Clark State College will celebrate Black History Month this February with several opportunities for students and the community to participate and learn both in-person and virtually.
Breion Hawkins, diversity coordinator at Clark State said for Black History Month, the college will be encouraging our students, faculty, and staff to engage in several events throughout the surrounding communities, and Clark State will be hosting events as well.
“Throughout this country’s history Black voices, Black culture, and Black contributions have been silenced, uncredited, or simply overlooked,” she said. “By celebrating Black History Month, we create intentional opportunities for those stories to not just be told but embraced … highlighting the achievements and sacrifices made by African-Americans that not only shaped and advanced the experiences of Black people in this country, but also the experiences of everyone in this country.”
Hawkins said acknowledging the pervasiveness of racism, discrimination, and oppression, Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements, contributions, and sacrifices by African Americans, recognizing their central role in the United States of America, and the country’s history.
Starting as Negro History Week, Carter G. Woodson, the “father of Black history,” is known as the first to designate a time to promote and educate people about Black history and culture in 1926. As a result, Woodson designated the second week of February as Negro History Week, in hopes of broadening the nation’s consciousness on Black history and culture.
As time passed, and the idea of highlighting Black history and culture expanded, Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month in the 1960s – being officially recognized by President Gerald R. Ford during the country’s 1976 bicentennial.
“We’re excited to support the contributions of Black creatives, business owners, leaders… Black people,” said Hawkins. “Our goal is to always build community, and we must do that by supporting the groups within our community.”
Clark State Black History Month Celebration events include:
Black Author Book Display and Black History Month Trivia
Entire month of February | Clark State Library on Leffel Lane Campus
The Clark State Library (Springfield/Leffel Lane Campus) will be featuring a book display, open to the public during regular business hours, highlighting Black authors, stories, contributions, literature, etc. They will also be doing weekly trivia (via email) available to internal employees sharing different facts connected to Black history and contributions.
Springfield Museum of Art: Art Noire
February 2 and 3 | Springfield Museum of Art*
This is a Clark State sponsored event. This event is open to the community.
Art Noire, sponsored by Clark State, will return for its 3rd annual appearance in partnership with the newly renovated Springfield Museum of Art, the only Smithsonian affiliate in the state of Ohio. The theme of this years’ experience is Love Black, which is a statement of internal and external love of Black people, culture, and artwork to kick off Black History Month. This event will include two (2) days of vendors, art activations, panel discussions, artists, businesses, and leaders throughout Southwestern Ohio. To learn more, visit www.artxnoire.com
Black History Month Displays/Tables
February 6, 13, 20, & 27 – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (multiple campuses)
Clark State will host Black History Month Tables, where there will be a display of information and trivia, providing students an opportunity to engage and win prizes.
- February 6, Clark State Beavercreek campus location
- February 13, Clark State Bellefontaine campus location
- February 20, Clark State Xenia campus location
- February 27, Clark State Springfield main campus
Sip ‘n Paint
February 7 – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (registration required)
This event is open to the community. No alcoholic beverages will be served and are not permitted during this event.
Clark State will be hosting Sip ‘n Paint featuring artist Zuri Cole, focusing on more than just art, but community through a lens of identity, heritage, and culture within the realms of art and storytelling. This event will take place Wednesday, February 7 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. with in-person (limited) and virtual options.
This event is free, but registration is required at: https://bit.ly/BHM-Sip-n-Paint
Film Showing of “Harriet”
February 13 at 11 a.m. | Springfield Campus, ASC Room 125
In collaboration with staff member, John Minter, there will be a film showing for the movie, “Harriet.” This film is about the story of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman, from her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad. This event will take place at the Springfield campus in ASC room 125.
Line Dancing
February 22 at 6 p.m. | Springfield Campus – LRC Room 207/209 (registration required*)
This event is open to the community.
Clark State will host a line dancing event, “Line Dancing with Jai.” Line Dancing is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. In Black culture, it can be viewed as an unspoken way Black people bond and socialize that's been around for centuries as many cultures used synchronized dancing to tell stories, conduct rituals, celebrate and connect. Join us for an evening of learning popular/current line dances with Dayton native, Jaizane “Jai” Russell. This event will take place at the Springfield main campus in LRC Room 207/209.
This event is free, but tips for the dance instructor are welcomed. Registration is recommended at: http://bit.ly/BHM-Line-Dancing
African American Read-In
February 29 at 11:30 a.m.
In collaboration with Clark State faculty member Tabitha Parker, there will be an African American Read-In. For this event, participants are to choose a text by an author who is Black, African American, or African descent, then read the text followed by a recap sharing their reading experience at the read-in. This read pays homage to the past and works to help ensure diverse voices are never silenced. This event will take place at the Springfield/Leffel Lane Campus in ASC Room 125.
To sign up as a reader for this event, please contact Tabitha Parker at parkett@clarkstate.edu
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About Clark State College
Founded in 1962, Clark State College has campuses in Springfield, Beavercreek, Xenia and Bellefontaine, Ohio. Clark State offers the latest associate and bachelor degrees, certificates and transfer options in more than 130 professional fields. The economic impact of Clark State on Champaign, Clark, Greene and Logan Counties is in excess of $161 million dollars annually. Enrollment is open year-round, and financial aid and Foundation scholarships are available for those who qualify. Registration for the next academic term is open at: https://slate.clarkstate.edu/portal/welcome