Black History Month 2022

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans to culture and society. Austin Community College District (ACC) commemorates the month with a series of in-person and hybrid events along with profiles. Events are free and open to the community. Please check back here throughout the month as more events are added.

2023 Theme: Black Resistance: How the movement shaped Black Representation, Diversity, and Identity
This year’s theme is Black Resistance: How the movement shaped Black Representation, Diversity, and Identity. All events are sponsored by the College, the ACC Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center, and the ACC African-American Cultural Center and the Office of Student Life.

2023 Black History Month Events

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Black History Month 2023 Essay Contest: Black Resistance

Contest Regulations

All essays must comply with the following contest rules before submission:

  • Contestants must be current ACC students enrolled for the Spring 2023 semester.
  • Only one (1) essay may be submitted by each contestant. No literary form other than an essay will be accepted.
  • Essay submissions must reflect the contestant’s own research, writing, and original thinking.
  • The essay must be typed and its length should not exceed 500 words. The essay should utilize 12-point font, single-sided, numbered pages with one-inch margins.
  • Title page text will not be included in the essay’s word count; title page must include the following information:
    • Essay title (Black Resistance: How the movement shaped Black Representation, Diversity, and Identity)
    • Author’s name
    • Student ID number
    • ACC email address
    • Phone number
    • References should be cited, included, and clearly identified.
    • Essays must be received by 12pm on February 20, 2023:
      e-mail, dkinney@austincc.edu *Essays will be judged on comprehension, organization, creativity, and writing.

$50 & $25 prize will be awarded to the top two essays, respectively.

Winners will be announced during the Salon/Barbershop talk event on February 23, 2023.

HBCU Alumni and Student Networking Event

Date: Thursday, February 23rd, 2023
Time: 12:00pm- 1:30pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus — Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center, Building 4000, Room 4.2205  & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitator: HBCU Alumni
Description: ACC Transfer Services in collaboration with BRASS will be hosting a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Alumni and Student Networking Event. Please join us to learn more about HBCUs, networking, and lunch.

Register Here to let us know if you plan to attend.

Trailblazing with the Divine 9

Date: Thursday, February 23rd, 2023
Time: 6:30pm- 8:30pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus— Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitator: Dr. Khayree Williams
Description: Join us for an in-person panel discussion with representatives from every D9 organization; hear what they have to say about the impact of historical trailblazers from each of their organizations as well as their organization’s impact on the Black community and culture.

RSVP Here

Changing Histories: Black Misrepresentation and the Movement

Date: Wednesday, February 8th, 2023
Time: 11am- 1:00pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus— HLC4 1000 C
Facilitator: Corey Greathouse
Description: Dr. Jasmine Harris, Director of the African American Studies Program and UTSA will share thoughts on how the African diaspora has shaped the representation and identity of the black community and culture in the Americas.

ACC Presents: Kickoff for 2023 Black History Month

Date: Wednesday, February 1st, 2023
Time: 11:00am- 4:00pm
Location: ACC Highland — Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center
Facilitator(s): TBA
Description: Help us to launch the start of Black History Month 2023! Join us for fellowship and good vibes with the ACC family and members of the Greater Austin community. This year we are focusing on the Black Resistance movement and its everlasting impact–see you there!

Pelo Malo (Bad Hair) 2013

Date: Wednesday, February 8th, 2023
Time: noon- 2:00 PM
Location: El Centro, Riverside campus, Building G, Room 9143
Facilitator: Gary Moreno, PhD
Description: A nine-year-old boy from Caracas, Venezuela becomes obsessed with straightening his hair. This leads his mother into a homophobic panic as she believes her son is gay.

ACC BHM presents: The Core Ensemble, “Of Ebony Embers – Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance”

The Core Ensemble, “Of Ebony Embers – Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance” in sponsorship with the ACC Music, Business, Performance and Technology/ Arts, Digital Media Communications

Date: Wednesday, February 8th, 2023
Time: 6:00pm- 8:30pm
Location: ACC Highland Music Performance Hall & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitator(s): TBA
Description: The Core Ensemble created a unique performance format, called Chamber Music Theatre, which they describe as “the marriage of theatrical narrative to chamber music performance.” The inspirational lives of African-American poets Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay and more, as seen through the eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas, will be highlighted throughout their performance. The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk and Charles Mingus in addition to concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker. The event is free and open to the public.

Watch the Ebony Embers Trailer

The Contemporary Print 2023 Opening Reception

Date: Saturday, February 11th, 2023
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: ACC Highland — The Art Galleries (TAG)
Facilitator(s): TAG Staff
Description: The Art Galleries (TAG) at ACC and Print Austin are hosting an Opening Reception on Saturday, February 11 for their collaborative exhibition, The Contemporary Print 2023.

The Opening Reception will be from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and is free and open to the public. At the reception, visitors will be offered a glimpse into this exhibition which includes 50 artists’ works that feature traditional techniques and innovative practice in contemporary printmaking.

Refreshments and music by ACC Music students will be provided.

The exhibition takes place in Gallery 2000 of our Highland Campus (HLC 2.2450), and the reception takes place just downstairs from the Gallery in our reception area.

 

RSVP Here

Salon/Barbershop Talk: How comfortable are you in your skin?!

Date: Monday, February 13th, 2023
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus— Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitators: Darrell Merriweather & Laurin Lewis
Description: So..how comfortable are you in your skin?! There are no right or wrong answers. Let’s have a conversation about self-confidence, embracing your authentic self, and truly loving the skin you’re in. This is a completely safe space where you can open up if you feel so inclined.

You Will Die At Twenty

Date: Wednesday, February 15th, 2023
Time: 6:00pm- 7:30pm
Location: Zoom
Facilitators: Dr. Mark Cunningham
Description: A moving meditation on what it means to live in the present, You Will Die at Twenty is an auspicious debut and Sudan’s first Oscar submission, Shortly after his birth, the holy man of the village predicts that Muzamil will die at age 20. His father, unable to stand the curse, leaves home forcing Sakina to raise her son as an overly protective single mother.

Learn more and Register

ACC BHM: Celebration of the Arts

Date: Thursday, February 9th, 2023
Time: 6:00pm- 8:30pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus (Building 4000–lower level) & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitators: Jason Brown & Brandon Thornton
Description: Last year we hosted a virtual art walk, where we showcased visual pieces from ACC students, and we also hosted a separate event dedicated to poetry. This year, we want to do it again, and we want to provide space for all art forms and all members of the ACC community! Therefore, we have combined both into one blowout event as an opportunity for students as well as faculty and staff to share expressions through art, music, and poetry related to Black History Month. Come through!

The Snow

The Snow: by Finegan Kruckemeyer– Directed by Jamie Rogers

Date: Thursday, February 16th, 2023 – Saturday, March 5th 2023
Time: Thursday & Friday 7:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday 2:00 PM
Location: HLC2 Black Box Theater
Description: When an epic snowfall imprisons the residents of the tiny village of Kishka, young Theodore Sutton proposes the villagers build a catapult to fling him and six of the village’s bravest and strongest out in search of a solution. The catapult hastily assembled, Theodore and the heroes are launched over the snow and into the grandest of adventures. Whimsical and humorous, dark and mysterious, heartfelt and sincere, this play weaves a fantastical Grimmsian tale for the entire family. (Show recommended for ages 8 to Adult)

Tickets are on sale! All ticket sales go directly to ACC Drama & Dance Scholarship fund.

The Snow Tickets

 

Chico y Rita 2011

Date: Tuesday, February 21st
Time: 3:00pm -5:00pm
Location: El Centro, Riverside campus, Building G, Room 9143
Facilitator: Gary Moreno, PhD
Description: An Oscar nominated animated feature set in pre-Revolutionary Cuba. Chico, a piano player, and Rita, a singer, develop a romance that spans their careers as performers of heartbreaking bolero ballads.

Cooking Soul…the sequel! Featuring Chef Bryant Currie

Date: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023
Time: noon – 2:00 pm
Location: ACC Highland Campus– Culinary Department & Virtual Live Stream
Facilitator: Chef Bryant Currie
Description: Last year, Chef Currie blessed us with an incredible and unforgettable soul food demo..so, you know we had to bring him back! This year, Chef Currie will provide an equally engaging segment. You won’t want to miss it!!!

RSVP Here

Books, Articles, Movies Oh My!

ACC Library Services has all the resources YOU need for personal enrichment during Black History Month. “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela.

Learn More

MasterClass for BHM!

MasterClass is offering a free course for Black History Month called “The History You Weren’t Taught In School – Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love”. 

Learn More

Share Your Thoughts

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