Lectures, Performances, and Happenings Take the Theme: Art & Soul of the African Diaspora

February 3, 2014

In February, Wellesley joins communities around the nation in celebrating Black History Month through a panoply of lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and more. Presented by Harambee House, the theme of this year’s celebrations is “Expressing Our Essence: Art and Soul in the African Diaspora.”

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. lecture will be delivered by Marc Lamont Hill, associate professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and professor in African American studies at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University. He will speak on race, politics, and American life. “We are looking forward to Dr. Hill’s presentation as he is among an elite group of public intellectuals who keep critical issues of race, power, and privilege at the forefront of mainstream discourse,” said Tracey Cameron, assistant dean of intercultural education, director of Harambee House, and advisor to students of African descent.

Other highlights of the month include a screening of Quentin Tarantino’s film Django Unchained (2012), with an accompanying discussion led by Matthew Blanton, visiting lecturer in history and American studies; a performance by award-winning spoken word artists T. Miller and Ebony Stewart; an African languages workshop hosted by the Wellesley African Students Association (WASA) as part of the Africa Week events, and many more.

Black History Month Events

February 1, 2 p.m
Django Unchained screening (organized by Film Society)
Discussion with Matthew Blanton, visiting lecturer in history and American studies
Collins Cinema

February 6, 5 p.m.
Race in America Panel
Professors Alex Orquiza, Miya Woolfalk, Irene Mata, Brenna Greer
Knapp Atrium

February 8
Black Excellence Gala (organized by Ethos)
Cocktail Hour: 6 p.m., Punch’s Alley
Dinner: 7 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Ballroom

Africa Week (organized by WASA)

February 10, 5 p.m.
Africa Week Boot Camp: African Languages Workshop
Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center, 4th Floor

February 11, 4:30 p.m.
Africans in America Panel
Harambee House

February 12, 12:30 p.m.
Between Worlds: Black Feminist Artists in the African Diaspora
With Nikki Greene, assistant professor of art
Harambee House

February 13, 8 p.m.
Proud to be Cape Verdean
Screening and discussion with director Mike Costa
Library Lecture Room

February 19, 7 p.m.
The Art & Soul of Chibuzo*
Jewett Auditorium

February 20, 6 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr., Lecture & Community Dinner (organized by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee)
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
Alumnae Ballroom

February 21, 7 p.m.
Harambee Coffeehouse
T. Miller and Ebony Stewart
Harambee House

February 25, 7-9 p.m.
Quintessence Day Lecture
Joan Morgan
Knapp Atrium

*Presented by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Wellesley as part of its Art & Soul program, a program developed to foster community exploration of spirituality and the arts at Wellesley. The event is cosponsored by the College’s Women’s & Gender Studies, Africana Studies, American Studies, and Music departments, along with the Treves Fund, and the Partnerships for Diversity & Inclusion at Wellesley College.