Black History Month kicks off with breakfast at ECC
Elgin Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events starting with a breakfast on Friday, Jan. 29.
"We have a keynote speaker who is a professor from the University of Illinois Chicago, Dr. David Stovall, who will be speaking about the history of Black History Month," said Rudy Yanez, Student Life coordinator at ECC.
Stovall is a professor of Educational Policy Studies and African-American Studies who has been at UIC since 2000 and was raised on the South Side of Chicago. He has conducted research on such subjects as critical race theory, school-community relationships, youth culture and the relationship between housing and K-12 school systems.
Stovall will speak on the development of Black History Month and its continued relevance, citing such innovators as Carter G. Woodson, considered the father of Black History Month.
"The idea was to reframe what education meant for black people, and we very rarely discussed that. (Woodson's) point was black people had been excluded from many forms of education and, in many instances, put it upon themselves to educate themselves," Stovall said.
"So in the education of themselves, an importance piece would be to have themselves reflected in the curriculum as opposed to the larger shared racist narrative of deficit to combat this belief in the ability of black people to self-determine.
"Black History Month is not a relic of the past and, instead, something we need to pay attention to because all of the challenges to look at the future of black life as not something to attain, but to work in the present to build," Stovall added.
Other events in the monthlong celebration have been planned with diversity in mind.
"Our events are designated to provide some reflection, some open dialogue and positive examples of some historic events, some exemplary leaders and also some steps toward societal changes we can make," said Yanez.
A family event set for Saturday, Feb. 20, is new and will be geared toward education.
"The theme is to provide academic readiness and themed workshops for the families. We're providing breakout sessions for all different ages starting from kindergarten through parents. We're going to have different sessions appropriate for different age groups for the next level of school."
Gail Borden Library is collaborating with the college and will provide a workshop for kindergarten through grade five featuring crafts, stories and a movie.
"We've also got sixth- through eighth-grade students who will be learning about getting ready for high school and high school students will be getting ready for prepping for the ACT and applying for college," said Yanez.
"College students will be talking about scholarship workshops and how to prepare for the work field."
Panelists will be on hand to discuss careers where minorities are underserved, according to Yanez.
"We'll be highlighting ways to increase minorities in those fields and giving some strategies for entering those underrepresented fields," he said.
Another highlight will be a play, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," which was offered to the event by American Place Theater, a New York based, off-Broadway Theater company, according to Susanne Kepley, manager of marketing and patron services at the Elgin Community College Arts Center.
"It's part of their Literature to Life Series that turns books into performance," Kepley said.
"Harriet Ann Jacobs wrote a biography about her life that was published in 1861. It details her story growing up in slavery, culminating with the seven years she spent hiding in her grandmother's attic," Kepley said.
Winn Handman adapted the play and directs the stage presentations and is the co-founder of American Place Theater.
"We're excited to have this book here, especially during Black History Month," Kepley said. "They always do an amazing job of bringing a book to life. It's one actor and very minimal props. They perform, verbatim, sections of the book.
"They also send a teaching artist with the show to facilitate a conversation about the show, about the context of the book and the performance after the show," Kepley added.
The production will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the Second Space Theater in the Arts Center. Tickets are $25.
The documentary "Project 2-3-1" will be screened at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Building G, Spartan Auditorium. The movie documents African-American history in Elgin. Executive producer Ernie Broadnax will be available for a question-and-answer session after the film. A traveling exhibit on the subject matter will also be available.
Other events include an African-American Read-In on Feb. 10, a health fair Feb. 11, dance lessons on Feb. 17 and 24, and a program called "Challenging the New American Slavery" Feb. 18, which examines the structural forces that have sustained the prison industrial complex.
For details, visit elgin.edu/news.aspx?id=21545.
Mark your calendar: Black History Month events in Elgin
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and take place at Elgin Community College's main campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. For details, call the Office of Student Life at (847) 214-7425.
Kickoff breakfast: 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in the Building E dining room. Features keynote address by Dr. David Stovall. Tickets are $5; purchase at <a href="http://tickets.elgin.edu">tickets.elgin.edu</a>.
Black History Family Festival: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. This year's theme is Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories. Award-winning author and lecturer Glennette Tilly Turner will present her nationally recognized Underground Railroad research program. Also features Muntu Dance Theatre, a presentation of Future African American Leaders, Second Baptist's Church Sankofa Wax Museum's Exhibit to honor local African-American historians, children's crafts and stories, refreshments and more. Visit <a href="http://www.gailborden.info">www.gailborden.info</a>.
Documentary film screening: 12:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, Building G, Spartan Auditorium. "Project 2-3-1 Two Boxcars, Three Blocks, One City" documents the presence, heritage, and contributions of African-Americans in Elgin. Executive producer Ernie Broadnax will answer questions after the film.
Traveling exhibit: Jan. 26 to Feb. 23, "Project 2-3-1 Two Boxcars, Three Blocks, One City," Building B, Jobe Lounge. Details the development of the African-American community in Elgin and highlights individuals who made a difference in each generation.
African-American Read-In: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, Building C Library, Room C120. Readers share selected works from African-American writers. Music, refreshments, and raffle prizes will be available.
Health Fair: Noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, Building B, Jobe Lounge. Free health screenings will be provided.
Dance workshop: Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 17 and 24, Building B, Jobe Lounge. Learn the cha-cha, wobble, cupid shuffle, biker shuffle, nae-nae, and more.
Challenging the New American Slavery: 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, Building B Heritage Room (Room B180). This workshop will examine the structural forces that have sustained the Prison Industrial Complex. The Prison Industrial Complex is the system set up to supply prisoners for the benefit of business. The creation of the ghetto and the structural forces that impact its growth will also be examined.
We Are Family: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, Building E, Dining Room. College readiness workshop for the entire family. Free; includes lunch. Arrive by 9:30 a.m. and R.S.V.P. to ryanez@elgin.edu.
Soul Stories: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Building B, Jobe Lounge. Share your family stories in a welcoming and supportive environment.
'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl': 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, Building H, Arts Center Second Space Theater. This stage presentation tells Harriet Jacobs' story of growing up in slavery, culminating with the seven years she spent hiding in her grandmother's attic. Tickets are $25. To purchase, visit <a href="">tickets.elgin.edu</a>.