Community gears up to celebrate black history month

BARSTOW • The community will have a chance to celebrate Black History Month with songs, speeches, poems and food starting Thursday.

Barstow Community College will be holding a series of events throughout February to commemorate the work of African Americans throughout history and will kick-off on Thursday highlighting members of the college campus — from administrators to students — as well as the wider community.

Dr. Antoinette Wheeler, BCC’s vice president of academic affairs, will be headlining as the main speaker. The college ASB chose Wheeler to address community members at the event in order to highlight one of the newer administrators on campus, said Matt Mendibles, ASB president.

“She’s still gaining her presence on campus,” said Mendibles. Members of the Church of God in Christ will grace the celebration with choir and solo performances and students will read original poems, Mendibles said.

Honoring African American contributions to society and culture began as a recognition week that expanded into Black History Month, a federally recognized, nation-wide celebration, in 1976.

BCC and other community groups will continue to hold events throughout the month, including mid-day talks on influential time periods and historical African American figures at the college. Mark Cauble, history and humanities instructor, will spotlight human rights activist Malcom X by screening parts of a biographical documentary on the leader and comparing it to actual footage of Malcom X giving speeches. English professor Dale Jensen will present on the artistic explosion during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. He aims to show the accomplishments of the black community that may have gotten lost in the past.

“I hope that they see we have a rich history of African American artists,” said Jensen. “Oftentimes they have been neglected.”

The local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter will focus on informing youth of traffic laws to keep them safe at their annual Taste-o-rama event, according to President Essie Jackson. Capt. Wayne Bridges of the California Highway Patrol will be speaking about new laws. “Our youth are sometimes the last ones to know about what the laws are,” Jackson said.

The event will also feature a spread of soul food including fried chicken, sweet potatoes and collared greens, but also traditional items that may be less familiar like pig’s feet, Jackson noted.

“Soul food comes from the way that it’s prepared,” she said.

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Black History Month Kick-off Celebration
Where: Barstow Community College, interim performing arts center, 2700 Barstow Road.
When: Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: Free to the public.

Events the rest of the month:

Taste-o-rama
Feb. 20, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Brown fellowship hall, 1364 Riverside Drive.
The local NAACP chapter will host keynote speaker Capt. Wayne Bridges of the California Highway Patrol. There will also be a sampling of soul food and home-made dessert auction.

Brotherhood event
Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Union Missionary Baptist Church, 1360 Riverside Drive.
A dozen area churches will gather to sing, read poems and celebrate the community. Refreshments will be served afterwards by the Art’s Industrial Women’s and Men’s Club. Open to the public.

Malcom X
Feb. 24, 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
BCC classroom B18.
Instructor Mark Cauble will be presenting on the life of human rights activist Malcom X, showing film clips and having a question and answer session.

Harlem Renaissance
Feb. 25, 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
BCC interim performing arts center.
Instructors Dale Jensen and Lewis Goldstein will talk about literature and the arts during the Harlem Renaissance and showing a slide presentation of artwork.