2013 Black History Month
University of the Pacific's annual Black History Month celebration involves a number of activities that honor the history and heritage of African-Americans and the African Diaspora. Throughout the month of February, students, faculty and staff put on numerous events, including a keynote speaker, gospel concert, poetry reading, roundtable discussions and various guest lecturers. This year's theme is, "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality". The Keynote Speaker for this year's celebration who will both lecture and perform is Grammy-award winning singer Anthony Hamilton. He is also a national spokesperson for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of foster youth. Buy Tickets here.
The second major speaker the 2013 celebration is retired NBA player and New York Times best-selling author, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar, the National Basketball Association's (NBA) all-time leading scorer, will discuss lessons he learned as a professional athlete, his accomplishments since he retired from playing basketball and his love of history which inspired his latest book, "What Color is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors." The celebration also will include a poetry reading from Nathaniel Mackey and a Gospel concert featuring J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise and vocalist Anita Wilson. Buy Tickets here
2013 Anthony Hamilton Poster
2013 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Poster
2013 Gospel Concert Poster
This year we also partnered with Alex Caspero from the Cowell Wellness center to come up with soul food sweets and sides cookbook to provide a healthier way to prepare certain dishes you can view the cookbook here
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us in our celebration. Visit the Black History Month events calendar or contact the Multicultural Center at 209-946-7707.
Pacific Black History Month Planning Committee Mission Statement
The Black History Month Committee will, through the usage of identified funds, collaborate within the University and local community to plan and execute a month long series of events and activities that support the overall goals of education and enrichment in relation to the contributions of peoples of African ancestry and culture to society past and present.
Origin of Black History Month
Known as the "Father of Black History", Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the celebration he called "Negro History Week" in 1926. Dr. Woodson selected the second week of February for the celebration because it fell between the birthdays of the famed orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the celebration expanded to include the entire month of February. Today, Black History Month is celebrated across the United States by people of all ethnic and social backgrounds. At Pacific, it is observed during a month long celebration in February organized by Pacific's Black History Month Planning Committee.