhibition

Bi-Okoto is one of the state’s leading drum and dance troupes and tours and performs around the U.S. and the world. The event, sponsored by the UC Department of History and Africana Studies, is free and open to the public.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

Thursday, Feb. 21

3:30 p.m., MainStreet Cinema – History Department Taft Lecture: Robin D.G. Kelley

The lecture is titled, “The Long Rise and Short Decline of American Democracy.” Kelley is professor of American history at UCLA. A catered reception will immediately follow the lecture in the Baur Room of CCM, where CCM jazz students will perform until 7 p.m. 

Contact:

  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Friday, Feb. 22

10 a.m., Corbett Center (CCM), Room 1402 – Monk: A Love Story

Featuring Taft Lecturer Robin D. G. Kelley, the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA. Kelley is author of “Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original” (Free Press, 2009). The event will also feature CCM Jazz Studies faculty and jazz improvisation classes.

Contact: 

UC history department, 513-556-2144

Saturday, Feb. 23

10 a.m., MainStreet Cinema, TUC – MainStreet Cinema  Saturday Screening

Youth ages 10 and above are invited to attend a free movie screening at the MainStreet Cinema from 10 a.m.-noon.  Film and media studies faculty will introduce a film that follows the week's assigned theme, "Social Justice," and facilitate a brief discussion immediately following the screening. Capacity is limited to 125, and outside of co-sponsoring community organizations seating will occur on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact:

  UC history department, 513-556-2144

Monday, Feb. 25

5-7 p.m., AACRC – Colors of Pride Movie Screening

The UC LGBT student organization, Colors of Pride, will be screening the 2003 documentary, “Brother Outsider, “which highlights the contributions and legacy of the prominent civil rights leader and gay rights activist, Bayard Rustin. The event is free and open to the public. Viewers must be at least 18 years old to screen the movie.

Contact:

AACRC, 513-556-1177

Wednesday, Feb. 27

6:30 p.m., College of Law, Room 118 – Roundtable Discussion:  Representation, Race and Justice in the 21st Century

Join an esteemed panel of elected officials and university faculty for an open and frank conversation regarding race and social justice in contemporary America. The president of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) will moderate the panel, and members of the audience are invited to participate in an interactive Q&A following the discussion. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice, UC’s History Department, and BLSA.  Contact: Center for Race, Gender, & Social Justice, uclaw.justice@gmail.com

Thursday, Feb. 28

6:30 p.m., AACRC  – Black History Month Essay Competition Scholarship Presentation

All high school students currently enrolled in Cincinnati Public Schools may compete in this scholarship essay competition in honor of Black History Month 2013. Submitted essays must be postmarked to UC no later than Feb. 15. Three winners will be selected (second runner-up, first runner-up, grand prize winner) and invited to deliver their essay as a Black History Month keynote speech at the University of Cincinnati on Feb. 28. Each winner will receive a non-renewable scholarship (as outlined in the scholarship description) to support the cost of attending the first year of college. The check will be issued to the college where student enrolls upon graduation from high school.

This event is free and open to the public.

Click here

for the competition application. 

Contact: 

AACRC, 513-556-1177

UC Black History Month Conference & Lecture Series

Map of West Campus

UC Blue Ash College Black History Month Events