San Diego Community College District

Black History Month starts Friday, February 1, and San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, along with San Diego Continuing Education, have scheduled an impressive array of events ranging from acclaimed hip-hop artists to film screenings, art exhibits and discussions.

Among the Black History Month events at the San Diego Community College District that are free and open to the public:

Friday, February 1

12 to 2 p.m.
Black History Month Kickoff Celebration
This San Diego Mesa College ceremony and celebration recognizes the start of Black History Month.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

Friday, February 1 – Thursday, February 28

Art Exhibit: The Sacred Authority of Women Represented in African Art
San Diego Mesa College, first floor of the Learning Resource Center, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111.

  

Monday, February 4

1 to 3 p.m.
Historically Black Colleges & University Transfer Talk
San Diego City College, Transfer Center (A-301), 1313 Park Blvd., 92101.

12:45 to 1:30 p.m.
Rosa Parks Birthday Recognition & Libation
All are invited to walk from the Osani Circle in front of the Black Studies & Chicano Studies Department (G-103) at the Humanities and Multicultural Studies Building to the bus stop at Mesa College Drive and Mesa College Circle in recognition of Rosa Parks and the many months of walking during the Montgomery bus boycott.
San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111.

 

Tuesday, February 5

2 to 4 p.m.
Hidden Figures
Screening of the Oscar-nominated biographical drama about black female mathematicians who worked for NASA during the Space Race. A discussion will follow.
San Diego City College, SUBIR Cultural Center (AH-200-A), 1313 Park Blvd., 92101.

 

Wednesday, February 6

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Day of the Arts
An open mic, spoken word, and poetry tribute to Winnie Mandela, Aretha Franklin, and Nancy Wilson, with a special performance by saxophonist Erica Nicole.
San Diego City College, AH/BT Quad, 1313 Park Blvd., 92101.

11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Celebrating the Legacy of Raymond Vital
This event honors the life and legacy of longtime Mesa College custodian Raymond Vital, whose commitment to service and learning inspired the illumination of the spirit “sakhu” for all.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111.

 

Thursday, February 7

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Woman-2-Woman Panel Discussion
Listen to and share in the unique, heart-warming and sometimes difficult experience of women.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111.

1:15 p.m.
Quincy Troupe
Acclaimed poet and author Quincy Troupe will be at Miramar College for a special reading engagement. Troupe, a professor emeritus at UC San Diego, may be best known as the biographer of jazz icon Miles Davis. Troupe is the author of nine volumes of poetry and three children’s books, and he is the author, co-author, or editor of six nonfiction works.
San Diego Miramar College, K-107, 10440 Black Mountain Road, 92126.

 

Friday, February 8

11:30 to 2 p.m.
Sepia Healing Circle
The Sepia Healing Circle is an opportunity for students to express their feelings and discuss their experiences with racism in order to debunk the myths and confront the lies of white supremacy. A structured format will encourage conversation. Refreshments will be served.
San Diego Mesa College, G-105, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111.

 

Tuesday, February 12

 11 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
Black Male Emotions & Vulnerability
Black men are often visibly seen but emotionally invisible. This presentation will delve into why black men have difficulty sharing their emotions.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

2 to 4 p.m.
Black in Latin America
Screening of this PBS documentary detailing the cultural legacy of African slaves brought to Latin America. Includes a discussion.
San Diego City College, SUBIR Cultural Center (AH-200-A), 1313 Park Blvd., 92101.

 

Wednesday, February 13

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Evolution of Black Art & Activism
Join Jasiri X, the first independent hip-hop artist to be awarded an honorary doctorate, which he received from the Chicago Theological Seminary. His critically acclaimed album, Black Liberation Theology, has been recognized as a soundtrack of today’s civil rights movement.
San Diego City College, Black Box Theatre, 1313 Park Blvd., 92101

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Black Migration
This program includes a libation/drum call with Teye Sa Thiosanne, African Drum and Dance Company, dancing with Junkyard Dance Troupe, African-American cuisine, and guest speaker Nate Howard, who is a poet, educator, and social entrepreneur.
Educational Cultural Complex Theatre, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., 92113

 

Wednesday, February 13

6:30 to 9 p.m.
BlacKkKlansman
A special screening of the Oscar-nominated film directed by Spike Lee which details how a black Colorado police detective infiltrates and exposes the KKK in the 1970s. A discussion will follow.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Tuesday, February 19

11:30 a.m.
Sharing Our Stories: Black Professionals Career Panel
Join us as panelists share how they overcome obstacles to reach and sustain success.
San Diego City College, SUBIR Cultural Center (AH-200-A), 1313 Park Blvd., 92101.

 

6:30 to 9 p.m.
The Impact of Racism on Black Health
This workshop will address how racism, microaggressions, and disproportionate killings of black residents affect the physical and mental health of African Americans.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Wednesday, February 20

6:30 to 9 p.m.
Open Mic: Poets Speak Out on Living While Black
Poets Speak Out on Living While Black is an opportunity for students and community members to use spoken word in detailing their experiences about being black in America.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Thursday, February 21

12:45 to 2:10 p.m.
Reflections on the Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power
Join us for this special lecture.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Friday, February 22

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Leaders Inspiring Transformation
This daylong conference includes a free lunch.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Monday, February 25

12:30 to 2 p.m.
Healing Drums
Healing Drums is a hands-on workshop that explores the power of drumming in building community, healing the soul, and synchronizing the rhythms and heart beats of the mind, body, and spirit.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Tuesday, February 26

1 to 3 p.m.
Dark-Light Consciousness
A film and discussion on the research of black psychologist Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D.
San Diego Mesa College, LRC-435, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

2 to 3:30 p.m.
Video Screening: The Danger of a Single Story
TED Talk by author Chimamanda Adichie.
San Diego City College, SUBIR Cultural Center (AH-200-A), 1313 Park Blvd., 92101

 

Wednesday, February 27

6:30 to 9 p.m.
In Memoriam Aretha
A tribute to music icon Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul known for her singing and song writing, but who also was a civil rights activist. This tribute will include short videos of her life and music, followed by a discussion.
San Diego Mesa College, MC 211A/B, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111

 

Thursday, February 28

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Telling Our Stories: Black Professional Career Panel
A panel of black professionals share how they set and achieved their career goals and impart strategies for overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
San Diego Mesa College, MS-111, 7250 Mesa College Drive, 92111