CUNY to Commemorate Black History Month with Online Events Highlighting Complexity and Richness of African American Experience 

February 1, 2021

Nearly 100 Events to Celebrate the Indelible Role of African Americans in the Country’s History and the Ongoing Pursuit of Racial and Social Justice

York College Tuskegee Airmen exhibit. York College is creating a permanent gallery on its campus in Queens to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and historic significance of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. The exhibit is in the Performing Arts Center.

The City University of New York will commemorate Black History Month 2021 with nearly 100 events across its campuses, a diverse range of offerings that seek to celebrate the African American experience and also answer the urgent questions and intensified demands for racial and social justice that have come to the forefront during the course of the previous year.

Borough of Manhattan Community College will host a timely discussion focused on Civil Rights insurrection and white supremacy. The CUNY School of Medicine will kick off Black History Month celebrations with a screening of the film “Black Men in White Coats,” to raise awareness of the disparities and systemic barriers preventing Black men from becoming medical doctors. Hunter College will honor the legacy of New York City’s first Black mayor, David Dinkins, who died last fall. The event will feature alumni of the Dinkins administration including CUNY Trustee Ken Sunshine, Rich Schrader, Sally Hernández-Piñero and Margaret Hamburg with NY1’s and CUNY professor Errol Louis moderating.

“Just over a week after the inauguration of the first African American U.S. vice president, we reflect on the indelible contributions that Black students, faculty and alumni from CUNY have made to the city, state and nation,” said Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “I urge all members of the University community this month to acknowledge and appreciate the broad arc of struggle and victory that is traced by Black history in America.”

CUNY is also celebrating the present and past achievements of its African American students, faculty and alumni, including:

  • Five current and former CUNY faculty who were recently named among “1,000 inspiring Black scientists in America” by Cell Press, an eminent publisher of scientific journals. They are Mandë Holford, associate professor of chemistry, Hunter College and CUNY-Graduate Center; Kenneth Olden, founding and former dean of the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy; and at The City College of New York: Daniel L. Akins, emeritus professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Carol Wood Moore, tenured medical professor, CUNY School of Medicine; and Gilda A. Barabino, president of the Olin College of Engineering and former Daniel and Frances Berg professor and dean, the Grove School of Engineering.
  • Dr. Yasmine Daniels, a scientist currently overseeing science-based regulations on workplace safety for the U.S. Department of Labor who also mentors youngsters, is a CUNY “two-fer,” an alumna of both undergraduate and graduate institutions, as well as a former faculty member. Dr. Daniels received her bachelor’s degree from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College – where she joined the volleyball team and was a three-time CUNY Athletic Conference All-Star — and earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Analytical Chemistry from The CUNY Graduate Center. She also taught science at Hunter, Lehman College and Medgar Evers College, as well as other colleges in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. She devotes her time mentoring young girls of color, encouraging their interest in science. Dr. Daniels recently published “Building my Self-eSTEAM in Science: Volume 1,” an illustrated children’s book.  She created “Pigtails and Pajamas,” a weekly inspirational Zoom meeting for girls featuring women scientists, thriving entrepreneurs and other Black female success stories.
  • Dr. Peter Archer, alumnus of Queens College and a former music teacher who was the inspiration for Joe Gardner, the central character in Disney/Pixar’s animated current hit “Soul.” Dr. Archer, who served as a consultant on the film, taught music at Middle School 74 in Bayside, Queens, for 30 years while also playing trumpet professionally. Dr. Archer earned both his bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance and a master’s in music education from Queens College.

Events across CUNY commemorating Black History Month include:

BARUCH COLLEGE – Theme: “Family, Representation, and Resilience”

  • CUNY-Wide Back to School Bash: Connect with students across CUNY as they celebrate Black History Month. Zoom link Meeting ID: 889 0141 7512; Passcode: bhmbash, Feb. 4, 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Instagram Live Series @BHM_Baruch: Black professionals making trailblazing moves in the name of social justice, featuring:
    • Cidra Sebastian, manager of Black Girl Freedom Fund on Feb. 5.
    • Jibreel Jalloh, Brooklyn Borough Advocate at the Office of the NYC Public Advocate on Feb. 12.
    • Priscilla Plat, M.A. Diplomacy and International Relations candidate and United Nations Center digital representative on Feb. 19.
    • Zamir Ben-Dan, attorney with Black Attorneys of Legal Aid on Feb. 26.
  • Special Digital Campaign – Celebrating 50 Years of Black and Latino Studies at Baruch: Reflections from students, faculty, and staff captured in short Instagram and YouTube videos exploring different aspects of Global Black Histories: art, music, feminism, food, and politics. Baruch President S. David Wu will speak about Baruch College’s first president Robert C. Weaver. While Weaver’s tenure was brief, he left a legacy as the first African American to be appointed to a United States cabinet-level position when he served as the first U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1966 to 1968. Links to resources where viewers can learn more about engaging with their communities on these topics and more. To follow the campaign, go to BLS Community page and Baruch’s social media channels listed on Baruch’s website, Feb. 1 – 28

“Her Hair,” Second place-winning entry by Maxine St. Louis, Lehman College, in CUNY’s December 2015 Student Photo Challenge submission.

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Opening Ceremony: Afrikan Heritage Month Opening Ceremony – The theme for this year’s opening celebration is Awakening. Zoom Link Feb. 3, 2 – 4 p.m.
  • Roots of Racism: Join a discussion on the Roots of Racism led by Harry Mars, director of BMCC Student Activities. Zoom Link Feb. 4, 2 – 3 p.m.
  • The Lost History of the American Negro: Join us for a discussion on the Lost History of the American Negro led by Ira Zebulon Israel. Zoom Link Feb. 5, 2 – 4 p.m.
  • Civil Rights Insurrection and White Supremacy: Join us for a discussion on civil rights insurrection and white supremacy moderated by Professor James Blake; Josiah Ramesar, President, BMCC Student Government Association (SGA); and Brandee Simmons, Senator, SGA. Zoom Link Feb. 9, 2 – 3 p.m.
  • Black Lives Matter, Period! Zoom Link Feb. 10, 2 – 4 p.m.
  • Race and Politics in America: Discussion on race and politics in America led by Professor Shenique Davis, Department of Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice. Zoom Link Feb. 11, 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Naming and Reflecting on African Americans Killed by the Police: Program in collaboration with a Zen temple will include saying the names of African Americans killed by police and reading a brief biography of each. Zoom Link Feb. 16, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Black Women in Technology Panel: Panel discussion on Black women in technology moderated by Elaine Janae Flowers, BMCC Employee Relations coordinator, BMCC Center for Career Development. Zoom Link Feb. 17, 2 – 4 p.m.
  • A Conversation with Black Fathers: Fellowship, Finance, and the Future: Join us for a conversation addressing those who are teaching themselves and their families to build wealth and acquire generational wealth. Zoom Link Feb. 18, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Student Panel on Integrating the Afrikan and Afrikan American Experiences: Panel via YouTube will address how media and politics have shaped our understanding of each other, moderated by Harry Mars, BMCC Director of Student Activities. Link Feb. 22, 4 – 5 p.m.
  • The Evolution and Impact of the Black Superhero: Join us for a conversation on the evolution and impact of the Black superhero led by Bryce Tolbert, counselor, BMCC College Discovery. Zoom Link Feb. 23, 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Closing Ceremony: Afrikan Heritage Month Closing Ceremony. This event will include African Djeli (griot) – Baba Atiba Kwabena-Wilson, plus a staff vs. students DJ battle. YouTube Link Feb. 24, 2 – 4 p.m.


BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Eighth Annual Amadou Diallo Arts and Si-Tech Youth Commemoration: Youth Perspectives on Digital Technology and the Insurrection at The U.S. Capitol Building, Flyer Feb. 6, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Sis (not cis) Are you taking care of yourself this semester? Join us for an interactive workshop on radical self-care, setting intentions, boundaries and more!” – Student feedback re: semester programs: Zoom Link Feb. 8, 12-1:30 p.m.
  • Amanda Gorman’s Poetry Workshop Feb. 9, 12 – 1:15 p.m.
  • Demonstrating What’s Possible When Faculty, Staff, Administrators and Students Collaborate for Justice. Zoom Link Feb. 11, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Pronouns Matter: Discussion on Intersectionality. Zoom Link  Feb. 16, 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Colorism: Is the Shade Real? Zoom Link Feb. 18, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Addressing Health Disparities in Diverse Communities. Zoom Link Feb. 23, 1 – 2 p.m.
  • Annual African American Criminal Justice Award Ceremony. Feb. 23, 6 p.m.
  • The GREAT Debate: Men of Color on the RISE. Zoom Link Feb. 25, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • AfroYoga Flow class with Melissa Coss-Aquino: Zoom Link Feb.  25, 12 -2 p.m.
  • Implicit Bias in America: Acknowledging Realities and Finding Solutions in the Present and for the Future. Zoom Link Feb. 26, 1 – 2 p.m.

“A LOOK TO THE FUTURE,” Martin Luther King’s statue in front of the Brooklyn College, Entry by Rabbeeya Khalid; Brooklyn College, in CUNY’s September 2015 Student Photo Challenge submission.


BROOKLYN COLLEGE

  • Film Screening and Discussion: “White Supremacy in Blackface” directed by Domini Quinn SupaStar (Released 2020): A film screening and discussion on the social construct called “white supremacy” as seen by its number one target: Black people. Film screening and discussion led by Professor Jean Eddy Saint Paul, Professor in the Sociology Dept. Courtesy of: I am BC Diversity Committee, S.A.I.L. Center, Black Faculty and Staff at BC. Link Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.
  • Black & Jewish Multicultural Identities and Anti-Semitism: Professor Katya Mevorach of Grinnell College in Iowa blends historical, theoretical, and personal perspectives to explore the possibilities and meanings that arise when Black and Jewish identities merge. Please register in advance. Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m.
  • Battle of the Sexes II: Join the ladies of Women of Color and the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi Multicultural Fraternity Inc. for a friendly debate regarding our views on relationships, stereotypes, political stances, gender roles, and much more. Presented by the Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Chi Multicultural Fraternity Inc. & Women of Color. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 520 912 9292 Passcode: 1196. Feb. 5, 6 p.m.
  • Racism, Mental Health & Strategies for Supporting Our Students: Presenters will discuss the impact of racism and discrimination on the mental health of our students of color and the strategies and resources faculty can use to support their success. Presenting co-founders of the BARE Mental Health & Wellness Center, Professor Jessica LoPresti, Suffolk University Boston, and Professor Tahirah Swain, University of Massachusetts Boston.Please register in advance. Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m.
  • The Black Entrepreneurial SpiriT (B.E.S.T.) of Black History Month: A panel discussion highlighting student alum who have become successful entrepreneurs since graduating. Presented by S.A.I.L. Center, I am BC Diversity Committee. Link Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m.
  • Black Culture: The Underappreciated Pioneer: Join the ladies of Women of Color and Professor Donna-Lee, Ph.D., from the BC Sociology Dept. to discuss the impact that black culture has had on popular culture throughout history and how it influences today’s cultural climate. Presented by Women of Color and Donna Lee Granville, Ph.D. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 708 174 3007 Passcode: WOC Feb. 26, 6 p.m.

CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK

  • Black History Month Kickoff: Starting in February, the Department of Student Life & Leadership Development will be celebrating Black History Month with a kickoff of virtual activities and prizes. They will reveal a virtual BHM Honoree Wall and games will center around celebrating the achievements of those chosen for the virtual wall. RSVP by clicking the Student Life icon and going to the events section. Feb. 2, 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Hour SSA: The Spitzer School of Architecture is excited to participate in the college-wide effort Black Lives Matter at School initiative during the national “Week of Action.” The week is from Feb. 1-5 and is outlined in the Black Lives Matter at School website. One suggestion was offered to the Hour SSA, to open a space to discuss the 13 Guiding Principles of BLM at School.  The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture and Hour SSA, invite their students to reflect on their experiences at the school, including challenges they’ve faced this past year, as well as hopes and ambitions for the future of Spitzer. This is a dedicated listening and dialogue hour, which may be curated and structured, or else may be open and improvisational. Inspired by student feedback, each studio and unit at the Spitzer School will devote the first hour of the studio on Thursday, Feb. 4 to this effort.
  • CUNY School of Medicine (CSOM) – Black Men in White Coats Film Screening and Panel Discussion: The CUNY School of Medicine’s celebration of Black History Month will kick off with a film screening of “Black Men in White Coats.” The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring CSOM alumni discussing their reflections on the film. The purpose of this gathering is to raise awareness around the disparities and systemic barriers preventing Black men from becoming medical doctors and to provide a collective space to elevate and discuss the experiences of Black identified medical students and physicians. The event was organized by CSOM’s Inclusive Excellence Council, Black Male Initiative, Sisters of Sophie, White Coats for Black Lives.Please register here. Feb. 8, 6 – 8:15 p.m.
  • Douglass Day: The Black Studies Program is taking part in “Douglass Day,” an initiative of Penn State University that honors the birthday of Frederick Douglass, who chose February 14 as his birthday. Every year, they choose to celebrate by honoring another luminary, usually by transcribing their papers, and this year, they have chosen Mary Church Terrell, an educator, intellectual, and a founder of the National Association of Colored Women and of the NAACP. More about Douglass Day here. Feb. 12 – 14
  • Unpacking Segregation in New York City Public Schools to Promote Equity, Integration & Justice: The Workshop Center Sub-committee of the School of Education Centennial Committee is excited to host “Unpacking Segregation in New York City Public Schools to Promote Equity, Integration & Justice.” The event will be hosted by New York State Senator Robert Jackson and features panelists Chankele Winfield and Kaliris Salas-Ramírez, assistant medical professor at the CUNY School of Medicine. Feb. 18, 5 – 7 p.m.

COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND

  • The Black Family: Racial Equity for Resilient and Prosperous Families: Experts will share a data-driven approach to better understand and address racial injustices that impact community conditions and outcomes for Black families and communities. Link Feb. 3, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Fifth Annual Black Queer Studies Lecture: The Office of Student Life – LGBTQ Resource Center/Pluralism & Diversity at the College of Staten Island is proud to announce that Nahshon Dion Anderson will headline the College’s 5th Annual Black Queer Studies Lecture. Anderson is an award-winning creative non-fiction writer from Altadena, California. She will read from her forthcoming memoir, Shooting Range, with an audience Q&A to follow. Now in its fifth year, the Black Queer Studies Lecture at CSI brings the work of cutting-edge Black queer and transgender artists and intellectuals into the space of public higher education for all. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of English, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, and the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. Please register in advance. Feb. 18, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

CUNY SCHOOL OF LABOR AND URBAN STUDIES

  • Black-Led Antiracist Unionism: The Legacy of Ben Fletcher & I.W.W.: Join us to discuss the important history of the brilliant Black labor leader, Ben Fletcher, who revolutionized anti-racist unionizing in the early 20th century. Peter Cole is joined by Kafui Attoh of CUNY SLU to discuss the legacy of Fletcher and his union, the I.W.W. Please Register Feb. 4, 12 – 1 p.m.

CUNY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

  • Raise Your Voice: Debunking Myths, Shifting Perspectives and Creating Empowerment through Community Engagement: In honor of Black History Month, the CUNY SPS Black Student Union will be hosting our first Black History Month Celebration. The 2021 Black History Month Theme isAmplifying Black Voices. Throughout each week of the month, we will be amplifying Black impact and contributions (Businesses/Entrepreneurs, Black Arts, and Black Motivation) in a virtual environment. During this, we aim to highlight some of the amazing things being done by CUNY SPS Black students/alumni/faculty/staff as a source of representation and inspiration for current students. Our 2021 Black History Month will culminate with a virtual event on Feb. 25 entitled Raise Your Voice: Debunking Myths, Shifting Perspectives and Creating Empowerment through Community Engagement. This interactive event will include spaces for creative outlets and think tanks about matters pressing to experiences in the Black community. Please register in advance Feb. 25, 6 p.m. 

THE GRADUATE CENTER, CUNY

  • Mind, Body & Soul: Afrofuturist Sacred Sounds (Part 2): The event hosted by The Graduate Center’s Center for the Humanities will explore Afro Atlantic spiritualities in tandem with the sonic and historic legacies of Hispaniola, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. We have invited a stellar group of artists and scholars: Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels, Maxine Montilus, Stephanie “Soli” Araujo, and Ayanna Legros and hosts Jadele McPherson and Joseph A. Torres-Gonzáles whose work will expand the conversation about Afro-Latinx artistry, ecology, and wellness. Please Register in advance Feb. 2, 4 – 6 p.m.
  • Tamara Payne on Malcolm X, with Robert Weil: Les Payne, the Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist, embarked in 1990 on a nearly 30-year-long quest to interview anyone he could find who had known Malcolm X. The resulting biography conjures a never-before-seen world of its protagonist, following him “from street criminal to devoted moralist and revolutionary.” After her father’s death, Tamara Payne, principal researcher and co-author, heroically completed The Dead Are Arising, which won the 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction. She speaks with the book’s editor, Robert Weil, who is editor-in-chief of Liveright Publishing. Please register in advance Feb. 2, 6 – 7:10 p.m.

HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Afros, Rizos, Y Pajones: Natural Hair and Articulations of Dominican Blackness, with guest Dr. Kimberly Eison Simmons: Kimberly Eison Simmons is currently an Associate Professor of Anthropology and African American Studies at the University of South Carolina where she is also the Director of the Institute for African American Research and the Director of the African American Studies Program. She is the author of Reconstructing Racial Identity and the African Past in the Dominican Republic (University Press of Florida, 2009) and co-editor of Afrodescendants, Identity, and the Struggle for Development in the Americas (Michigan State University Press, 2012). Her presentation will highlight her latest project, Afros, Rizos, y Pajones: Natural Hair and Articulations of Dominican Blackness. Link Feb. 9, 2 p.m.
  • Neglected Healers: The History and Future of Black Medical Doctors with guest Dr. Brittney Meryl Williams: Dr. Brittney Meryl Williams earned a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Howard University. She also recently graduated with a Master’s of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina where she works as a General Surgery resident. Moreover, Dr. Williams is a scholar and recipient of the Fogarty Award in the Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars of the National Institutes of Health. Williams’ presentation will highlight how Black doctors developed physical, mental health and spiritual healing practices based on their ancestral medicinal knowledge and the study of local indigenous plants and herbs to counteract the dehumanization practices of white medical practitioners. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 886 0752 3764 Feb. 16, 3:30 p.m.
  • Black at Hostos Town Hall Series: In the wake of international calls for racial justice in 2020, student leaders at Hostos stood up and voiced their fears and hopes and demanded the College take a stand supporting Black Lives. In response, Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis spearheaded a working group to address their concerns. Out of the students’ righteous cries, the Black at Hostos Town Halls series became a 2021 Spring Semester program. For the interactive workshops, presenters will lead in-depth discussions that center around the shared understanding of struggles, past and present, as well as the triumphant spirit of a people who continually call for America to live up to its highest ideals.

    The schedule is as follows:

    • The Stories We Tell: Race in America on Feb. 17, 3 – 5 p.m. Link.
    • Becoming Jim Crow: A Long, Legal History on March 9, 3-5 p.m. Link.
    • We Too Sing America: From Experimentation to Participation on April 14, 3-5 p.m. Link
  • The Politics of Black Beauty: Embracing a Sankofa Consciousness, with guests Eugena Griffin, PhD, Weldon C. Williams III, JD, PhD, and Ana Ozuna, PhD: This panel will explore the denigration of blackness stemming from the creation of colonial racial hierarchies implemented to justify the dehumanization of non-whites. Hence, in spite of the growing presence of African descended people in television, film, the beauty and fashion industries, the insistence to highlight Eurocentric beauty ideals persist. The panelists will explore this history and how embracing a Sankofa consciousness is key to challenging oppressive white supremacist values and ideas. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 820 0787 7778 Feb. 22, 2 p.m.
  • Maguette Camara, Manekadang Dance and Drum Artistic Director | Alvin Ailey School and Extension Dance Faculty: Maguette Camara is a recognized West African choreographer, musician and instructor. He began his career with the Ballet Bougarabou Dance Company and his extensive experiences with this company allowed him to perform and present workshops in Morocco, Canada, Senegal and the United States, earning him the privileged opportunity to perform as the representative of Senegal in the festival of De Jeunes Createurs. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 873 0343 8584 Feb. 24, 2 p.m.

HUNTER COLLEGE

  • Encore Presentation of “I Am Deliberate and Afraid of Nothing:” Remembering Audre Lorde (HCHS ’51, HC ’59): The program, to be distributed on or around Feb. 18, Lorde’s birthday, will remember the activist, feminist, and Poet Laureate. The program includes Hunter Associate Professor of Anthropology Jacqueline Nassy Brown; poet Cheryl Clarke, an administrator and teacher at Rutgers for more than 40 years, and founder of the school’s Office of Diverse Community Affairs and Lesbian-Gay Concerns; Blanche Wiesen Cook, Distinguished Professor of History and Women’s Studies at John Jay and the Graduate Center; Hunter Professor of English Donna Masini; poet and adjunct professor of literature and composition at Hunter Meagan Washington; moderated by Hunter Associate Professor of History Daniel Hurewitz. Link.
  • Remembering Mayor David Dinkins: The Lessons and the Legacy: Featuring alumni of the Dinkins administration Ken Sunshine, Rich Schrader, Sally Hernández-Piñero, and Margaret Hamburg with NY1’s Errol Louis (a Dinkins-for-Mayor volunteer) moderating. Link. Feb. 18, 5 p.m.
  • FDR’s Black Cabinet in Retrospect: A Conversation with Descendants of Roosevelt’s African American Advisors: With Sue Houchins (Daughter of S.E. Houchins, Department of Commerce), Donna Marshall (Granddaughter of Constance Daniel, Department of Agriculture), Frederick L. Brown (son of Edgar Brown, Civilian Conservation Corps) and Wanda Hunt McLean (Great Granddaughter of Henry Hunt, Farm Credit Administration); co-moderated by Kelvin Black, Associate Professor of Transatlantic Studies in the Hunter English Department, and Jill Watts, Professor of History at California State University San Marcos and author of The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt. Link. Feb. 22, 5 p.m.
  • Prisoner Reentry in the 21st Century: Critical Perspectives on Returning Home: Featuring co-editors Calvin Smiley, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Hunter, and Associate Professor of Political Science at Howard University Keesha M. Middlemass; moderated by Joanne Belknap, Professor of Ethnic Studies at University of Colorado-Boulder. Link. Feb. 24, 5 p.m. 

JOHN JAY COLLEGE

  • Alumni Panel: Diverse Careers in Law Enforcement: Join us for this amazing panel of alumni in a variety of law enforcement roles. Meet an air marshal, probation officer, private investigator, and fingerprint expert. Zoom Link Feb. 9, 6 p.m.
  • Book Talk: Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance, and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s. With Jannette Domingo, Marilyn Allman Maye and Harold S. Buchanan. Zoom Link. Feb. 11, 1:40 p.m.
  • I Rest My Case: Life, Law and Leadership in the Black South. Lawyer Harriet Huell Lampkin will discuss starting her own firm as a Black woman in a predominately white field and resources for students. Zoom Link. Feb. 17, 1:40 p.m.
  • Q&A with Pierre Jeanty: Black Love and Self-Care. International best seller and Haitian-American poet will discuss his journey and inspiration for Black Love and self-care. Zoom Link. Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m.
  • Mental Health, Hip-Hop, & Identity. Learn the ways Hip-Hop functions as a tool for social justice. Join Drs. Lauren Leigh Kelly, Edmund Adjapong, and Ian Levy for this interactive workshop. Zoom Link. PW: 070003 Feb. 22, 12:30 p.m.
  • Boys-to-Men Masterclass. UMI Alumni will talk about their current paths to success and how to specifically navigate that journey now as a Male of Color. Zoom Link. Feb. 23, 5 p.m.
  • Dominican Activism in NYC with Rosa Calosso (BA 2018): Learn how millennial Dominican-American women are using nontraditional methods within a transnational Black feminist framework. Zoom Link Feb. 23, 6 p.m.
  • Liberated Research: Towards Discovering Knowledge of Self. Renowned artist/educator Dr. Anthony Keith, Jr. will introduce Hip-Hop-based techniques to elevate the experiences of Black and Brown youth. Zoom Link. PW: 186680 Feb. 24, 12:30 p.m. 
  • African American Military Heritage Celebration. Major General Craig Timberlake, US Marine Corps retired, will lead this celebration of US Military contributions and courage of African Americans. Zoom Link. PW: 528463 Feb. 25, 1:40 p.m.
  • Managing Bias in the Workplace: Join us for an in depth discussion about how we can learn to manage bias in the workplace. Zoom Link Feb. 25, 6 p.m.
  • Malcolm/King Awards Breakfast: A Virtual Celebration, “Pivot, Repurpose, Reimagine” and annual award ceremony highlights our students’ talent and success. Zoom Link. Feb. 26, 10:00 a.m. 

KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Black History Month Trivia with Campus Activities Board: Test your knowledge on Black History Month trivia with Campus Activities Board on Kahoot! To play, download Kahoot! or use the link and code provided on the @kingsboroughcab and @kccstudentlife bios. Code and link will be posted Monday and will be available until Wednesday. Winners will receive electronic gift cards to use towards the KCC Bookstore. Link will be posted day-of on: @kingsboroughcab and @kccstudentlife bios. Feb. 1, All Day
  • The Kindred Tour With Ariana Brown and Alán Peláez López: Combining Brown’s 10-year-long spoken word and teaching career and Peláez López’s 10 years of organizing with Black and queer migrants, this tour creates an interactive experience that addresses the joyful and traumatic conditions of the Black child in the U.S.; imagines Black queer futures outside of state-sanctioned violence; and offers concrete tools to help individuals and their communities rethink how we offer and accept care from one another. Available on @kccstudentlife IG Live. Feb. 3, 3 p.m.
  • Cyphers for Justice: Cyphers for Justice apprentices NYC High School youth, incarcerated youth, and NYC teachers as critical researchers through the use of hip hop, spoken word, digital literacy, and critical social research methods. Join us in the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), hip hop, and spoken word performances of two young scholars. We will explore how to elevate Queer Black and PoC student voices and explore how school systems have a unique role in stopping violence against BIPOC. Available on @kccstudentlife IG Live. Feb. 8, 4 p.m.
  • Black Disabled Lives Matter: Voices and History of Black Disability Justice: The inspiring surge of Black Lives Matter activism of 2020 included a new wave of Black disability activism. This is critical, given estimates that one-third to one-half of police killings are of Black people with disabilities, who face multiple oppressions of racism, class inequality, and ableism. Today’s fight for Black disability justice is rooted in past Black disability activism and Black power movements, from Harriet Tubman to Brad Lomax and the Black Panthers. Join us for a conversation with pioneering Black disabled activists to learn about this history of Black disability activism and how the movement must continue to fight for justice in our times. Zoom Link Feb. 10, 1 p.m.
  • Harriet Tubman Herself: An entertaining and educational one-woman show based on the life and times of Harriet Tubman. Harriet’s harrowing and dangerous life unfolds as she tells the moving story of how she brought hundreds of slaves – and her own family – to freedom during the Civil War. Actress Christine Dixon tells the story of Tubman’s life in this dramatic one-woman performance about the heroic “Moses” of her people. Zoom Link Feb. 16, 8 p.m.
  • Event: Reading Music and Listen to Books: Dr. Alexis McGee is an Assistant Professor of English at The University of Alabama. Her research includes Black Feminist Theory, African American language, literacies, and rhetorics. This discussion focuses on the relationship between music, rhetoric, and writing. How do our Listening practices intersect with what we read? And, how do we write about it? Available on @kccstudentlife IG Live.Feb. 17, 3 p.m.

LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Virtual Paint and Sip: Celebrating Black History Month through the visual arts. Instructed by members of the Fine Arts Club, participants will have a variety of notable quotes from renowned past and present Black historic figures and visual images to inspire their own painting experience. Open to the CUNY community. RSVP Feb. 3, 2 – 4 p.m.
  • Film Friday’s: LaGuardia’s LGBTQIA Safe Zone Hub and Women’s Center jointly present a three-part film viewing and discussion series celebrating Black and LGBTQIA+ documentaries. Open to the CUNY community. RSVP
    • 1. Feb. 5, 1 p.m. – Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin. A documentary that highlights the achievements of Bayard Rustin, an openly gay civil rights leader, best remembered for organizing the 1963 March on Washington.
    • 2. March 19, 1 p.m. – Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart. The first-ever feature documentary about Lorraine Hansberry, the visionary playwright who authored the groundbreaking “A Raisin in the Sun.”
    • 3. March 26, 1 p.m. – Free CeCe! Told through the voices of Laverne Cox and CeCe McDonald, this film examines prison injustice through CeCe’s journey as a trans woman sentenced in a men’s prison.
  • United Wounds of America. Dialogues of Healing Series:  Black Communities and the Roots of Modern Policing: LaGuardia English Professor Jason Hendrickson will explore the rise of modern policing in the U.S., and the tenuous relationship between law enforcement and Black citizens. Open to the CUNY community. RSVP Feb. 9, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
  • Jeopardy: Black Herstory Edition: Jeopardy: Black Herstory Edition is an interactive game where students test their knowledge on facts about notable Black women. Students will play Jeopardy and Wheel of Winning games featuring Black Heritage and Women’s History-specific content. This event aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African Americans and women in the U.S. and beyond. Limited to LaGuardia students. RSVP March 17, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. 

LEHMAN COLLEGE

  • Healing and Justice: Perspectives on Healing, Hope, and Resilience in the African American Community: The Urban Male Leadership Program marks Black History Month with “Healing and Justice,” which will feature guest speaker Reverend Alamazie M. Warren, the head minister of children and youth at Convent Avenue Baptist Church. The event is co-sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies and the CREAR Futuros Mentorship Program. Register here. Feb. 17, 3 – 5 p.m.
  • Tara Betts: Black Language and Music: Tara Betts is the author of Arc & Hue and the chapbooks 7 x 7: kwansabas and THE GREATEST!: An Homage to Muhammad Ali. She received her Ph.D. at Binghamton University and her MFA from New England College. In addition to performing her poems across the country and internationally, her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Betts has taught writing at Rutgers University, Binghamton University, and University of Illinois-Chicago. She is a Cave Canem alum. The event is one of a series of eclectic programs organized by One Book One Bronx, in collaboration with the Leonard Lief Library at Lehman College, as part of the Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters initiative.  Lift Every Voice seeks to engage participants in a multifaceted exploration of African American poetry. It is sponsored by the Library of America and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Click to Register. Feb. 17, 7 p.m.
  • The Last Poets: Abiodun Oyewole, Umar bin Hassan, and Felipe Luciano: Lehman College scholar Hank Williams in conversation with The Last Poets—Abiodun Oyewole, Umar bin Hassan, and Felipe Luciano—along with Woodie King Jr, the former head of the New Federal Theater who produced albums featuring two different iterations of The Last Poets in the early 70s. The event is one of a series of eclectic programs organized by One Book One Bronx, in collaboration with the Leonard Lief Library at Lehman College, as part of the Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Mattersinitiative.  Lift Every Voice seeks to engage participants in a multifaceted exploration of African American poetry. It is sponsored by the Library of America and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Click here to register. Feb. 22, 7 p.m.
  • A Reading and Conversation With Pulitzer-Prize Winner Tyehimba Jess: A month-long online reading group open to the public and centered around Tyehimba Jess’s Olio culminates in this exciting event, where Jess himself joins the conversation about his groundbreaking book. Part fact, part fiction, Olio weaves sonnet, song, and narrative to examine the lives of mostly unrecorded African-American performers directly before and after the Civil War up to World War I. Jess’s reading and talk is one of a series of eclectic programs organized by One Book One Bronx, in collaboration with the Leonard Lief Library at Lehman College, as part of the Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters initiative.  Lift Every Voice seeks to engage participants in a multifaceted exploration of African American poetry. It is sponsored by the Library of America and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Register here for the conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tyehimba Jess. Register here for the online reading group series. Feb. 23, 7 p.m. 
  • Black Poetry & Performance:  Poems as Songs that ‘Send’ Us: Considering Selections from ‘Black Language & Music’ in Kevin Young’s African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song: Poet Gwendolyn Brooks, in her 1967 occasional poem “The Chicago Picasso,” observed that: “Art hurts. Art urges voyages-/ and it is easier to stay at home, / the nice beer ready.” This notion invites the consideration of a lyric: Darling, you send me. Written in 1955 by the late singer Sam Cooke and released in 1957, “You Send Me” is timeless in theme and durability. How might a poem ‘send’ us? Leafing through Kevin Young’s repertoire of poets and poems, we’ll situate ‘sending’ as an effect responsive to desire and surrender. Featuring poets Rodney Terich Leonard, Lise Esdaile, Trapeta B. Mayson, and Monnette Sudler. – The event is one of a series of eclectic programs organized by One Book One Bronx, in collaboration with the Leonard Lief Library at Lehman College, as part of the Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters initiative. Lift Every Voice seeks to engage participants in a multifaceted exploration of African American poetry. It is sponsored by the Library of America and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Click here to register. Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGE

  • Macaulay Diversity Initiative Diversity Through Hair Event:  Join the Macaulay Diversity Initiative for our second annual Diversity Through Hair event! Start the semester off right with keynote speakers who use their platforms and products to support and encourage confidence in the natural hair care industry as we celebrate our natural kinks, curls, and waves. This year, we will be highlighting Black and Latinx women who strive to promote products that are made by us for us! This school year has been so difficult for us all, so some self-care and love is much needed! Free and open to all. Link Feb. 11, 6 – 7 p.m.

 

Medgar Evers,  Civil Rights leader, assassinated in 1963 by a member of the White Citizens’ Council in Jackson, Mississippi.

MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE – Theme: “Claiming Our Greatness across the Diaspora”

  • Healing Inside Out: Get ready to claim your greatness through holistic healing practices. This panel will focus on healing the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Participants will receive practical health and nutrition advice, learn how to use various forms of writing as a healing tool, and other methods to maintain a balanced and peaceful life. With holistic doctor Jamal Hester, N.D., MEC professors Donna Hill, and Dr. Fabienne Snowden. Zoom LinkMeeting ID: 840 4011 192 Passcode: BHM2021 Feb. 10, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.  
  • Kemetic Yoga: Taught by Carmen Carriker, in this kemetic yoga workshop you will learn the rules of four breathing and geometric progression. Discover your own divinity as you learn the history and philosophy of kemetic yoga, the fundamentals of a kemetic yoga practice, and the science of the breath, movements, and energy flow. Explore Om Shu Ra meditation and Hesi chants for raising your energy and healing of mind, body, and soul. Zoom LinkMeeting ID: 842 7070 0016 Passcode: BHM202 Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
  • We Are Worth Fighting For: A History of the Howard University Student Protest of 1989: The Center for Black Literature presents, We Are Worth Fighting For: A History of the Howard University Student Protest of 1989 (NYU Press, 2019). The book examines the historic three-day takeover of the main administration building at Howard University in 1989. It had long-lasting, far-reaching effects on college campuses across the country and in other parts of the world. – The program will feature the author Dr. Joshua Myers, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, and social entrepreneur April R. Silver, and writer Asha Bandele. The discussion will focus on the history of student activism at Howard University, the events leading up to the protest, and the protest’s connection to today’s social justice movements. Center for Black Literature Executive Director Brenda M. Greene will moderate. The event is presented in partnership with the CUNY Association of Black Faculty and the Center for Law and Social Justice. For more information and to reserve your place, email rsvp@akilaworksongs.com.Virtual event details will be sent via email. Akila Worksongs is the program sponsor. Feb. 19, 5 – 7 p.m.
  • The MEC Big Read Event: Telling our Stories: MEC Students present oral history projects that explore family history and the impact of COVID 19 on the Central Brooklyn community. Inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns. Zoom Link. Meeting ID: 880 2735 1179 Passcode: 997369 Feb. 22, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
  • Let’s Work It Out: Get moving and join personal trainer SunKing for a fun and lively workout session. Zoom Link. Meeting ID: 884 7221 9397 Passcode: BHM Feb. 24, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • “Black Lives Matter” Virtual Photo Exhibit and Artist Talk: Artists Marcia E. Wilson and Christopher Cook will present their photos and discuss their work. For over 15 years, Marcia E. Wilson has captured important art, culture, and lifestyle events throughout New York City. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Vibe Magazine, Jet Magazine, and Caribbean Times among others. A collection of her images has also been exhibited at the National Black Writers Conference at  Medgar Evers College. Christopher Cook is a New York-based freelance photographer born and raised in Brooklyn, whose vibrant culture helped shape him as an artist. He captures images that connect the past and present and focus on interaction and experience. Cook has exhibited his pieces in group gallery exhibitions throughout New York State. He had a solo art exhibition in February 2020 and is currently an AIM Fellow at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 849 1742 7847 Feb. 24, 6 – 7 p.m.

The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and seven graduate or professional institutions spread across New York City’s five boroughs, serving 500,000 students of all ages and awarding 55,000 degrees each year. CUNY’s mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University’s graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city’s economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city’s workforce in every sector. CUNY’s graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur “Genius” Grants. The University’s historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background.

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