MCC Events Celebrate Black History Month 2017 in February

Black History Month poster

Muskegon Community College will celebrate Black History Month 2017 in February by hosting lectures, a musical performance, a movie, a contest and the annual Love in Action Awards Dinner.

All the events, with the exception of the dinner, are free and open to the public.

Friday, February 3, 2017

On Friday, Feb. 3, a Community Choir Concert titled “Celebrating Black History through Song, Poetry and the Spoken Word” takes places from 6-7:30 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. MCC and K-12 students and community members, accompanied by the MCC Jazz Band and MCC College Singers, will share the struggles and successes of African Americans through song, poetry and the spoken word.

February 8-27, 2017

From Feb. 8-27 in Collegiate Hall, there will be a display on loan from the USS Silversides Museum that celebrates the achievements of African-Americans.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, the documentary, “Black America since MLK: Still I Rise” will be shown at 1:30 p.m. in Blue and Gold Room. A discussion, led by Papa N’Jai, an instructor in the MCC Social Sciences Department, will follow. In the film, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores America’s changing racial landscape — celebrating how far we have come toward equality and asking why we still have so far to go.

Monday, February 20, 2017

At 3 p.m., MCC Social Sciences instructor Nicholas Budimir will present “Why Are We Still Waiting? 50 Years since Civil Rights” in the Blue and Gold Room.

From 6-7:30 p.m. in Collegiate Hall, “Who We Are and How Did We Get Here: Part II” continues the insightful panel discussion started at last year’s Black History event. Once again, the forum taps into the insights of Muskegonites who have made huge contributions to the building of the community and have been long time equal rights activists for the people, especially African Americans.  The panel discussion will be facilitated by MCC President Dale Nesbary. Panelists are: Rev. John L. Parker, Floyd R. Cook, Jr., Delores Cole, Orville Sydnor, Paul Billings, Rillastine Wilkins, Edgar Watson and Janie P. Brooks-Davis.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

At 1:30 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room, MCC Instructor Marvin Nash will share information on Black America after Civil Rights Movement.  Questions that will be presented and discussed include:  Have we made progress and if so or not? What are the contributing factors that have helped us get here? What other work is needed?

From 6-7:30 p.m. in Collegiate Hall, “Let the Legends Speak” features a panel discussion of local African-American trailblazers in fields from government and education to the business. The “pioneers” share words of hope and recount their careers and surviving the realities of being born in a different time with different rules.  The facilitator is retired MCC Vice President for Student Services Janie P. Brooks-Davis. The panelists include:  Rev. John Parker, Ciggzree Morris, Mildred Johnson, Rillastine Wilkins, Carl Western, Dr. Leon Smith, Marian Oakes, Jerry Lottie, and Carolyn Patterson

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, students and community members are encouraged to show their knowledge and compete for prizes during the fun and informative “Black History Jeopardy.” The fun competition takes place between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

The annual Love in Action Awards Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 23, takes place from 6-9 p.m. with a social hour from 5:30-6 p.m. The dinner in Collegiate Hall celebrates unsung heroes who are nominated by their peers from local businesses, churches and individuals. Nomination applications are available at www.muskegoncc.edu/ce or by contacting Mary Williams at mary.williams@muskegoncc.edu   or (231) 777-0582. Tickets for the Love in Action Awards Dinner are $30 each or $170 for a table of six. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Monday, Feb. 13. The keynote speaker is Tarence E. Lauchie’, pastor at Grace for the Nations Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Black History Month concludes with “Lunch with the President” on Monday, Feb. 27, from 11:30-1 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. Dr.  Dale K. Nesbary, the first African-American president in MCC history, will discuss his career leading to his historic position. Tickets are $7 per person and may be purchased by calling Mary Williams in the Office of Community Outreach at (231) 777-0582 or Cindy DeBoef in the Office of the President at (231) 777-0303.