Santa Monica College is proud to present a series of free events in February honoring Black History Month, starting today.
The events – which include spoken word, song, and dance performances, as well as informative talks and discussions on Los Angeles’ black history and the current state of Black America at this pivotal time in our nation – are all held on SMC’s main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.
SMC’s Black History Month events are:
• Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 11:15 a.m. at the SMC Quad: “Celebrate Black History Month,” featuring performances in spoken word, dance, and song showcasing the contributions of African Americans to our society. The event is sponsored by the SMC Black Collegians Program, the Associated Students of Santa Monica College, and the SMC Associates. Call (310) 434-4232 for details.
• Thursday, Feb. 19 at 11:15 a.m. in Art Lecture Hall 214: “Healing the Wounds of American Slavery’s Relationships,” a communal experience led by personal development specialist Payge Hopper. Creative content, inspirational interaction, galvanizing games, and deep discussion drive this interactive experience exploring the wounds, myths, and stereotypes that threaten to disintegrate the core relationships forming the infrastructure of the African American family. The event is presented by the SMC Black Collegians Program and the SMC Associates. Call (310) 434-4100 for details.
• Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 11:15 a.m. in Humanities & Social Science 165: “Black Los Angeles as a Prism for Introducing Key Concerns in the Study of African Americans,” a talk by LMU Professor of African American Studies Dr. Angela James. Expert on race, ethnicity, urban demography, and family studies will discuss the history and contributions of African Americans in Los Angeles, beginning with the migration from the South to Los Angeles. The talk is sponsored by the SMC Black Collegians Program and the SMC Associates. Call (310) 434-4100 for details.
• Thursday, Feb. 26 at 11:15 a.m. in Art Lecture Hall 214: “It Is Bigger Than Ferguson,” a lecture by sociologist and CSU East Bay Professor Emeritus Dr. Benjamin Bowser. Renowned expert on social issues provides a historical context to the nationwide outrage about the racial profiling of African American men, and leads an important discussion on the role each of us plays in how this country defines race relations. The lecture and discussion are presented by the SMC Black Collegians Program and the SMC Associates as part of the SMC Global Connections Series and SMC Literary Series, as well as Black History Month. Call (310) 434-4100 for more information.
• Thursday, Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Art Lecture Hall 214: “Notes on Failure,” a talk by artist Tameka Norris. SMC alumna whose works have appeared in galleries and museums – including the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art (New York) and the Walker Center for Art (Minneapolis) – will talk about her distinct perspective on failure, highlighting her trajectory from her first semester at SMC to the present. The event is presented by the SMC Art Department and the SMC Associates as part of the SMC Art Lecture Series, as well as Black History Month. Call (310) 434-8266 for details.
