By: Bria Overs
Staff Writer
The roots of Black History Month stretch back nearly 100 years. Historian Carter G.
Woodson and the Rev. Jesse E. Moorland created national Negro History Week in
1926, which evolved into Black History Month after President Gerald Ford
recognized it in 1976.
In the wake of the 1965 Watts Rebellion, one of the most historic events in Black and African- American history, Dominguez Hills, in the soon-to-be-named city of Carson, was selected as the site for a new state university, which had originally been planned for Palos Verdes. The thought was since the new site was located about 10 miles south of Watts, there would be an increased opportunity for access to higher education to a diverse population of minorities.
This year’s celebration will have a new twist by acknowledging the contributions made by the Latinx community during times of activism. The theme for the university celebration is: “50 Years of Activism, Mobilization and Black & Brown Collaboration,” a combination of events that salute the intersection between Black and Latinx history and discussion about relevant issues.
The Black History Month Coordinating Committee worked on the calendar, which features events that will be hosted by: The Rose Black Resource Center, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Black Student Union, the College of Arts and Humanities, Extended Education, University Advancement and the Africana studies, English, history, modern languages, multicultural affairs, music, theatre and dance departments.
To start the month, an opening ceremony was held at the University Theater Feb. 1,
with Junot Diaz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, as the guest speaker where he
discussed the history of Blacks, African-Americans and Latinx people.
Some of the prominent upcoming events are:
A Police-Community Forum will be held in the Loker Student Union Ballroom A on
Thursday, Feb. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Africana Studies department will host a series of lectures with associate professor Dr. Salim Faraji on Fridays, Feb. 9 and 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
OLLI is hosting “The Art, Culture and Politics of the Harlem Renaissance: 1918-1937” lecture on Monday, Feb. 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Extended Education
building room 1213.
Tuesday, Feb. 13 is the Black Student Union’s Black Trivia Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Locker Student Union room 132.
OLLI will also lead a field trip to the California African-American Museum on
Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Modern Languages department chair Ivonne Heinze Balcazar will lead the “African
American Female Speech Communities” presentation on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.
The Rose Black Resource Center will host Black-owned Vendors Day at the East
Walkway on Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, as well as its Talk to Me Sis series on Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Black Resource Center.
The Queens of Poetry event will be the Black History Month closing ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the Locker Student Union Ballroom C from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Several poems will be read as a reflection of the experiences of Black and African-Americans.
There are more events happening toward the end of the month and all students are encouraged to attend the events, all of which are free.
