UCSD to Celebrate Black
History Month Throughout February

January 11, 2008

By Jan Jennings

Black History Month at the University of California, San Diego will include more than 20 events Feb. 1-29 celebrating the unique contributions of African-Americans. The theme for the month is UCSD Honors Black History Month: Rethinking American Identity. All events are open to the public.

“This year’s theme revolves around the works of Carter G. Woodson who contributed significantly to forging an intellectual movement to educate Americans about cultural diversity and democracy,” says Pamela Frugé, co-chair of the celebration. Woodson was director of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1926 and originated Negro History Week, now expanded to the current monthlong celebration.

A kickoff celebration for the annual campus-wide tradition will begin at noon Feb. 1 in the Price Center Plaza, sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU) and Associated Students. “The event is planned as a celebration acknowledging the diversity of arts and communication,” says Kendra McBean, BSU president. The program will include readings by Spoken Word Poets, dance performances, and storytelling.

Culminating the month’s activities will be a program honoring the late Floyd Gaffney, professor emeritus of Theatre in the UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance. Performances in theatre, dance, and music will honor his accomplishments. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29 in Weiss Forum Theatre.

Among highlights during the month will be film screenings including documentary Baadasssss Cinema. Actor and director Mario Van Peebles directs a revealing portrait of his pioneering father, Melvin Van Peebles, telling the story of the making of the elder’s landmark 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. The son shows how his father put together a multi-racial crew and directed a film that gave birth to a new era about to explode: Independent Black Cinema. The screenings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Cross-Cultural Center. The Office of Sexual Harassment is sponsoring.

An Evening with the Stars will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 22. UCSD alumni of color will tell their stories and network with current students. The event is sponsored by the UJIMA Network, an alliance of black staff, faculty, students, alumni, and community members, and the UCSD Alumni Association.

The Sixth Annual Black Scholarship Brunch will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at the UCSD Faculty Club. The event will honor UCSD student scholars and discussion will focus on the month’s theme, UCSD Honors Black History Month: Rethinking American Identity. Choirs including the UCSD Gospel Choir will perform. Proceeds will benefit undergraduate scholarships at UCSD. Renee Barnett-Terry, Revelle College Dean of Student Affairs, is heading arrangements.

On view throughout the month will be Hollywood’s Africa, a UCSD arts and architecture exhibit, on the lower level of Geisel Library. Sponsored by the African and African-American Studies Research Project (AAASRP), Hollywood’s Africa covers Hollywood’s approach to Africa in posters, photos, and video images.

On Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. in the Seuss Room of Geisel Library, the Last King of Scotland will screen. The film tells the story of an idealistic Scottish doctor who goes to Uganda, becomes close to the president, then watches his erratic behavior and deadly insanity and must make crucial decisions that could mean his death if the president finds out. Ricardo Guthrie, Ph.D. in Communication, UCSD, 2006, and currently visiting scholar in the Center for Black Studies Research at UCSB, will lecture following the screening. AAASRP is sponsoring.

Among other events planned during February will be the following:

• Dimensions of Blackness: Essence of Music, Dance and Culture will include gospel, ballet, and break-dance performances at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 13 in the Revelle College Plaza Café.
• The 2008 Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Diversity Awards program at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Price Center Ballroom will recognize faculty, staff, students, departments or organizational units that have made an outstanding contribution at UCSD in the past year.
• Gender Issues in Hollywood’s Africa, a colloquium by MaryEllen Higgins, an associate professor of English at Penn State University, will be presented at 4 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Social Science Building, 101. AAASRP sponsors.
• Creative Expressions: Bomani Drummers, traditional West African drumming, will be presented at noon Feb. 20 at the Price Center Plaza. Thurgood Marshall College sponsors.
• At 3:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Social Science Building, 101, Gene Perry, will conduct an Afro-Caribbean Percussion Workshop. Perry has been bringing Afro-Caribbean music, Latin jazz, and salsa to San Diego and Southern California for 35 years. AAASRP sponsors.
• Let It Flow - Soulful Night at Sixth College will begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Sixth College Lodge. It will include an evening of poetry, hip hop dancing, art displays and traditional soul food.
• Authors Frederick Smith, Right Side of the Wrong Bed, and Fiona Zedde, Every Dark Desire, will discuss their latest books on Black and LGBT literature at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Cross-Cultural Center.
• Global Gourmet, African cooking class and sampling of African cuisine,will be held from 4:45 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at the International House Great Hall. AAASRP sponsors.

Media Contacts:
Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404
Jan Jennings, 822-1684