Five Colleges, Incorporated: Black History Month 2009

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Black History Month 2009 at the Five Colleges

The following is an abridged list of Black History Month events taking place at the five colleges. Events will be added as they become available. Click the "announcements" links shown for each campus for more extensive descriptions.

Amherst College (View the AC announcements page)

2/6/09, 7:30 p.m., Johnson Chapel
Multifaith Service
Conducted by Reverend Walter Edward Fauntroy, the founder and director of the Model Inner City Community Organization and a Delegate to the United States Congress from the District of Columbia. Reverent Fauntroy marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., and has been a pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church since 1959.

Week of 2/15/09, 8 p.m., location TBA
Jean Thompson -- Freedom Rider
In honor of Black History month, Charles Drew House invites Freedom Rider, Ms. Jean Thompson. She trained Freedom Riders about to go into Jackson and continued to do sit-ins and picketing for several years. She also did civil rights work elsewhere in the south, including Canton, Mississippi after Medgar Evers was murdered, and in North Carolina. She has lived in Amherst, MA since the early 1970s.

2/27/09, 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall
Harlem Gospel Choir
The Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee is pleased to welcome back for a second year the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir. While this event is free and open to the public, tickets are required. Amherst College students, staff, and faculty may reserve up to two tickets starting February 9. Tickets will be available to the public starting February 19.

3/29/09
African Underground Project
African Underground Project is "the award winning documentary film series, panel discussion/lecture and live performance that showcases African Hip Hop music and youth involvement in social political action."

3 p.m., Stirn Auditorium: The award winning documentary film, African Underground: Democracy in Dakar, follows the controversial 2007 presidential elections in Senegal through the eyes of Senegalese youth and the local Hip Hop community.

4 p.m., Stirn Auditorium: Panel Discussion with filmmakers.

8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall: Hip Hop performance by four West-African MCs backed by a live band.

Hampshire College

2/5-6/09, Franklin Patterson Hall
Academics, Activism, Art, and Ascendancy: Women of Color Who Change the World
A lecture-and-panels series featuring distinguished alumnae and celebrating Florence Ladd, who has provided leadership and service to Hampshire College and to higher education within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond. Florence Ladd will conclude her service as a college trustee at the close of the current academic year, and her fellow trustees and college staff organized this program in her honor. A listing of events follows, below. For more information, please call the office of the secretary of the college at (413) 559-5780 or e-mail nkelly@hampshire.edu.

2/5/09, 4 p.m.
"Can a Colored Woman be a Physician?" Discovering African-American Women Physicians in the History of Medicine
Physician and medical historian Vanessa Northington Gamble 70F will deliver the inaugural Trustees’ Lecture, based on her current research. Dr. Gamble is University Professor of Medical Humanities and a professor of history at George Washington University. She is an influential spokesperson for equal access to quality medical care for all Americans, and in 1997 served as chair of the Legacy Committee of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which prompted a U.S. Presidential apology for the treatment of African American patients. A 1974 graduate of Hampshire College, Gamble wrote her senior thesis (Div III) on the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

2/6/09, 3 p.m.
Academics and Activism: Women of Color who Change the World
Panel discussion by Erin Dozier 88F, associate general counsel of the National Association of Broadcasters; Mary James 72F, professor of physics at Reed College; and Ada Gay Griffin 75F, filmmaker and fundraiser. Alumni trustee Shelley Johnson Carey 72F and faculty trustee Professor Falguni A. Sheth will moderate.

2/6/09, 5 p.m.
Art and Ascendancy: Readings and Reflections, Panel discussion including Nancy Festinger 72F, chief interpreter, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and editor of Proteus, the newsletter of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators; video artist, writer, and storyteller Pak Soo Na 01F; and Sara Littlecrow-Russell 96F, poet and author of The Secret Power of Naming. Cynthia H. Tolentino 88F, professor of English at the University of Oregon, will serve as moderator. A reception will follow in the college gallery, with an exhibition of works by Hampshire faculty, staff, students, and alumni of color. All events are free and open to the public.

2/12-13/09, 7 p.m., Red Barn
The Hair Project: Our Hairstories
A collection of poems, monologues and stories created based on interviews and wokrshops with African American women about their hair. The performance contains personal stories from black women in the Hampshire Community and the Red Barn will function as a gallery space with audio and portraits. Come celebrate the lives and experiences of black women in our community! Written and directed by Ashley M. Young. Doors open at 6:30.

Mount Holyoke College (events to come)

Smith College (View the SC Black History Month page)

2/7/09
Day of Service to Honor Legacy of MLK
The Smith community is invited to join the second annual Day of Service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The day, which will include an oratorical contest and several community volunteer opportunities, reflects the national day of service held each year on the holiday celebrating King’s birthday.

2/10/09, 4:14 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room
Black Female Expression in the Arts
Come hear author and assistant professor of African American studies, Daphne Lamothe and author, Tajuana "TJ" Butler discuss their different accomplishments as African American females in their respective fields and beyond.

2/19/09, 4:30 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium
Leadership and Our Role as Global Citizens
Author, educator, activist, and certified empowerment facilitator, Jennifer Calderon "JLove" is passionate about social justice, race, and gender issues. She is widely respected for her advocacy of everyday people, especially young people, women and girls, and lovers of hip hop culture. For her consistent dedication, JLove has received numerous awards, including the Union Square Award for her activism, and Self Magazine's Self Starter of the Year Award.

2/20-22/09
The Black Students Alliance Spring Conference: Aesthetics of Blackness: What it Means to be Black in America Today
http://sophia.smith.edu/bsa/conference.html

2/21/09, 12 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium
Keynote Address by Kevin Powell
A social activist, an award winning writer, author, hip hop historian, public speaker and entrepreneur, Kevin Powell has written numerous essays, articles, and reviews over the past two decades for publications such as Vibe, where he was a founding staff member and served as a senior writer. Powell is routinely featured in the media with his provocative insights on political and cultural issues, and has published and lectured extensively in American and abroad.

2/24/09, 4:15 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room
Race and Feminism: Latina Perspectives
An exciting discussion on Latinas in feminist movements. Where have Latinas’ perspectives diverged from mainstream feminist movements? Where have they overlapped and intersected? Why? The panel features Dr. Mari Castañeda, Dr. Ann Ferguson, Professor Priscilla Page (UMass Amherst), and Dr. Dorothy Mosby (Mount Holyoke College).

UMass Amherst (View the UM department of Afro-American Studies Web sit e)

All events are free and open to the public, unless noted. Events will be cancelled in the event the university closes due to inclement winter weather.

2/2/09, 12-3 p.m., Campus Center Concourse
Africana Expo
Stop by the Campus Center and get to know the Pan African UMass Amherst community.

2/2/09, 6-9 p.m., Campus Center 11th floor
First Annual Traditions of SuccessCelebration
Join OPSAS in the creation of a new tradition of leadership and recognition in the UMass Amherst community. Dinner served.

2/3/09, 5:30-7 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
ALANA Career Fair Info Session: Mass Mutual
This is your opportunity to learn about working with this leading regional employer. Bring a resume and a smile!

2/4/09 5 -7 p.m., SUB Bartlett 6
Traces of the Trade: A Story of the Deep North
Movie and discussion with producer Katrina Browne & family members

2/5/09, 5:30-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
MXCC Dinner/Movie Series: Sankofa
A story of a Black American fashion model who is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the West Indies. Written by L.J Allen.

2/5/09, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 917 Campus Center
Immigration and National Identity in the New Europe
W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture Series: Black Europeans: Race and the New Europe presents Professor Dominic Thomas, chair of the departments of French and Francophone Studies and Italian at the University of
California Los Angeles. He is the author of Nation-Building, Propaganda and Literature in Francophone Africa and Black France: Colonialism, Immigration and Transnationalism. View a PDF flyer for the event.

2/6/09, 7-9 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
AIDS Chronicles
In celebration of Nat’l Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, ALANA Health Outreach and CCEBMS present this movie and discussion.

2/8/09, 6 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Alicia in Africa: Journey through the Motherland
Hear the compelling stories in this documentary from Alicia Keyes’ 2006 visit. Directed by Earle Sebastian.

2/9/09, 5-7 p.m., Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House
Gems in the Valley: A Toast to Nelson Stevens
Opening Reception for new exhibit running 2/9/09-3/13/09, showcasing a range of styles and mediums dating back to the 1970s. Nelson Stevens’ works on paper, canvas, doors, board, album covers, and prints in magazines and calendars attest to his prolific career as a visual artist, teacher, arts activist, and cultural ambassador. See the Augusta Savage Gallery Web site for details.

2/9/09, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Rhythm Blue
Join Zeta Phi Beta & Phi Beta Sigma for this night of R/B, jazz, games, and fun.

2/10/09, 1-5 p.m., SUB
ALANA Career Fair

2/10/09, 2:30 p.m., 311 New Africa House
Reflections on the Civil Rights Movement
A lecture and discussion with Charles E. Cobb, Jr., Veteran activist and author of On the Road to Freedom: A Guided Tour of the Civil Rights Trial.

2/10/09, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Zeta Phi Beta & Phi Beta Sigma present SHAHA
Members perform short skits touching on issues of social justice and oppression that many of us are faced with in our day-to-day lives.

2/11/09, 7-9 p.m., SUB
The Warchild Experience
Former Sudanese child soldier, Emmanuel Jal shares his experiences with his unique style of hip-hop & spoken word.

2/12/09, 5:30-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Film Screening: Look Back & Wonder
A documentary film by Professor Ernest Allen, Jr., about African American students, faculty, and staff, and the making of the UMass Amherst campus in the 1960s and 1970s, from the establishment of the Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies, the Committee for the Collegiate Education of Black and other Minority Students (CCEBMS), the acquisition of the Du Bois Papers for the Du Bois Library, and much, much more. Afterwards, enjoy a "Taste of Africa" by Baku's, a local African Restaurant. See the Office of Programs and Services for ALANA Students website for details.

2/14/09, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., SUB
Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. Ice Cabaret Gala
$7 /students, $10/general public.

2/17/09, 5-7 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Conversations about education in East Africa
Presented by Kenneth Sentamu & Students Against the Lack of Education

2/18/09, 7-9 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
RealTalk: Why the Divide between African Peoples?

2/19/09, 5:30-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Malcolm X Cultural Center Dinner/Movie Series: Malcolm X (parts 1 and 2)
Spike Lee directs this story told by Alex Haley.

2/20/09, 6:30-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Guest Speaker: Imam Siraj: The Life of Malcolm X
This community & spiritual leader knew Malcolm X and will discuss his life and Islam.

2/20/09, 2 p.m., CCEBMS Library, New Africa House
Emergent Research Colloquium #2
Professor John Higginson, UMass History Department
"Scorched Earth: The Etiology and Spread of Guerilla Organization in the Western Transvaal, July 1900 to December 1902."

2/21-22/09, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Intra-Group Dialogue: People of Color: Exploring Our Collective Racial & Ethnic Identities ~ In this 1-credit course, students will actively participate in conversations about race & ethnicity within people of color communities.

2/22/09, 6-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Soul Café
Join the Malcolm X Cultural Center staff and Residence Life for a tribute to Sunday dinners. Come hungry!

2/23/09, 7-9 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Women of Color and Health
A discussion sponsored by the ALANA Health Outreach Education and the Malcolm X Cultural Center.

2/23/09, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall
Remembering Lincoln and the Black Struggle for Freedom in the Age of Obama
The W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies will commemorate Black History Month at the university with a conference on Abraham Lincoln and black emancipation. It is appropriate to celebrate black history month at the university with a public event that will examine Lincoln 's legacy on race and black rights at a historic moment in U.S. history, the inauguration of the nation's first African American President who evokes the words and example of Lincoln. Moreover, 2009 is also the Bicentennial of Lincoln's birth with celebrations planned all across the nation and state. President Jack Wilson is a member of Massachusetts' Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Chair: John Bracey, Professor of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts

John Stauffer, Professor of English, Harvard University "Douglass, Lincoln, Obama: Influences and Legacies of these Self-Made Men"

Manisha Sinha, Associate Professor of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts , Amherst "Allies for Emancipation: Black Abolitionists and Lincoln"

6:30-7:30 p.m.
Reception and book party following the panel. The book display will showcase the latest scholarship on Lincoln and the Civil War era written by the participants.

2/24/09, 7:30 p.m., Augusta Savage Art Gallery
Professor Kwame Dawes: Reggae and History -- How Reggae Shaped the Way We Understand
Poet and activist Kwame Dawes is also the Louise Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts, Distinguished Poet in Residence at the University of South Carolina, Director of the South Carolina Poetry Initiative, and Director of the USC Arts Institute.

2/24/09, 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium
From Auction Block to Hip Hop, a Between the Lines Play
Producers of Platanos & Collard Greens have created a new must see play written by David Lam and directed by SummerHill Seven.

2/26/09, 5:30-8 p.m., Malcolm X Cultural Center
Malcolm X Cultural Center Dinner/Movie Series: Sarafina
A story of the courage and spirit of the children of South Africa's townships in their resistance to apartheid. Starring Leleti Khumalo and Whoopi Goldberg.

2/26/09, 8 p.m., Benzanson Recital Hall
Magic Triangle Jazz Series: "Kidd" Jordan Trio ~ Legendary New Orleans saxophonist & educator Edward "Kidd" Jordan brings his trio, featuring William Parker & Alvin Fielder, for an evening of improvised music. $7 students, $12 general public.

2/27/09, 12-2 p.m., location TBA
Working with Social Movements: Lessons from the Front Lines
Sonia Alvarez, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies; M. V. Lee Badgett, Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration; Stephanie Luce, Associate Professor and Acting Chair of the Labor Center; Amilcar Shabazz, Professor and Chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies

2/27/09, 7 p.m.-2 a.m., SUB
Black Student Union Showcase & Dinner: The Evolution of Black Music
Don’t miss the closing ceremony of Black History Month. Students express their culture through spoken word, music, dance and other means.

2/28/09, 7-11 p.m., SUB
Soul T.V. Fashion Show: "A Fashion Affair"
$10 with Five College ID.

Original page last modified 2/6/09

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