List of Events
Feature Film: "Black in America" (part 1) CNN documentary
Thurs., Jan. 28, 8 p.m.
Pacific Theatre
Free for students; $3 for staff, faculty and alumni; $5 for general admission
CNN correspondent Soledad O'Brien explores the current state of Black America 40 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During her reporting, O'Brien looks at the varied experiences of black women and families and investigates how single parenthood, HIV/AIDS and racism in the workplace impact the black community. She also reports on education, career and economic achievements among blacks, as well as black male incarceration rates.
For more information contact Pacific's ASuop office at 209.946.7745 or go online at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/black.in.america/.
Libation Ceremony
Mon., Feb. 1, 4 - 6 p.m.
DeRosa University Center's River Room
Free and open to the public
Kicking off Pacific's 2010 Black History Month celebration, the Libation ceremony is a long lived tradition that partakes in the pouring of a liquid to signify honor of a deity.
For more information contact the Pacific Multicultural Center at 209.946.7707.
Soledad O'Brien
Wed., Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
Faye Spanos Concert Hall
Free and open to the public
Known for her work on the highly acclaimed CNN's "Black in America" documentary series about the state of the African American community, Soledad O'Brien is the keynote speaker for Pacific's Black History Month celebration. O'Brien is an anchor and special correspondent for CNN: Special Investigations Unit, reporting hour-long documentaries throughout the year and filling in-depth series on the most important ongoing and breaking news stories for all major CNN programs. She also covers political news as part of CNN's "Best Political Team on Television."
For more information contact Pacific's ASuop office at 209.946.7745 or go online at http://www.kepplerspeakers.com/speakers.aspx?name=Soledad+O'Brien.
Open Forum: What is Black?
Thurs., Feb. 4, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Grace Covell Hall
Free and open to the public
Pacific sociology professor Marcia Hernandez will lead a roundtable discussion with students exploring what it means to be black. Organized by Pacific's Black Student Union, the forum will address the questions "What is acting black?" and "Are you black enough?" The discussion will also include the history of Jim Crow segregation laws.
For more information contact Pacific Multicultural Center at 209.946.7707.
Feature Film: "Black in America" (part 2) CNN documentary
Thurs., Feb. 4, 8 p.m.
Pacific Theatre
Free for students; $3 for staff, faculty and alumni; $5 for general admission
In part two of the critically acclaimed CNN's "Black in America" series, O'Brien continues her investigation of the most challenging issues facing African Americans. She also reports on people who are using innovative and unexpected ways to address major problems, and as a result transforming the black experience.
For more information contact Pacific's ASuop office at 209.946.7745 or go online at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/black.in.america/.
Black Family Health & Heritage Fair
Sat., Feb. 6, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Raymond Great Hall
Free and open to the public
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
A health fair, organized by Pacific pharmacy students, that will include glucose, blood pressure and bone density screenings, cholesterol testing and informational booths on heartburn prevention and the history of African American physicians.
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Luncheon
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Discussion: "Higher Education in the African American Family"
For more information about the health fair contact Adenola Akilo at a_akilo@pacific.edu. For more information about the discussion contact Tommie Muhammad at 209.969.1344 or adetome1@comcast.net.
Open Forum: What Makes Me, Me?
Mon., Feb. 8, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Grace Covell Hall
Free and open to the public
Organized by the Black Student Union, the forum will involve student panel members discussing their heritage and various experiences, including encounters with racism, how they are perceived and their perception of others.
For more information contact the Pacific Multicultural Center at 209.946.7707.
Poetry Reading/Reception featuring Samiya Bashir
Thurs., Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Wendell Phillips Center, room 140
Free and open to the public
Known for her fierceness and boldness, Samiya Bashir will read from her works "Gospel" and "Where the Apple Falls," a finalist for the 2005 Lambda Literary Award. Bashir is editor of "Best Black Women's Erotica 2" and co-editor of "Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social & Political Black Literature & Art". She has published three chapbook poetry collections: "Teasing Crow", "Wearing Shorts on the First Day of Spring" and "American Visa." She is also a founding organizer of Fire & Ink, a festival for LGBT writers of African descent. To learn more about Bashir go online at http://samiyabashir.com/.
For more information contact Pacific English Professor Xiaojing Zhou at 209.946.2611 or xzhou@pacific.edu.
Valentine's Day Dance
Sat., Feb. 13, 9 p.m. - Midnight
DeRosa University Center's Grand Ballroom
Free and open to the public
The Black Student Union's annual Valentine's Day Dance will include a raffle with the winner receiving a free DNA test to help them trace their ancestry and African roots.
For more information contact Pacific Multicultural Center at 209.946.7707.
GospelFest Concert featuring Deon Kipping and New Covenant
Sat., Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
San Joaquin Delta College's Atherton Theater
Cost $13 general admission
Gospel music rising star Deon Kipping will headline this year's GospelFest. Last year's opening act for Gospel sensation Marvin Sapp, Kipping has become a star of his own, blending hip-hop and soul in his music for a smooth Christian neosoul sound. This year's event will be held at San Joaquin Delta College for the first time. Kipping's music can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomdknc.
For more information contact Randall Ogans at rogans@pacific.edu or go online at http://www.deonkipping.com/main.html.
Game Night: Jeopardy
Mon., Feb. 22, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Pacific Theatre
Free and open to the public
The event will include a game based off of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" based on African American historical facts.
For more information contact Pacific Multicultural Center at 209.946.7707.