In honor of Black History Month this February, Kent State’s Center of Pan-African Culture and Department of Pan-African Studies are proud to host a series of events celebrating the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History’s 2007 national theme "From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas."

This year’s activities include the annual "Black Culture on Film Series," featuring documentaries on four black traditions in music—gospel, afro-beat, the Motown sound and hip hop; a panel discussion titled "Malcolm X, Hip Hop and the 21st Century," with Akron radio personality and activist Ismail "The I" Al-Amin, poet and activist Kelly A. Harris and performance artist/MC Ace Boogie; and the Ebony Speakers Series presentation by historian Dr. Mark Christian, Miami University-Hamilton, on the topic of "Marcus Garvey, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the ‘Lost’ Parade in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1923."

All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, call 330-672-2300 or e-mail mokantah@kent.edu.

2007 Black History Month Calendar of Events

Feb. 1
Harambee Open Mic
Featured Artist: Storm E. Weather, "Eye of the Storm"
7:30 p.m., Green Room, Second Floor, Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 2
Black Culture on Film Series
Documentary: "…On the Roots & History of Gospel Music"
8 p.m., Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 9
Black Culture on Film Series
Documentary: "…On Nigeria’s Fela Anikulapo Kuti"
8 p.m.,Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 16
Black Culture on Film Series
Documentary: "…On the History of Motown"
8 p.m., Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 21
Panel Discussion: "Malcolm X, Hip Hop and the 21st Century"
Panelists: Ace Boogie, performance artist/MC
               Kelly A. Harris, poet and activist
               Ismail "The I" Al-Amin, Akron radio personality and activist
7:30 p.m., Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 23
Black Culture on Film Series
Documentary: "…On an International Perspective on Hip Hop"
7:30 p.m., Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Feb. 28
Ebony Speakers Series
Presentation: "Marcus Garvey, the UNIA and the ‘Lost’ Parade in Columbus, Ohio, September 23, 1923"
Speaker: Dr. Mark Christian, Miami University-Hamilton
7:30 p.m., Mbari Mbayo Lecture Hall, 107A Oscar Ritchie Hall

Note: Program details subject to change.