Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Every year, the San Diego Mesa College Library joins in the celebration by creating and curating a Black History Month Library Guide – filled with resources of what is available not only at the San Diego Mesa College library, but through other community resources as well.

Denise Rogers is a professor of art history at San Diego Mesa College, manages the college’s World Art permanent collection, and is the curator of “Africa in Context,” currently on display through Feb. 23 at the college in celebration of Black History Month. By Lisa Deaderick | February 4, 2023 As a young girl growing up in southeastern San Diego’s Shelltown neighborhood, Denise Rogers spent time flipping through the pages of Time and Life magazines her mother kept on their coffee table. At the time, she just enjoyed the pictures from galleries in New York, Paris, and Italy. Later, after an introductory art course prompted her to change her major from fashion design to art history, she found a career path that allowed her to pair her love of both history and art.

San Diego, CA, - Black History Month celebrations begin today at San Diego Mesa College, and the annual Rosa Parks Birthday Recognition & Libation is scheduled for Thursday, February 2. Community members are invited to join Mesa College administrators, faculty, staff and students at 12:00 p.m. for a silent walk from the Osani Circle at the Humanities and Cultural Studies Building (G-103) to the Rosa Parks Transit Station, on the corner of Mesa College Dr. and Mesa College Circle, for a traditional libation and remembrance. The walk is to honor those who walked instead of riding the bus after Mrs. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

On Thursday, February 4, San Diego Mesa College will celebrate the annual Rosa Parks Birthday Ceremony virtually, with a Rosa Park Remembrance Video Montage, The Power of One. The event is one of many that Mesa has scheduled for Black History Month this year. Community members are invited to view the video to keep her memory alive and honor those who walked instead of riding the bus after Mrs. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

In celebration of Black History Month, San Diego Mesa College hosted its annual Rosa Parks Birthday Recognition Ceremony on Monday, February 4th. On what would have been her 106th birthday, a group of faculty, staff and students gathered in the Humanities and Cultural Studies Auditorium (G-102) to give respect and gratitude for Mrs. Parks’ courageous act to remain seated in the face of injustice—an act that would spark a bus boycott and a continued pursuit for justice and equality for all.

San Diego, CA, - Today, San Diego Mesa College will celebrate the annual Rosa Parks Birthday Recognition & Libation as part of Black History Month celebrations. Community members are invited to join Mesa College administrators, faculty, staff and students at 12:45 p.m. in the Auditorium of Humanities and Cultural Studies Building (G-102) to hear history, stories, and participate in a ceremonial libation honoring the late civil-rights leader.

On Feb. 1, Mesa College celebrated the beginning of Black History Month by honoring American civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Students, faculty, staff and administrators participated in a campus wide silent march to the Rosa Parks Transit Stop, followed by a libation – a traditional ritual in African cultures that involves the pouring of a liquid offering in honor of someone’s memory.

African American poet, professor and activist Dr. Sonia Sanchez spoke to a full room at San Diego Mesa College on Feb. 23 in honor of Black History Month.