February went by quickly, but our community colleges hosted a slew of amazing Black History Month events. From music to literature and art, get ready for the highlights of last month’s celebration of black history and culture!
Countless community colleges celebrated the month with special events, like Maysville Community and Technical College. @maysvillectc on Instagram
1. Black History Month Meets Community College Famous
This month celebrates the contributions African American individuals have made to this country. And for some famous folk, community college was where they got their start!
Cape Fear Community College celebrates Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah, who all took off at community college! @capefearcc on FacebookJackie Robinson started at Pasadena City College! @Gaston_College on Twitter Oakland Community College hands off their social media accounts to OCC’s Black Student Union. They shared their series on exceptional Black entrepreneurs, activists and artists you may not have heard of. For example, take Lisa Gelobter, who played a key role in the creation of Shockwave, the technology that made gifs possible! @OCCofficial on Facebook
Poetry Break!
One of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry, Langston Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. This month, his work was celebrated at community colleges!
Mesa Community College, Scottsdale Community College, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College present a virtual poetry performance of Langston Hughes. The twelve-part epic poem is Hughes’ homage in verse and music to the struggle for artistic and social freedom at home and abroad at the beginning of the 1960s.@mesacc on Twitter.
The history of this poetic piece is pretty cool:
Originally, Hughes created “Ask Your Mama” in the aftermath of his participation as an official for the five-day Newport Jazz Festival of July 1960, where he shared the stage with such luminaries as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Oscar Peterson, Otis Spann, Ray Charles, and Muddy Waters.
The musical scoring was designed to serve not as mere background but to forge a conversation and a commentary with the music. Though Hughes originally intended to collaborate with Charles Mingus, and then Randy Weston, on the performance of this masterwork, it remained only in the planning stages when Langston Hughes died in 1967.
Its recovery now in word, music, and image provides a galvanizing experience for audiences everywhere.
2. Celebrating Local Legends During Black History Month
While plenty of stars were celebrated in February, it was also a time to honor the everyday heroes at our local community colleges. So, outstanding faculty and students around the country had time to shine.
Waubonsee Community College celebrates Robert Cook, TRIO/Upward Bound Manager. His fun fact? He’s a Trekkie! And his advice to students? A quote from Maya Angelou: “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” @WaubonseeLife on TwitterCleveland Community College honors Dr. Bruce Mack, the first black Vice President at CCC. A powerful way to celebrate this month! @ClevelandCC on Twitter.NyJeya is working toward an associate in applied science with a focus in office administration at Blue Ridge Community College. And best of all, she’s slated to graduate this May! @BlueRidgeCC
Dance Break!
Just because the celebration is virtual doesn’t mean you can’t dance this Black History Month!
Traditional Kenyan acrobatics ring in the celebratory spirit! From Southwest Virginia Community College, @swcc_tweets
3. Black History Month Culture
It’s only natural that our advocates for higher ed would also want to celebrate some culture this Feb. From literature to little-known facts, it was a Black History Month to remember.
Some good Black History Month reads, courtesy of Pima Community College Library. @pima_cclibrary on Twitter Little known facts about Black History Month, up for discovery at New Jersey’s Community Colleges. @NJ’s Community Colleges on Facebook.This #ThrowbackThursday Black History Month photo has a lot of culture! Central Piedmont Community College’s Afro-American Culture & Education Club toured the birthplace of MLK Jr. in 1988.
Dance Break Part Two!
In conclusion for this month’s installment, a little dance party you’ll want to bop along to!
Ending on a seriously fun note! From Chaffey College: “The pandemic has been rough on us all, but like Gloria Gaynor, Chaffey College will survive. And folks across the campus did a little dancing to prove it!” @Chaffey College on YouTube
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