Black History Month 2024
The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs and Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) invite the University community to celebrate Black History Month by participating in a series of virtual and in-person events. Each February we acknowledge the history, achievements and contributions of people of African descent through the development and implementation of various programs and events. This year’s theme is "African Americans and the Arts," which attempts to highlight the ways in which art is used to preserve history and community memory as well as for empowerment. We hope you'll join us!
*Free and open to the public. Events not marked with an asterisk are open only to the Northeastern Illinois University community.
Upcoming Events
Past events
Black History Month kick-off: Soul food dinner with musical performers
Thursday, Feb. 1
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Alumni Hall
Join us for a soul food dinner. Our guest speaker will be Obari Cartman, Ph.D. Dr. Cartman is the current president of the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists and one of the nation’s premier experts on the mental health and cultural identity of young Black men.
A Conversation with Arika Brittany, author of "Don’t Ever Work in Childcare!: A Cautionary Tale"*
Monday, Feb. 5
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Pedroso Center (B 159)
Arika Brittany is a NEIU student in the M.A. Urban Community Studies at CCICS. She is the author of "Don’t Ever Work in Childcare!: A Cautionary Tale," a fictional story about a young woman navigating the unexpected challenges of a career in childcare. Brittany will discuss her book, career path, experiences as a NEIU graduate student and words of wisdom for students in an evening at the Pedroso Center with the University community.
Movie of the week: "Do the right thing"
Wednesday, Feb. 7
3:00 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Movie of the week: "They Cloned Tyrone"
Wednesday, Feb. 14
3:00 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Movie screening: "Mo' Better Blues"
Join us with this special screening of the Spike Lee Joint classic that stars Cynda Williams, who will also be an in-person panelist at our Feb. 19 Black Professionals Fair.
Thursday, Feb. 15
1:00-3:30 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
CCICS Community Night*
Thursday, Feb. 15
5:30-7:30 p.m.
CCICS
700 E. Oakwood Blvd. (Lobby, Lower Level Conference Room)
CCICS invites the University community and general public to their Community Night. Come and see what CCICS has to offer in 2024! Meet staff and faculty and learn about our academic programs, financial aid, scholarship opportunities and take a tour.
Advance sign-up is recommended to attend.
Black love & heritage: pop up marketplace*
Saturday, Feb. 17
11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
CCICS
700 E. Oakwood Blvd.
CCICS invites you to celebrate with us at the Black Love & Heritage Pop-Up Marketplace. Shop, connect and build with the village and rediscover CCICS. Buy Black as we commemorate Black love and culture! Listen to Afro-House rhythms with DJ Obatala and explore the offerings of local Chicago artists and entrepreneurs.
For more information, contact Akua Cason at a-cason@neiu.edu.
Black Women's Healing Retreat
Monday, Feb. 19
9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
CCICS
700 E. Oakwood Blvd. (Lobby, Lower Level Conference Room, Classrooms, Donald F. Bailey Legacy Hall)
An estimated eight out of 10 Black women have experienced some form of trauma, including intergenerational trauma, childhood trauma, abusive relationships, pregnancy trauma. (Source: "Examining the Emotional Lives of Black Women")
Black identifying Northeastern women (students, faculty, staff) are invited to attend a day of workshops and activities focusing on Black women's healing. This will be a space for creating self-love and self-care. Participants will work collectively to find ways to develop physical and mental wealth strategies to navigate higher education. The day will focus on creating balance from a holistic approach to support the mind, body and spirit.
For more information, contact Akua Cason at a-cason@neiu.edu.
Black professionals Fair*
Monday, Feb.19
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Seven Black professionals from different professional fields will share with students, staff, faculty and community members the details of their work and the highs and lows of their careers. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about these individuals and the ways in which they find fulfillment in their life’s work. At the conclusion of the panel discussion, panelists will make themselves available for brief interpersonal conversations with audience.
For more information contact Dr. DeWitt Scott at dt-scott@neiu.edu.
Movie of the week: "Chi-raq"
Wednesday, Feb. 21
3:00 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Film screening: "The watermelon woman"
Thursday, Feb. 22
4:15-6:30 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Black Heritage Awards
Friday, Feb. 23
6:00-9:00 p.m.
CCICS
700 E. Oakwood Blvd. (Lobby, Lower Level Conference Room, Donald F. Bailey Legacy Hall)
For more information contact Sylvia Dobbins Daniels at s-daniels4@neiu.edu.
Black history month poetry competition
Monday, Feb. 26
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
Contestants can sign up at the Pedroso Center in advance or on the day of the event.
Movie of the week: "Dear white people"
Wednesday, Feb. 28
3:00 p.m.
Main Campus, Pedroso Center (Room B 159)
