Several public events are planned for the remainder of February as students, faculty and staff continue their recognition of Black History Month. Upcoming events include a pop-up exhibition, performances and film screenings.
Earlier in February, Fresno State representatives spoke at eight local black churches as part of CSU Super Sunday. Launched in 2005, CSU Super Sunday is an annual event held each February and allows leaders throughout the 23 CSU campuses to help underrepresented students access the tools they need to enter college. More than 100,000 congregants participate in the event each year.
The on-campus Black History Month celebration also featured “An Evening of Empowerment and Advocacy” on Feb. 6 with Tarana Burke, founder of the “Me Too” movement. The event was open students, faculty and staff.
Other upcoming events in recognition of Black History Month include:
- Ongoing: Pop-Up Exhibition, first floor of the Henry Madden Library. The exhibition includes selected photographs and artifacts from local African American history. Images include a photo of the Mary Dickenson Memorial Library in historic Allensworth and a 1981 Fresno State course schedule from the then-new Black Studies program.
- Feb. 15: “Power, Privilege and Oppression,” presented by the President’s Commission on Human Relations and Equity, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Vintage Room.
- Feb. 15: CineCulture will present a screening of “The Long Shadow” (2018) with a discussion led by editor and co-creator Maureen Gosling and producer Jed Riffe at 5:30 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium. The documentary takes an uncompromising look at the history of American slavery. Admission is free and parking is free in lots P3 and P2.
- Feb. 16: “The History of Black Media,” presented by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 7:06 p.m., Thomas Building (Room 110).
- Feb. 17: Valley PBS will re-air “Young, Gifted and Black: A Community Conversation” at 5 p.m. Sponsored by Fresno State, the one-hour program focuses on local educational programs that are working to improve the success of African-American students and includes interviews with students and Dr. Carolyn Coon, associate vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students.
- Feb. 20: Poetry Jam, 7 p.m. Cross Cultural Programs and Services, Vintage Room.
- Feb. 21: Racial justice and mindfulness mentor Dr. Amanda Kemp will lead the Theatre for Transformation workshop, “Inspiring Figures and Your Vision of a Better World,” at 4 p.m. in Room 2206 of the Madden Library. The workshop is part of the “Surveying Utopias: A Critical Exploration” exhibition opening and will feature poetry, music, movement and audience participation. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is $4 in lots P27, P20 or P1.
- Feb. 21: “Lenses of Leadership: Panels examining leadership from different perspectives,” celebrating black history, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Madden Library (Room 3212), open to all students, free lunch provided. This program is a collaborative effort by the Learning Center, the Cross Cultural and Gender Center and the Center for Leadership. Details: 559.278.0341.
- Feb. 22: Live performance of “What is America to Me: The U.S. at the 400th Anniversary of Slavery; A Performance Project Featuring Poetry, Music, Movement and Audience Participation” to be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery. The performance is part of the “Surveying Utopias: A Critical Exploration” exhibition opening and will feature the Theatre for Transformation, with composer/saxophonist Francis Wong, classical violinist Dr. Michael Jamanis and poet-performer Dr. Amanda Kemp. The event is open to the public with free parking available in lots P30 or P31.
- Feb. 22: CineCulture will present a screening of “Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” (2017) with a discussion led by Dr. Margaret Wilkerson, author of “Lorraine Hansberry: Am I a Revolutionary?” at 5 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium. Admission is free and parking is free in lots P3 and P2. Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” changed the face of American theatre. The screening is sponsored by The Africana Studies Program.
- Feb. 23: A screening of “Black Panther” will be held at 1 p.m. in the Madden Library (Room 2206). A community conversation led by graduate students on how to create a more supportive society will follow the film. The screening is part of the “Surveying Utopias: A Critical Exploration” exhibition opening. The event is open to the public with free parking available in lots P30 or P31.
- Feb. 28: “An Examination of African American and Native American Intersectionality through Multimedia,” 4 to 6 p.m. in Thomas Building (Room 110).
