Mohawk Valley Community College will host several events in honor of Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history and culture. The events were organized by the MVCC Cultural Series, MVCC Program Board, and MVCC Student Activities. The events are:
“African Soul International”: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Alumni College Center Commons at the Utica Campus. This performance will trace the roots of music and song to Africa and the vestiges of them through various dances in the United States and Caribbean islands. The voyage will end with today’s hip-hop, inviting the audience to participate in a call and response of Nas’ motivational song, “I Know I Can,” in three African native tongues. Admission is free.
“Of Ebony and Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance,” with The Core Ensemble: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in Schafer Theater, Wilcox Hall, at the Utica Campus. This performance of a chamber music theater work celebrates the lives of great African-American poets Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay as seen through the eyes of muralist and painter Aaron Douglas (text is by Akin Babatunde). The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk, and Charles Mingus, as well as concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker. Admission is $5 general and $2 for MVCC employees.
Black History Super Bowl: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, Plumley Complex room 150, Rome Campus. Do you know your Black history? Prove it by taking part in this game show with more than $300 in prizes. Admission is free.
Black History Month Luncheon: Noon Thursday, Feb. 20, Alumni College Center room 116, Utica Campus. Admission is $5 general and $2 for MVCC employees.
Tickets for all Cultural Series events can be purchased in person at the MVCC Box Office, Francis A. Wilcox Hall room 106, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, and at the College Stores on the Utica and Rome Campuses; online any time at mvcc.edu/tickets; or by phone at 315-731-5721. The Series is brought to you by MVCC’s Cultural Events Council, in collaboration with MVCC’s Program Board, with support from the Student Activity Fee. For the complete series lineup and ticket sales, visit mvcc.edu/campus-events.