2020 Black History Month
The University of Missouri celebrates Black history and culture with Black History Month in February. The theme for 2020 is: “Black Vote/Black Liberation.”
The intersectional themes of black voting and liberation are complex and global for people of African descent. Issues related to the two-party system, proportional representation, Pan-African ideals, and competing concepts of “democracy” have challenged any simple notions of what “black voting” signifies in 2020. Therefore, this year’s Black History Month theme: Black Vote/Black Liberation celebrates the ongoing struggle for Black Liberation and its changing sociocultural and political patterns and migrations of Africa and throughout the Diaspora.
Key aspects of the black liberation include but are not limited to: #mublackstudiesmatter50, #concernedstudent1950-2015, #blackstudies360, #5yearslater, #blackwomenssuffragematters.
Add your events to our collection by emailing diversity@missouri.edu!
Month-long
- Exhibition “U.S. Cartoonists Chronicle the History of African American Voting Rights”: Ellis Library. Partners include the State Historical Society of Missouri and University Libraries.
Feb. 3
- Am I Black Enough panel discussion: 6-8 p.m. in The Shack.
Feb. 5
- Student Forum with Jamaican Prime Minister: Doors at 11 a.m., forum from noon-2 p.m. at Monsanto Auditorium of the Bond Life Sciences Center. This event is free and open to all students, ID required. For security, bags will not be permitted in the room.
- Focus On Africa: Noon-1 p.m. in Memorial Union South 304. Event will feature Elizabeth Kaganda (Gender; Cross Cultural Relations and African Cultural Studies) and Debra Mason (When Faith, Human Rights and Journalism Collide: Case Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa. Event is free and open to the public, and food is provided. Sponsored by African Interdisciplinary Studies Hub, Office of Research and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources International Programs.
Feb. 6
- Jamaican Prime Minister Presentation: Doors at 4 p.m., lecture at 5 p.m. at Monsanto Auditorium of the Bond Life Sciences Center. Registration required. Please note that for security, bags will not be permitted.
Please join us for an interesting evening featuring a presentation given by the Most Honorable Andrew Michael Holness, ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica. He will give a talk entitled “The State of Constitutional Democracy in Jamaica and the Caribbean.” Learn more about the event.
Sponsored by Black Studies, Black History Month Committee, Economics, Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, International Programs, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (IDE), UM System Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Law, Arts & Science, History, Peace Studies’ Gertrude Marshall Fund, Political Science, Truman School of Public Affairs and Phi Beta Kappa.
Feb. 7
- Black AIDS Day: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center (GOBCC). Informational session about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and get confidential HIV testing by the Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. Sponsored by the GOBCC, Mizzou Black Mizzou Men’s Initiative, Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative, and Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services.
- Documentary premiere of “Fatima Patterson: Race, Gender and Theater”: 4:30-6 p.m. in 133 Mumford Hall. Presentation of the personal and artistic journey of Fátima de la Caridad Patterson (Santiago de Cuba 1951), storyteller, actress, theater director, and playwright. Sponsored by the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and the Cambio Center.
Feb. 9
- Brilliantly Black Brush and Brunch: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Memorial Union’s Stotler Lounge. An event designed to recognize students, faculty, and staff for their work. A highlight to this event is the opportunity to create your own work of art while mingling with others. Sponsored by the GOBCC, Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) and Mizzou NAACP.
Feb. 12
- NYT’s Project 1619 — The Founding Ideas of America: Noon-1 p.m. in Hill Hall 314. Registration required. Hosted by IDE’s Office of Inclusive Engagement for the Spring 2020 Core Concepts Series. The purpose of the series is to provide members of the Mizzou community with a foundational understanding of essential ideas to promote diversity and inclusion at Mizzou.
- Visual Art and Design Showcase: 5-6 p.m. at Jesse Auditorium. Dr. Craig Wilkins will be the keynote speaker for a lecture aiming to empower marginalized communities and individuals through design.
- NAACP Image Awards: 6-9 p.m. at Memorial Union’s Stotler Lounge. Join Mizzou NAACP as they celebrate and honor individuals who promote social justice and diversity at the University of Missouri. RSVP required.
Feb. 13
- Reverencing Toni Morrison — Thinking, Writing, and Loving Morrison: 1:30-6 p.m. at the Alumni Faculty Lounge, third floor Memorial Union South. This tribute honors Morrison with several events: Thinking Morrison (2-3 p.m.); Writing Morrison (4-5 p.m.); Book Signing (4:30-5:30 p.m.); and Loving Morrison Reception (5-6 p.m.). Sponsored by English and Black Studies.
- Black Enterprise: 6-8 p.m. in Stotler Lounge of Memorial Union.
- Film screening of The Colors from Heaven: 6-9 p.m. in Jesse Wrench Auditorium. Trivia about South Africa. Food and drinks provided. Students can win prizes. Sponsored by Africa Hub.
Feb. 14
- Distinguished Lecture “Black Lives Are Historic” from Dr. Teresa Barnes: 2-3 p.m. at the Alumni Faculty Lounge, third floor Memorial Union South. Sponsored by Black Studies. Dr. Barnes is a professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the departments of History and Gender/Women’s Studies and the Director of the Center for African Studies.
Feb. 18
- Dr. C.W. Dawson: 3-4:30 p.m. at 114A Ellis Library. Presentation examining the role of the church in the struggle for the black vote and black liberation. Sponsored by Black Studies and University Libraries.
- HOODIE Documentary Screening: 6-8 p.m. at the GOBCC. HOODIE takes aim at African American males who are racially stereotyped and profiled by those from other cultures as well as law enforcement because they are wearing a hoodie.
Feb. 19
- African American Voting Rights — American Cartoonists Address the Issue: 4-5:30 p.m. at 114A Ellis Library. “Inspired by the 2020 national theme of Black History Month, The Vote, this lecture will explore 20th-century editorial cartoons that address the issue of African American voting rights. Joan Stack, Curator of Art Collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri, will discuss how editorial cartoonists throughout the U.S. have addressed the issue in their cartoons over the course of the 20th century. Among the images discussed will be artworks in the collection of SHSMO on display at Ellis Library in the exhibition: U.S Cartoonists Chronicle the History of African American Voting Rights.” Sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri and University Libraries.
Feb. 21-22
- Africa Fest 2020: events hosted by AGPSA, including an African Market and Dance Class on Feb. 21 and a music, dance and drum performance on Feb. 22.
Feb. 25
- Keith Boykin, Black History Month Speaker: 6:30 p.m. in Stotler Lounge of Memorial Union.
Feb. 26
- Lecture “Voyage into the Matrix of Race & the Truly Determined”: 7-8:30 p.m. in 114A Ellis Library. Professor Rodney Coates examines the complexities of institutional racism and offers techniques for dealing with them. Sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, Black Studies and University Libraries.
- Queer, Black and Invisible Panel Discussion: 7-8:30 p.m. in the GOBCC Multipurpose Room. Join us for a discussion on the intersection of black and queer identities from a variety of speakers.
Feb. 27
- Identity, Defensiveness, and White Fragility: Noon-1:30 p.m. in Lafferre Hall W0009. Registration required. Host by IDE’S Office of Inclusive Engagement for the Spring 2020 Inclusion and Belonging Series. The purpose of the series is to nurture personal, professional and community development to enhance belonging at Mizzou. The series seeks to create spaces for participants to develop inclusive strategies and deepen community connections on campus.
- Reparations Panel/Presentation: 1-4 p.m. in 114A Ellis Library. A panel of scholars will look at the problems posed by the question of reparations, one of the most contentious and championed causes of our time. Sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, Black Studies and University Libraries.
Feb. 28
- Black Essence Expo #MUBlackFriday: 5:30 p.m. at the MU Student Center
- Student Center Takeover: 6 p.m.-midnight at the Student Center. Join the Legion of Black Collegians among other student and community organizations as we take over the MU Student Center, celebrating Black history through music, entertainment, and food. There will be various activities available that provide insight into the many accomplishments and achievements of Black people across the Diaspora, as well as games, good food, and great music. Sponsored by LBC, Mizzou After Dark, GOBCC, ZouSoul, FYE, Loose-Loose, Student Affairs, IDE, Association of Black Graduate and Professional Students, Black Studies and the Black History Month Committee.
- Just Mercy film screening: 8 p.m. at Jesse Wrench Auditorium of Memorial Union.
Feb. 29
- Black History & Culture Trivia Night: 6-8:30 p.m. in the Friends Room of Daniel Boone Regional Library. Join celebrity emcee Dr. Cynthia Frisby of the MU School of Journalism, and friends from the MU and Daniel Boone Regional Libraries for a fun and competitive celebration of African-American history and culture. Supper at 6 p.m., trivia commences at 6:30 p.m. Expect music questions in multiple genres, local and world history, sports, art, literature and more. Don’t worry if you don’t know much; mulligans will be available! We’ll provide a light dinner for all, and prizes for the winning teams. The public library will be open JUST for this special event! Sponsored by Daniel Boone Regional Library, University Libraries and Columbia Honda.
- Just Mercy film screening: 8 p.m. at Jesse Wrench Auditorium of Memorial Union.