Collin College leaps into another African American History Month with a series of events.
This year’s theme is “Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism.”
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard scholar, helped create “Negro History Week” in 1926 as a means of remembering and commemorating the advances and contributions of African Americans in the United States and world. Through time, this celebration expanded into African American History Month.
The following events are open to Collin College staff, faculty and students to appreciate and learn about these names, faces, accomplishments and history.
Soul Food Luncheon
The annual Soul Food Luncheon is set from noon-1:15 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1, at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center. The event is free. The annual Soul Food Luncheon is an excellent opportunity to partake of savory fare and to celebrate the impact of African Americans in the community and in American culture. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish of their own to share.
Auteur Film Series -- “A Lesson Before Dying”
Again, the college’s Auteur Film Series takes time to acknowledge African American History Month with its latest installment, “A Lesson Before Dying.” The film is set in the 1940s in the Deep South. A young African-American man is wrongly accused of murder. In his defense, the attorney asserts that the man was too ignorant to know what he was doing. The man is convicted and sentenced to death, but his mother and aunt ask a school teacher to visit him to confirm that he is not ignorant, but a man with dignity. The screening is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5, at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited. The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion led by Collin College faculty and staff discussing the themes of the film. Some material may not be suitable for all audiences. The film is rated PG and runs 105 minutes.
“Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” and Discussion
ZERO Tolerance of Violence will screen the documentary “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Spring Creek Campus Conference Center; at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Preston Ridge Campus Event Center; and 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the Central Park Campus Pike Hall. “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” is a riveting documentary that examines representations of gender roles in hip-hop and rap music through the lens of filmmaker Byron Hurt. Conceived as a “loving critique” from a self-proclaimed “hip-hop head,” Hurt examines issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture. For more information, visit www.ccccd.edu/zero/.
Lecture by African American Religion Scholar
Melanie Harris, assistant professor of religion at Texas Christian University will deliver a public lecture on “African American Religion and Ethics” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Room C104 at the Spring Creek Campus. Harris is a scholar of African American Religion. She holds a doctorate from Union Theological Seminary, where her dissertation focused on the ethical implications of Alice Walker's nonfiction work. This event is part of the “Extending the Convivencia”series sponsored by Communications and Humanities department. For further information contact Anthony Mansueto at tmansueto@ccccd.edu or 972.881.5812.
"Glory Road"
The college will host a screening of “ Glory Road” at 3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 18, at the Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco, Room F249. The film chronicles the trials and tribulations of the 1966 Texas Western men’s basketball team – the first all-black starting line up in NCAA history. The team makes it to the national title game against powerhouse Kentucky.
Library Exhibitions
Collin College faculty and staff will exhibit art and artifacts commemorating African American History Month at the Central Park, Preston Ridge and Spring Creek campuses throughout the month of February.
For more information, e-mail Cathy Whitney, professor of biology, at cwhitney@ccccd.edu.
