Miramar College, along with the San Diego Community College District, is celebrating Black History Month with films, Black storytelling, a remembrance of the Tulsa race massacre, and more. In addition, KSDS Jazz 88, which is housed at San Diego City College, will be celebrating Black History Month by shining a light on The Bebop Era with homages to legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Fats Domino.
All events are free and open to the public. Among the highlights:
Wednesday, February 10, from 11 a.m. to noon
Black Storytelling – A Virtual Family Affair
Miramar College presents two renowned, local storytellers – Gwen Thompson-Chamberlain and Linda Brown – share stores of the Black family as it relates to resilience, unity, love, and personal experiences.
Here is the Zoom link.
Thursday, February 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Investigation
A look at the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and its suppressed history. Presented by Phoebe R. Stubblefield, Interim Director and Research Assistant Scientist at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory. Sponsored by Mesa College.
Here is the Zoom link. Meeting ID is 947 3310 9274
Wednesday, February 17, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song
First of two sessions on The Black Church, PBS series chronicling the rich history that is part of the African-American experience. Episodes 1 and 2 (‘The Freedom Faith’ and ‘A Nation With A Nation’) cover the beginnings of the Black Church and how the Christian faith provided a way for the enslaved to cope with brutal and dehumanizing bondage. Sponsored by Mesa College
You can access the film through this link.
Wednesday, February 17, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Agents of Change
A discussion with Agents of Change producer/director Frank Dawson covering the film telling the untold story of racial conditions on college campuses in the United States in the 1960s. Sponsored by Mesa College.
Here is the Zoom link. Meeting ID is 752 496 5099
Friday, February 19, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Fences
Screening of this film based on the August Wilson play that is the sixth in the 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle is sponsored by City College Umoja, HUBU, City Scholars, Diversity Committee, and San Diego State University’s Africana Studies.
Here is the Zoom link
Saturday, February 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Ask Your Mama: The Langston Hughes Project
The Langston Hughes Project is a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz.” This is a virtual presentation with Dr. Ron McCurdy, professor of Music at the USC Thornton School of Music, and includes performance and discussion.
Here is the Zoom link. Meeting ID 752 496 5099
Wednesday, February 24, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Black Excellence Across the Industries
Organized by City College Job Program Coordinator Sasha Knox, this panel discussion with black industry leaders explores the region’s top hiring sectors.
Here is the Zoom link
Wednesday, February 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song
Second of two sessions on The Black Church, PBS series chronicling the rich history that is part of the African-American experience. Episodes 3 and 4 (‘God Will Make A Way’ and ‘Crisis of Faith’) cover the pivotal period of Black churches at the turn of the 20th century and the crossroads Black churches found themselves in after Black leader such as The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Sponsored by Mesa College.
You can access the film through this link.
Thursday, February 25, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Eye on Black Studies: Celebrating the Legacy and Continued Mission of Black Studies
A reflection on Black History Month at Mesa College and a discussion about the legacy and mission of Black Studies after 50 years at Mesa College.
Here is the Zoom link. Meeting ID 928 4122 7065
Friday, February 26, from 5 to 8 p.m.
King in the Wilderness
This documentary chronicling the final chapters of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life is sponsored by City College Umoja, HUBU, City Scholars, Diversity Committee, and San Diego State University’s Africana Studies.
Here is the Zoom link
Black History Month evolved from Negro History Week, the second week of February – which includes the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln and was sponsored by what is today known as the Association for the Study of African American Life founded by historian Carter Woodson and minister Jesse Moorland. The first Negro History Week was held in 1926. Black History Month was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 and has been designated by every American president since.
Black Storytelling - A Virtual Family Affair
Gwendolyn Chamberlain & Linda Brown • Wednesday, February 10, 2021
11:00am - 12:00pm • via Zoom
Two renowned, local storytellers share stories of the Black Family as it relates to resilience, unity, love, and some personal, lived-experiences. These stories, written by these amazing storytellers, will perhaps move you to smile, laugh, contemplate, relate, and even celebrate the wonderful, individualistic folkways of the Black Family.
Folktale-style stories, stories of finding love, stories of “back in the day” good-old times, and stories of not-so-good times. We will also share with you some amazing poetry readings by renowned authors. Enjoy!
Gwen Thompson-Chamberlain is a “Child of Freedom” - She was born in Meridian, MS and spent her formative years there before moving to San Diego more than 40 years ago.
Gwen was an eye-witness to and was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement in Meridian during the mid- 1960’s. She and several of her siblings were also students in the infamous “Freedom Schools” and are the subjects of a few books written regarding “Freedom Summer” (1964). Gwen’s love for storytelling was born from her many lived experiences during the Civil Rights Movement.
Sistah Gwen has also been a community activist, student/parent advocate and Community Outreach Specialist serving adults and children in several school districts.; she co-chaired SDCCD-CE’s Diversity Committee; and ECC’s Annual Black History Program.
She has more than 30 years’ experience as an educator/facilitator with a diverse population of students in the Southeastern San Diego community. Sistah Gwen is a recent retiree from San Diego Community College District Continuing Ed. (CalWORKs Program).
Linda Brown is one of the founding members of the Black Storytellers of San Diego, an organization dedicated to keeping the oral story telling tradition alive. She has been performing for over twenty years at San Diego County schools, colleges and libraries, as well as the Mingei Museum, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park and The Saint Francis Chapel at the San Diego Museum of Man.
She is a retired Special Needs Instructional Assistant (Sweetwater Union School District) and spends her free time writing, quilting,
sewing, working in her garden and volunteering at her church and at the Malcolm X Library as a preschool storyteller. Linda’s favorite stories to tell are those that teach, entertain and sometimes make you think. It is her belief that we all have a story to tell and we must each tell our own story before someone else does and they won’t get it right.
Join us here: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/95477981637
Langston Hughes Project - Ask Your Mama! 12 Moods for Jazz
Virtual Presentation with Dr. Ron McCurdy: Multi-Media Jazz Project
Saturday, February 20, 2021 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm • Zoom link will be sent prior to event
Moods for Jazz
Recitation of Langston Hughes’ Last Poem:
Ask Your Mama!
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and Healing as a Country
Dr. Joy DeGruy • Monday, March 8, 2021 • Time 11:00am - 3:00pm • via Zoom Zoom link will be sent prior to event
Dr. DeGruy's presentation will provide a historical approach that invites all, especially those that are unfamiliar with the topic, to participate and gain further understanding and knowledge of the topic. Dr DeGruy's presentation will combine elements of the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and the Healing workshops. In the current climate, it is apparent that many still do not fully comprehend the devastating impact (mental, health, and financial) that slavery still has on our country today. Dr. DeGruy will outline the history of slavery in our country, its current impacts, and discuss how we can begin to heal as a country.
Dr. Joy DeGruy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, a master's degree in Social Work (MSW), a master's degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Social Work Research. Dr. Joy DeGruy is a nationally and internationally renowned researcher, educator, author and presenter. She is an Assistant Professor at Portland State University and the President of JDP Inc. Dr. DeGruy has over twenty-five years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work. She conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of mental health, social justice and culture specific social service model development.
Dr. Joy DeGruy authored the book entitled Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Enduring Legacy of Injury and Healing, which addresses the residual impacts of trauma on African Descendants in the Americas. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome lays the groundwork for understanding how the past has influenced the present, and opens up the discussion of how we can eliminate non-productive attitudes, beliefs and adaptive behaviors and, build upon the strengths we have gained from the past to heal injuries of today.
Dr. DeGruy has published numerous refereed journal articles and has developed the “African American Male Adolescent Respect Scale” an assessment instrument designed to broaden our understanding of the challenges facing these youth in an effort to prevent their over-representation in the justice system.
Randall Robinson, Al Sharpton, and many more have praised the book. Susan Taylor, Editorial Director of Essence Magazine says that “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is a master work...Her book is the balm we need to heal ourselves and our relationships. It is the gift of wholeness.” Adelaide Sanford,Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents for the State of New York states that “Dr. Joy DeGruy’s mesmerizing, riveting book is vital reading for our time...With Dr. DeGruy’s potent words we can and will heal.”
Contact for additional information
District Office
Johanna Palkowitz, jpalkowi@sdccd.edu Jamila DeCarli, jdecarli@sdccd.edu
City College
Deanna Shelton, dshelton@sdccd.edu
Mesa College
Judy Sundayo, jsundayo@sdccd.edu
Miramar College
Judy Patacsil, jpatacsi@sdccd.edu Terrie Hubbard, thubbard@sdccd.edu
College of Continuing Education
Lisa Carulli, lcarulli@sdccd.edu
For disability-related accommodations, please contact Jamila DeCarli at jdecarli@sdccd.edu at least 5 days in advance to make your request
