Film and music highlight Black History Month
A rare silent movie, a crossover violinist, a rising blues artist and a showing of the critically acclaimed “Straight Outta Compton” will highlight Black History Month.
A rare silent movie, a crossover violinist, a rising blues artist and a showing of the critically acclaimed “Straight Outta Compton” will highlight Black History Month.
All activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Events will also include a series of Tuesday “Real Talk” discussions. Each discussion will be held twice - once from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 218 of the Frame-Westerberg Commons and once from 9 to 10 p.m. in Dining Rooms A&B off of the café in the Commons.
Facilitators include Dr. Kevin Ewert, professor of theater; the Rev. Stacey Fussell, pastor of Ascension Episcopal Church; alumnus and Civil War scholar Dr. Christopher Mackowski; and Dr. Tracee Howell, assistant professor of English.
Topics are “Religion, Race and Homophobia” on Feb. 9; “White Privilege and the Confederate Flag” on Feb. 16; and “Black Lives Matter” on Feb. 23.
The silent film “Lime Kiln Field Day” will be shown with a live accompaniment by Donald Sosin, a composer and performer for silent films at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall.
First filmed in 1913, “Lime Kiln Field Day” is believed to be the first film with an all-black cast. However, it was not produced for more than 100 years. In 2014, the Museum of Modern Art found and produced the seven reels of film that had been shot. The movie made its public debut at MoMA 101 years after it was filmed in Harlem.
The following night, Damien Escobar, formerly one half of the violin duo Nuttin' But Stringz, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Bromeley Theater. Escobar grew up playing a blend of hip hop and classical melodies with his brother on their violins. He has played Russell Simmons' Hip Hop Inaugural Ball.
On Feb. 17, The Bradford Main Street Movie House will be the site of a 7 p.m. free showing of “Straight Outta Compton,” a film about the founding of the hip-hop group N.W.A. The movie is rated R.
On Feb. 18, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton will play a blend of traditional jazz, blues, folk and country at noon in the Studio Theater in Blaisdell Hall. Paxton will be the subject of an upcoming PBS special, “American Epic.”
Other events planned throughout the month include traditional African-American food in the KOA Dining Hall; an “I Love My Hair” program with free haircuts and styling for hair of all types; and Black History Month Jeopardy.
The last event of the month will be the One World Cultural Festival, a campus-wide celebration of diversity taking place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Commons. The international buffet will be free for Pitt-Bradford students and $5 for others.