Black History Month Events Calendar

Join the Celebration!

In celebration of Black History Month, Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) presents cultural and community events that honor the achievements of Black people and the importance of civil rights in America.

EMCC will be hosting Black History Month events throughout February that feature learning, cultural experiences, film, art, and food. See below for the full calendar of events.

Join us as we kick off Black History Month with a special two-hour event at the Center for Teaching and Learning at our Avondale campus!

Southwest Black History Celebration, Feb 8, 11-4:30

This family-friendly community event will highlight black history, culture, and heritage in the Southwest Valley and feature food, crafts, vendor booths, and performances.

Celebrate the life and legacy of American hero and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This free event is open to students, employees, and the community (RSVP required).

Event Calendar

Event	Date	Time	Facilitators	Location
Black History Month Kick-Off Reception	Wed, 2/5	12pm - 2pm	EMCC - MCBAA	CTL
Birth of a Nation Film Screening I	Thurs, 2/6	1pm - 2:15pm	Mr. Alex Andrews	CTL - South
South Southwest Black History Community Celebration	Sat, 2/8	11am - 4:30pm	Ms. Linda Cutright	EMCC Ceremonial Plaza
Birth of a Nation Film Screening II	Tues, 2/11	1pm - 2:15pm	Mr. Alex Andrews	CTL- South
Old School v. New School: Bridging the Gap	Wed, 2/12	12pm - 2pm	Dr. Deborah Cotton	CTL - North
Presentation: Black Wall Street	Thurs, 2/13	1pm - 2:30pm	Mr. Rorvis Gilmore	Student Union
Trauma in the Black Community I	Tues, 2/18	11am - 1:30pm	Dr. Carlian Dawson	Plaza Gallery
Discussion on Microaggressions	Tues 2/25	11am - 1:30pm	Dr. Lewis Brownlee Mr. Daniel Meador	Student Union
MLK Luncheon	Wed, 2/26	12pm -1:30 pm	Student Life	Estrella Conf Center
What to Do When Stopped by Police?	Thurs, 2/27	11:30am-1pm	Mrs. Cheryl Gipson Thurman	CTL

For additional info, contact Najmah Muhammad at 623-935-8488 or Tulani Garnett 623-935-8802.

1976

Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976 to honor the accomplishments of Black people throughout American history.

Senator Shirley Chisholm working as a census taker in the 1970 census.

Did you know?

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to hold a seat in Congress in 1968 and worked as a census taker in the 1970 general census. She was also the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for President of the United States in 1972.

As a senator, Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation and championed racial and gender equality, the plight of the poor, and ending the Vietnam War.

Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair."

Did you know?

Robert Williams, the grandson of a former slave, was born in 1925 in Monroe, North Carolina. Williams was an American civil rights leader who believed in the right to self-defense against racist violence.

As early as the late 1940s, Williams was advocating armed self-reliance for migrant laborers and victims of civil rights abuses—views that were uncommon at the time among civil rights activists.

Williams once said, “Nowhere in the annals of history does the record show a people delivered from bondage by patience alone.”