Black History Month 2019 Overview & Events
VCU and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) will celebrate the achievements of African Americans in art, history, science, and literature through a variety of events during Black History Month. Events will begin at the beginning of February with a Kick-Off in the Rams Lounge of the University Student Commons. Events throughout the month will range from book discussions and documentary showings to a history walk and Career and Networking panels. Please see below for a full list of Black History Month events hosted by OMSA.
The university will also hold it’s 17th Annual Black History Month Lecture in James Cabell Library near the end of the month, where a panel will discuss the post-war experiences and injustices done to African-American military veterans. The panel will feature Christy Coleman, Executive Director of the American Civil War Museum; Adriane Lentz-Smith, Author and Duke University Associate Professor of African and African-American studies and Women Studies; Kiara Boone, Equal Justice Institute Deputy Director of Community Education,; and Jeffery Blount, Emmy Award-winning director, who will serve as moderator. To register and for more information please visit the event page on the VCU Libraries website.
Black History Month 2019 Celebrations and Conversations
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- Friday, Feb. 1, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Rams Lounge, University Student Commons Black History Month Kick-Off Event, Join members of the Black History Month Planning Committee and Black student organizations to kick-off Black History Month. Event will feature tabling from Black student organizations, Black History Month poster of events, and Black history reading list.
- Fridays in February (Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22)
Black History Tours, sponsored by Office of Community Engagement. - Tuesday, Feb. 5, 5 – 7 p.m., Cabell Library Lecture Room, room 303 Keynote Talk: “Moving Beyond 2018, What Happens Next?”, Dr. Christina Greer, Assistant Professor of Political Science and African American History, Fordham University
- Thursday, Feb. 7, 5 – 7 p.m., Cabell Library, room 205 Black Education Association (BEA) faculty and staff Mixer.
- Monday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m., OMSA, University Student Commons, room 215 Documentary, Finding Joseph I, Documentary chronicling the life of punk rock and reggae band frontman, Paul “HR” Hudson. HR’s band, Bad Brains is considered one of the most influential punk rock bands in history.
- Tuesday, Feb. 12, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., University Student Commons, Richmond Salons I and II Pop Culture vs. the “Olympics of Suffering”: Slavery and the Holocaust as One American Horror Story, sponsored by the Department of African American Studies
- Wednesday, Feb. 13, 12 – 1 p.m., OMSA, University Student Commons, room 215 Book Discussion and Exchange: Favorite Black Author or Black History Book. Join other book enthusiasts to discuss favorite books written by Black authors or about Black history and culture. Bring your book if you would like to exchange it for another book. Lunch provided.
- Thursday, Feb. 14, 7 – 9 p.m., Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons
Step Afrika, sponsored by APB. - Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6 – 8 p.m., Richmond Salons I &II, University Student Commons
Two Chains: Gender and Sexual Orientation Among People of Color, facilitated by VCU student, Joseph Mitchell. - Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6 – 8 p.m., Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons
Trap N Paint, sponsored by APB - Thursday, Feb. 21, 6 – 8 p.m., Richmond Salon IV, University Student Commons
African American Women and Sexual Assault: A Culture of Silence and Disbelief, sponsored by the Advocacy Program of University Counseling Services - Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6 – 8 p.m., Rams Lounge, University Student Commons Career Panel and Networking Session. Join professionals with careers related to Fine Arts, the Humanities, Education, Social Work, and Engineering as they discuss their career path. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists after the discussion.
- Thursday, Feb. 28, 6 – 8 p.m., Cabell Lecture Hall, room 303
Black History in the Making – recognizes academic excellence, Black/African American students, possibly black faculty and staff. Sponsored by the African American Studies department.