San Diego Community College District

The San Diego Community College District will celebrate Black History Month with an array of events ranging from a conversation with a former Negro league pitcher to a powerful art exhibit illustrating the tension being experienced in an ideologically fractured America.

Among the events: 

Wednesday, Feb. 3

'For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots' - 9:30 to 11 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.

Documentary honoring African-American servicemen and women, followed by a discussion.  

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Thursday, Feb. 4

'Empowering Men of Color' - 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

San Diego City College presents a Hermanos Unidos/Brothers United (HUBU) high school conference, Empowering Men of Color, providing an opportunity for young men to discuss strategies for overcoming educational and personal challenges that affect men of color in higher education. Panel discussions and workshops, and keynote speakers: Dr. Enrique "Kiki" Ochoa, professor, Lincoln High School; and Dr. Tyrone Howard, Associate Dean & Professor, UCLA

San Diego City College, Saville Theatre, 14th and C Street, San Diego, 92101

Tuesday, Feb. 9

'Carter G. Woodson: Origins of Black History Month' - Noon to 2 p.m.

A film and discussion on Carter G. Wilson, the son of a slave who laid the groundwork for Black History Month when he founded Negro History Week in 1926.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Wednesday, Feb. 10

'Lorraine Hansberry: Passionate Witness' - 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lorraine Hansberry biographer Dr. Margaret Wilkerson will discuss the first African-American woman to write a play (A Raisin in the Sun) performed on Broadway.

San Diego City College, Saville Theatre, 14th and C Street, San Diego, 92101

 

'The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross' - 10:30 a.m. to noon

A special viewing of this documentary by Dr. Louis Gates, Jr., which explores the evolution of the African-American people, as well as the cultural institutions, political strategies, and religious and social perspectives they developed in forging their own history, culture and society against unimaginable odds.

Event will be held Feb. 10 and 17.

San Diego Continuing Education, Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, 92113.

Chor Boogie Art Demonstration - 1 p.m.

Renowned spray paint artist Chor Boogie, who has painted vibrant murals for the Olympics in Beijing and on a segment of the Berlin Wall, will offer an art demonstration in the Mesa College Art Gallery. The demonstration is offered in conjunction with his exhibit, ‘The Ultimate Sacrifice,’ which runs February 11 – March 2 at the Mesa College Art Gallery.

San Diego Mesa College, Art Gallery (D-101), 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Thursday, Feb. 11

Chor Boogie, 'The Ultimate Sacrifice' Art Exhibition - 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Opening reception for a Chor Boogie exhibit, Divided State of America, which runs through March 2 at the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery (D-101). Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The reception will be followed by a lecture and conversation with the artist in Room G-101.

San Diego Mesa College, Art Gallery (D-101), 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Thursday, Feb. 18

'The Black List, Volume 1' - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Black List, Volume 1 premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008 and won the NAACP Spirit Award in 2009 for Best Documentary.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Monday, Feb. 22

'Percy Julian: The Forgotten Genius' - 6 to 9 p.m.

A film and discussion about Percy Julian, an African-American research chemist and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

 

Tuesday, Feb. 23

'Déjà Vu and Still Loving Life' - 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ernie McCray, a longtime San Diego educator, peace and justice advocate, and San Diego Free Press and OB Rag writer, discusses the issues of the day at San Diego City College.

San Diego City College, MS-162, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, 92101

 

'Open Mic: Black Poets Speak Out' - Noon to 2 p.m.; 6 to 8 p.m.

Mesa College students join local poets and storytellers Kendrick Dial, Alyce Smith Cooper, Jaime V. Jones, and others.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Wednesday, Feb. 24

'Our Past is Our Future – Looking Back and Moving Forward' - 10:30 a.m. – noon

San Diego Continuing Education will celebrate Black History Month with music, spoken word poetry, ethnic cuisine, and urban dancers at the Educational Cultural Complex Campus Theatre.

Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, 92113

'Hidden Colors, Part 1' - 6 to 9 p.m.

Hidden Colors is the name of a documentary series that looks at the marginalizing of African Americans here and around the world. A discussion follows the screening.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Thursday, Feb. 25

'Hidden Colors, Part 2' - 6 to 9 p.m.

Hidden Colors is the name of a documentary series that looks at the marginalizing of African Americans here and around the world. A discussion follows the screening.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

 

Monday, Feb. 29

'Hidden Colors, Part 3' - 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hidden Colors is the name of a documentary series that looks at the marginalizing of African Americans here and around the world. A discussion follows the screening.

San Diego Mesa College, H-117 and 118, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, 92111

Through March 6

'The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years without a Comb'

This exhibit at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido – curated by Starla Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Black History at San Diego Mesa College – is a journey through the history of the African-American hair industry and its role in our present culture. From its origins in the seat of civilization to the epicenter of the civil rights movement, the comb’s untold story takes the spotlight in this exhibition by way of 400 years’ worth of artifacts, photography, historical accounts, propaganda, and much more. Visit artcenter.org for more details.

California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 92025

Black History Month, also known as National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans.