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!
![@maysvillectc
February is #BlackHistoryMonth! Join Rev. Rodney Bennett for a virtual presentation on black history, mental health and mindfulness, equity, inclusion and unity for our nation.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/maysville-BHM-intro-image.png)
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
In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, here are just a few of the many successful African Americans who started their journey at #CommunityCollege.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cape-fear-famous-AA-2.png)
![Gaston College
As we continue to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we recognize a few of the many successful African American stars who began their journey at their local #communitycollege.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/jackie-robinson.png)
![Oakland Community College (Official)
In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we're handing our social media accounts over to OCC's Black Student Union (instagram.com/bsu_occ) to share their series on exceptional Black entrepreneurs, activists and artists you may not have heard of.
LISA GELOBTER
???? In 1995, Lisa played a key role in the creation of Shockwave, the technology that made gifs possible
???? Gelobter also played a key role in the launch of Hulu, and is the former Chief Digital Officer for BET Networks
???? With her background in STEM we couldn't help but highlight her significant role in the tech we use today
???? Lisa is also the CEO & co-founder of Tequitable, a confidential platform to address bias, harassment, and discrimination. Thank you for all your amazing work!](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/oakland-1024x502.png)
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
TONIGHT: In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, attend a virtual multimedia performance of Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite, “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz” featuring Dr. Ron McCurdy.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mesa.png)
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.
From Scottsdale Community College’s event page
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 Life
@WaubonseeLife
As we continue to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to take a moment to honor Robert Cook, the TRIO/Upward Bound Manager here at Waubonsee Community College.
Thank you, Robert, for all that you do! Check out his bio below to learn which fun fact he shared with us.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WaubonseeLife.png)
![Community College
Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth with one of our own! Dr. Bruce Mack is the first black Vice President at CCC. With prior experience in manufacturing, he joined the College over 25 years ago and now holds the position of VP of Economic and Workforce Development.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Cleveland.png)
![Blue Ridge Community College
Meet NyJeya Macon, a Blue Ridge student we're highlighting for Black History Month! We are so grateful for the diverse group of students we get to work with every day, and we hope you'll enjoy learning about some of them!](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blue-Ridge-student.png)
Dance Break!
Just because the celebration is virtual doesn’t mean you can’t dance this Black History Month!
![Southwest Virginia Community College
The Zuzu African Acrobats will perform on TONIGHT @ 6PM. Join us in celebrating Black History Month as the Zuzu African Acrobats perform traditional Kenyan acrobatic skills set to high energy beats!](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Southwest-Virginia.png)
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.
![Pima Community College Library
Recommended reading for Black History month. See below for some of our eBook recommendations.
Titles: Passenger on the Pearl, Barack Obama a Biography, My Journey with Maya, Harriet Jacobs a Life, and The First Black Actors on the Great White Way.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pima.png)
![NJ's Community Colleges
Celebrate Black History Month with Essex! Join us on Tuesday February 9th for BLACK HISTORY TRIVIA!!](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NJ-CC-trivia-nite.png)
![Central Piedmont Community College
Today's #BlackHistoryMonth #ThrowbackThursday photo shows the Central Piedmont Afro-American Culture & Education Club touring the birthplace of MLK Jr. in 1988.](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Central-Piedmont.png)
Dance Break Part Two!
In conclusion for this month’s installment, a little dance party you’ll want to bop along to!
![[Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mathew Ahmann in a crowd.], 8/28/1963" Original black and white negative by Rowland Scherman. Taken August 28th, 1963, Washington D.C, United States (The National Archives and Records Administration). Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd. U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service. ca. 1953-ca. 1978. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/542015](https://news.interactcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/unseen-histories-bTF3gkd2L28-unsplash-1024x812.jpg)
If you’re looking for more, check out Top 10 Stories of the Month: January 2021 Edition and #cccommunity3: Leaping into the 2021 New Year.
Do you have a personal best you’d like to share? Then please send your good news to reachout@interactcom.com for a chance to be featured in our next #cccommunity3!