Black History Month 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Immediate: January 7, 2009Contact: Alicia Steger 516.572.9634e-mail: alicia.steger@ncc.edu

The Nassau Community College Black History Month Committee Presents: Black History Month 2009

Garden City, New York  During the month of February, the Nassau Community College Black History Month Committee will present a month of programs and events in tribute to African American achievements in America. All programs, except for the play On Strivers Row, will take place in the College Center Building, and are free, open to the public and accessible to the disabled. For more information, please call Dean Charmian Smith at 516.572.7376.

January 23 to 25 and January 28 to February 1  On Strivers Row  On Strivers Row is a satire of the Harlem society that resided on the very elegant Strivers Row in the 1940s. Performances, which are at the NCC Little Theatre, are at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. To order tickets, call the Theatre Box Office at 516.572.7676.

Tues., Feb. 3 10:00 a.m. In Search of Knowledge, a lecture by photo historian Beatrice “Bea” Joyner   Joyner will discuss the literary contributions of Alice Walker, Walter Mosley, Toni Morrison, Chinua Achebe, August Wilson, Edwidge Danticat, James Baldwin, among others. 11:30-1:00 p.m. Open Reading  featuring works by Alice Walker, Malcolm X, Toni Morrison, Arlene Coleman, Frederick Douglass and original works by students, faculty and staff. 1:00 p.m.  Poetry Reading by Dr. Lindamichellebaron (spelling is correct), who has received numerous awards as an educator, inspirational speaker and performing artist. She was recently honored with the official designation, Village Griot (storyteller) of Hempstead. Her books include: The Sun is On, Rhythm & Dues and For the Love of Life.

Thurs., Feb. 5 at 11:30 a.m.  Talib Kweli  Kweli, a hip-hop artist and activist, has played a major part in bringing spirituality and social conscience back to hip-hop. He made a name for himself when he joined with Mos Def to form Black Star, which converted Brooklyn's oldest black-owned bookstore into the Nkiru Center for Education & Culture. Black Star also released such albums as Reflection Eternal, The Beautiful Struggle and Right About Now. Kweli has since co-launched the music label Blacksmith Music and released the album With Ear Drum.

Mon., Feb. 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Before They Die  The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot  Reginald Turner and Dr. Olivia J. Hooker  On May 31, 1921, an incident in an elevator lit the spark that resulted in the destruction of Greenwood, Oklahoma, the most successful black community in the history of this country. In a little over 18 hours, more than 300 were killed, 10,000 were left homeless and thousands of homes and businesses were looted, burned or bombed. There are fewer than 80 survivors of these tragic events; no survivors ever received any compensation from the government. The screening of this film will be followed by a talk with filmmaker Reginald Turner and Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, a 90-year-old survivor. This event is sponsored by the NCC Cultural Program.

Tues., Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m.  Barack & Curtis: Manhood, Power & Respect  Filmmaker Byron Hurt created this short documentary examining the contrasting styles of manhood exhibited by Barack Obama and rapper/mogul Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent. The ten-minute film will be followed by a discussion with Hurt.

Wed., Feb. 25 at 12:30 p.m.  Keith Robinson's Film October 16 Robinson wrote and directed this short film about an up and coming songwriter who struggles with the approaching first anniversary of his younger brother's death in Iraq. October 16 was selected for Black Entertainment Television's Best Shorts Film Showcase. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Robinson.

Thurs., Feb. 26 at 11:30 a.m. Actress and Fashion Model Yaya DaCosta Preservation: of Self, of Culture, of Earth Camara “Yaya” DaCosta, the runner up in cycle three of America's Next Top Model, has been acting since she was 11 years old. After graduating from Brown University where she studied International Relations and Africana Studies, DaCosta heeded the prompting of friends who encouraged her to try out for the program. Since then, she secured a contract with the prestigious Ford Agency and has revisited acting, being cast in several roles on television, movies and the stage.

Feb. 2-Feb. 27, College Center Building Lobby  Art Exhibit featuring African Stone Art by Masimba.

About Nassau Community College Nassau Community College, a division of the State University of New York, is an institution where over 22,000 full- and part-time students and 15,000 continuing and professional students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. More than 60 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State, Nassau Community College maintains a national reputation for excellence.

Ref. 1228.1/7/09/180