February is Black History Month, and both the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo communities offer a number of learning opportunities, celebrations and other ways to participate. United Way invites you to not only take the opportunity to celebrate African-American art, history, and culture this month, but also to continue year-round to acknowledge past and present contributions to our communities. The following list includes events in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo that unless otherwise noted are free and open to the public.
[su_heading size=”18″]Battle Creek [/su_heading]
- Feb. 7
“Alice’s Ordinary People”
Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Willard Library Meeting Room, 7 W. Van Buren St.
About: Film showing and discussion with Craig Dudnick, who produced this documentary telling the story of Alice Tregay. - Feb. 10
Friday Film Series
“Black America since MLK: And Still I Rise” – Hour Two: “Move On Up”
Details: 1-3 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 16 E. Van Buren St.
About: Week 2 of a four-week series. Each installment also stands alone. - Feb. 13
Sacred Conversations on Race Open House
Details: 7-8:30 p.m., Kool Family Community Center, 200 West Michigan Ave.
About: Sacred Conversations brings people together to form small interracial groups for dialogue on issues of race. - Feb. 15
“Olympic Pride, American Prejudice”
Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lakeview High School Black Box Theatre, 15060 Helmer Rd. S.
About: Film screening and discussion with writer/director Deborah Riley Draper. The film details the experiences of 18 African-American Olympians at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. - Feb. 16
Panel Discussion: “The Journey to Selma, Alabama”
Details: 7-8:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 145 Capital Ave. NE - Feb. 17
Friday Film Series: “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise” – Hour 3: “Keep Your Head Up”
Details: 1-3 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., Second Baptist Church, 485 N. Washington Ave.
About: Week 3 of a four-week series. - Feb. 18
Special Presentation: “Friends of Sojourner Truth”
Details: 3-4 p.m., Battle Creek Regional History Museum, 307 Jackson St. W.
About: Presentation features Beverly Fish of Ypsilanti. - Feb. 22
Film Screening and Discussion: “42: The Jackie Robinson Story”
Details: 6:30-9 p.m., Harper Creek High School Auditorium, 1277 Beadle Lake Rd. - Feb. 23
Black History Month Program: “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”
Details: 10-11 a.m., HDI Federal Center Palm Garden Room, 74 North Washington Ave.
About: Guest speaker will be Dorothy James, Civil Rights Activist and National VP AFGE District 7, Chicago. - Feb. 23
“The Legacy of Sojourner Truth: A portrayal of Sojourner Truth” by actress Dr. Daisy Century
Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Kellogg Community College’s Davidson Theater.
About: This performance tells the story of Sojourner Truth’s live from beginning to end. - Feb. 24
Friday Film Series: “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise” – Hour 4: “Touch the Sky”
Details: 1-3 p.m., First Congregational Church, 145 Capital Ave NE.
About: Week 4 of a four-week series. - Feb. 24
Art of Soul Motown Concert
Details: 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 111 East Michigan Ave.
About: Local artists will recreate the music of Motown. - Feb. 25
Black History Month Celebration: “Know the Past, Shape the Future”
Details: 12 p.m. movie, 2 p.m. program; Faith Temple COGIC, 382 Washington Ave.
About: This program features a movie, Shabazz Academy dancers and a taste of soul food. - Feb. 26
“Together, We Shall Overcome: An Experience of Unity, Empowerment and Hope”
Details: 7:30-8:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 111 East Michigan Ave.
About: This interactive program is designed for any audience, aimed at amplifying a message of unity.[su_heading size=”18″]Kalamazoo [/su_heading]
- Feb. 9-12
“Detroit ’67”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-11; 12 p.m. Feb. 12; Epic Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.
About: This production is presented by the Black Arts & Cultural Center’s Face Off Theatre Company. - Feb. 16
ARTbreak: “Establishing a Second Space: Richard Hunt and Michigan”
Details: Noon, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
About: Tami Miller, Director of Art and Education at the Krasl Art Center, will discuss the work of Richard Hunt. - Feb. 17
Black Joy Bash
Details: 6-9 p.m., WMU Global Lounge, Bernhard Center, 1903 W. Michigan Ave.
About: Event presented by the Black Arts & Cultural Center includes Black Card Revoked Tournament and screening of “Southside With You.” - Feb. 17
Kalamazoo Legacy Ball
Details: 6-8:30 p.m., Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave.
About: Program includes student scholarship, community awards program. Tickets are $55, available online athttp://ow.ly/JFWt308JiHe. - Feb. 18
“Get the Picture” Gallery Talk
Details: Noon, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
About: Talk centers around the work “Altar” by Jamaican-born artist Keith Morrison. Included with museum admission. - Feb. 21
National African American Read-In
Details: 4-6 p.m., Kalamazoo Library Powell Branch, 1000 W. Paterson.
About: Families can read, listen and share books written by African-American authors. - Feb. 25
“Royal Gold: Art, Power, and Politics”
Details: 6:30 p.m., Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
About: Dr. Nii Quarcoopome, Curator of African Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, will discuss the role of gold in Asante history and culture. - Feb. 28
Film viewing and discussion: “Hidden Colors 2: The Triumph of Melanin”
Details: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.
About: Free admission for Black Arts & Cultural Center members, $5 for non-members. - Feb. 28
Black Lives Matter Exhibit & Reception
Details: 6-7 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Library Alma Powell Branch/Barnabee Gallery, 1000 W. Paterson.
About: Reception will feature artists Gerald King and Kierstin Arnett.
