MCC Celebrates Black History Month 2019 with Series of Events in February

Black History Month poster

Muskegon Community College will celebrate Black History Month 2019 with four events during the month of February.

The events, which are listed below, are free and open to the public with the exception of the Love In Action Awards Dinner. For more information, contact Trynette Lottie-Harps in the MCC Community Outreach Office at (231) 777-0559.

“We will reflect on challenges, injustices, and inequalities overcome by African Americans in our communities, states and the nation,” explained Lottie-Harps. “These events will focus on the men and women who made great achievements. Join us, learn more, and continue to move forward in justice and equity.”

The MCC Black History Month celebration begins with “Muskegon Heights West Side Story” on Monday, Feb. 4, from 6-8 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room. Participants will learn about the history of the West Side of Muskegon Heights from the 1940s through the 1970s. Robert Dowson will share his story and life’s experiences, along with other community members who lived there.

“Hidden Figures,” a film about a team of female African American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U. S. space program, will be shown twice on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The film will be shown at 1 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Mon’ae. Janie Brooks-Davis and Dr. Pamela Smith will facilitate a discussion immediately following the movie.

Students, instructors, staff, and community members are invited to read aloud and listen to selections of prose and poetry from the body of African American literature during the “African American Read-In Chain” on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room. The Read-In is part of a national event sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English.  For more information, contact Theresa.Kanoza@muskegoncc.edu.

Black History Month closes with the annual Love in Action Awards Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 6-9 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. The event celebrates unsung community heroes who are nominated by their peers. Tickets for the banquet are $30 each or $180 for a table of six. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Monday, Feb. 18.  Registration is required to attend. For more information, contact Sche Cornelius at sche.cornelius@muskegoncc.edu or call (231) 777-0532.