Fresno State will celebrate 100 years of Black History Month with a kickoff event featuring food, games and music from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, in the Memorial Gardens (lawn in front of the Kennel Bookstore) at Fresno State.
Presented by the Cross Cultural and Gender Center, in collaboration with the Black Student Success Initiative, students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to come together to honor Black culture. Food will be available from the FURY food truck and there will be games and giveaways. Contact: bssi@mail.fresnostate.edu or ccgcafam@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Other public events throughout the month include:
Feb. 3: Paws and Pans, presented by African American Programs and Services, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Family Food Science Building (Room 108), is a hands-on cooking class celebrating Black History Month, where students come together to mix, learn and cook dishes rooted in the African Diaspora. Participants will learn how to prepare akara (black-eyed pea fritters) and jollof rice, foods that represent pride, culture and unity across the African world. Contact: ccgcafam@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 5: Sistah to Sistah, presented by African American Programs and Services in the Cross Cultural and Gender Center, is a discussion group that meets at noon every Thursday, in the Thomas Building (Harambee Room 109), for women of color to gather, uplift one another and engage in meaningful dialogue. Contact: ccgcafam@csufresno.edu.
Feb 6: 10th annual Walk in Peace concert with Fresno State and Fresno City College choirs, at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Administration Building at Fresno City College. The event celebrates the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month. Contact: Dr. Cari Earnhart, cearnhart@csufresno.edu.
Feb 9-27: “A Century of Black History Commemorations” art exhibition presented by the School of Art, Design and Art History and featuring the works of students, alumni, faculty and local artists, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Dean’s Gallery of the Music Building (Room 186). Celebrating 100 years of recognizing African American contributions (launched in 1926) with a focus on the evolution, impact and importance of honoring Black history in the United States. Contact: Vanessa Addison-Williams, vaddisonwilliams@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 10: Meet Your Pueblo, a collaborative paint-and-sip event hosted by African American Programs and Services in partnership with Latino and Latina Programs and Services, will be held at noon in the Thomas Building. This event brings students together to celebrate influential historical role models within the Afro-Latino community through art, creativity and connection. Students will have the opportunity to paint, relax and have fun in a welcoming space. Contact: ccgcafam@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 11: Hearts and Crafts,a creative hangout hosted in collaboration with LGBTQ+ Programs and Services and African American Programs and Services, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in the Fresno State Library (Room 3212). Join us to make Valentine’s cards, get crafty and spread the love — including cards for LGBTQ2+ and allied community members. Contact: ccgcafam@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 13: “Sing Your Song” (2011) film screening, presented by CineCulture, at 5:15 p.m. at the Peters Educational Center Auditorium inside the Student Recreational Center. The movie takes viewers on a journey through Harry Belafonte’s life, work and, above all, his conscience, inspiring action. A discussion with the film director Susanne Rostock will follow the screening. Contact: Dr. Mary Husain, mhusain@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 17: “The Power of Nonviolence” documentary screening and discussion, presented by the M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya and the Jain and Hindu Dharma Initiative, and supported by the Cross Cultural and Gender Center, at 3:30 p.m. at the Kremen building (Room 172). The film examines how nonviolence engages questions of power and offers resources for confronting difficult social and political challenges. The discussion will center around the philosophy of nonviolence as taught and practiced by the Rev. James Lawson Jr., a leading civil rights figure and longtime advocate of nonviolent social change. Contact Dr. Veena Howard, vehoward@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 20: “Kipkemboi (The Wall Street Boy)” (2023) film screening, presented by CineCulture, at 5:30 p.m. at the Peters Educational Center Auditorium inside the Student Recreational Center. A fictional story of a young math genius from rural Kenya who uses his understanding of patterns in nature to develop a successful stock market algorithm. His remarkable success from a makeshift setup in his village draws attention from international financiers and local authorities, forcing him and his girlfriend to flee. A discussion with the film director Charles Uwagbai will follow the screening. Contact: Dr. Mary Husain, mhusain@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 23: “Party at the Ballot Box: Mobilizing Black Women Voters” author presentation hosted by the Political Science Department, along with the Africana Studies Program and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, at noon in the Fresno State Library (Room 2206). Learn how Black voters continue to shape America’s elections from authors Dr. Melissa R. Michelson, a former Fresno State political science faculty member and dean of arts and sciences at Menlo College, and Sarah V. Hayes, a Fresno State alumna and Georgetown University doctoral candidate. They will also discuss the Party at the Mailbox initiative and its successful community outreach efforts to enhance Black voter turnout in cities across the nation in recent elections. Contact: Dr. Lisa Bryant, lbryant@csufresno.edu.
Feb. 26: Black Fly Market, brings small businesses and vendors to Fresno State to promote and sell their handcrafted goods and products from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Gardens. There will be food by the Grumpy Burger Lady and Carla’z Kream Cakez, personalized merchandise and cultural products. For Barbershop Talks: “Barbers on Campus,” IllyCutz barbers will be on the University Student Union balcony to administer free haircuts for students and build community. The event is presented by the Black Student Success Initiative, in collaboration with the Cross Cultural and Gender Center. Contact: bssi@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Feb. 28:Richard “Dick” Keyes Sr. Leadership in Education Forum, presented by the United Negro College Fund — Fresno, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery in the Fresno State Library. Contact: bssi@mail.fresnostate.edu.
