The Black List, Volume 1 - Celebrate Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month at San Diego Mesa College with an array of events and exhibits!

Thursday, February 18; 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Black List, Volume 1

The Black List, Volume 1 premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008 and won the NAACP Spirit Award in 2009 for Best Documentary.

Room H-117/118

Upcoming Black History Month events and exhibits:

Friday, February 19; 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Pedagogy of Black Women Activists

Black Studies Professor Candace Katungi -facilitates discussion about African American women activists. One of the women reviewed will be Sarah Harris Fayerweather. Lecture and discussion will center on how the freedom-centered pedagogy of Black women activists, like Sarah, was received in the antebellum north.

Room LRC-435

Monday, February 22; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Percy Julian: The Forgotten Genius

This film chronicles the life and genius of Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975) an African American research chemist. One of his goals was to discover a new class of drugs through his research on the chemistry of plants that would help advance human health and wellness. Growing up in the era of Jim Crow in Alabama, he faced many obstacles in the accomplishments of his goals, but persisted to achieve much including foundational work underlying the production of cortisone.

Room H-117/118

Tuesday, February 23; 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Open Mic: Black Poets Speak Out

Mesa College students join local poets and storytellers Kendrick Dial, Alyce Smith Cooper, Jaime V. Jones, and others.

Room H-117/118

Wednesday, February 24; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Hidden Colors, Part 1

Hidden Colors is a documentary which chronicles the history of people of color and their contributions throughout the world. The film’s commentators include historians and scholars who speak about the Moors in Spain, African presence in the Americas before the arrival of Columbus, as well as the reason for exclusion of African achievements from mainstream history books.

Room H-117/118

Wednesday, February 24; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

VOICES: Black Students share influential figures in Black History

African American students at Mesa College share who their most inspiring figures in Black History, including who in Black history has influenced them the most and why; how they learned about this person, in what ways this person has inspired them scholastically, and if information about this person should be incorporated into college classes, and if so, which classes and how. Facilitated by the Mesa Outreach Office and co-sponsored by the Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion & Equity (CDAIE).

Room LRC-435

Thursday, February 25; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Hidden Colors, Part 2

Hidden Colors 2 is a continuation of the documentary which chronicles the history of people of color and their contributions throughout the world. This second film also includes information on the scientific discoveries regarding melanin, disturbing facts about the prison-industrial complex as well as little-known information about Native American people.

Room H-117/118

Friday, February 26; 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Student Diversity Club Lunchtime, Social & Table Talks, Committee for Diversity, Action, Inclusion & Equity

The Student Diversity Club Lunchtime Social is sponsored by the Student Diversity Club and presents an opportunity for students throughout the campus to get together to eat, socialize, and participate in table-talks on topics relevant to diversity, inclusion and equity. This activity is co-sponsored by the Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion & Equity, the Black Studies Department and the Chicano Studies Department. The event will take place in G-103 the Chicano Studies & Black Studies Department shared space. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend!

Room G-103/Osani Circle

Saturday, February 27; 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Saturday on the Mesa: Jumpstart Your Success

Introduction to Black Studies & Assisting Students in Accessing Resources

Black Studies' professors Thekima Mayasa & Candice Katungi provide an introduction to the Program of Black Studies at Mesa College: Counseling Department professor Judy Sundayo works with students to assist them in understanding potential obstacles in starting college, how to manage stress and anxiety as well as Counseling resources and college-wide resources available to help them succeed.

Mesa Gym

Saturday, February 27; 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

San Diego Black Quilters Guild Exhibit

The San Diego Black Quilters Guild is a long-standing community arts association. Although many quilters consider themselves more sewers than artists, their quilts are undeniably extraordinarily beautiful works of art. Further the patterns are fun and inventive and the colors are stunning. Additionally, each quilt has a story to tell and the more you listen, the more difficult it becomes to pull yourself away. Counseling Department professor, Dr. Judy Sundayo will read a poem in the afternoon on Black Quilts.

Malcolm X Library

Monday, February 29; 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Hidden Colors, Part 3

Hidden Colors is the name of a documentary series that looks at the marginalizing of African Americans here and around the world. A discussion follows the screening.

Room H-117/118

Ongoing exhibits:

Through March 2

Chor Boogie: In God We Trust

Artwork from the series “The Divided State of America”

Mesa Art Gallery

Through February 29

San Diego Authors Exhibit - SD Central Library

Featuring SD published books in 2015 “The Gumbo Pot of Poems”

This is the 50th Year Anniversary of the San Diego Authors Exhibit, held annually to honor local authors who have published a book in the preceding year. This year, San Diego Mesa College boasts a number of authors, whose works are showcased, including Professor Joe Safdie and his book Coastal Zone and Professor Scott Starbuck who authored Industrial Oz. Also showcased in the exhibit is the work by Professor Judy Sundayo, co-author of, The GUMBO Pot Poems: A Savory Recipe for Life, Community & GUMBO through Poetry. This book is a compilation of poems which chronicle African American experiences and celebrate life and community in a multi-cultural society. Included in the book are tributes to Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama.

San Diego Central Library

Through March 6

The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years without a Comb

This exhibit at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido -- curated by Starla Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Black History at San Diego Mesa College -- is a journey through the history of the African-American hair industry and its role in our present culture.  From its origins in the seat of civilization to the epicenter of the civil rights movement, the comb’s untold story takes the spotlight in this exhibition by way of 400 years’ worth of artifacts, photography, historical accounts, propaganda, and much more. Visit artcenter.org for more details.

California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 92025