Honor Black people from all periods of history. Celebrate Black History Month this February at Albright College by learning about Frederick Douglass and fellow 1800s abolitionists. Artwork honoring America’s first Black vice president, Kamala Harris and “Storyscapes” by Black artist Femi J. Johnson will be available all month long. Go on a blind date with a book or learn how you can take action to create diversity, inclusion and equity.
Kamala Harris and a historic moment In U.S. politics, a print portfolio
Freedman Gallery
Jan. 24-March 10
Reception Feb. 10, 5 p.m.
Kamala Harris is the first female, first African-American and first Asian American vice president. To commemorate this historic election, artist Melanie Yazzie organized a print exchange the following year among nationally recognized printmakers, and donated one of the portfolios to Albright College.
Freedman Gallery
Jan. 24-April 26
Virtual lecture Feb. 5, 3 p.m.
Reception Feb. 10, 5 p.m.
As a Black artist, Femi J. Johnson’s early artistic talent in graphite and charcoal drawing led to a professional career as a master draftsman and designer for Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies. After thousands of technical drawings over decades of work, Johnson redirected his creative energy back to the fine arts. Johnson’s Storyscape paintings embody a uniquely raw and permissive form of contemporary abstraction, translating chaos into temporary but believable order on canvas.
Memorial Chapel
Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Presenter Marlon Gibson, Ph.D. focus on taking action to create a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment. Audience members will explore pressing topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion, consider how these issues impact the college campus and community, and commit to taking purposeful actions to develop a better culture.
Klein Lecture Hall
Feb. 9, 12:30 p.m.
The recent killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers has triggered painful collective traumatic memories on people of African descent everywhere, including here at Albright College. It compounds other recent memories that go back to the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2015, which occasioned the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, which sparked worldwide demonstrations against police violence. What distinguishes Tyre’s killing from the rest is the fact that the five Memphis police officers involved were all Black officers. We are aware that this creates confusion and deeper contemplation asking, “where do we go from here?”
It is with this in mind that the Faculty and Staff of African Descent are calling for a gathering of reflection, release, and healing to all members of Albright community. We will quietly reflect together, by processing our collective thoughts in writing. Participants will be invited to anonymously write down their thoughts, feelings, frustrations, fears, confusion, etc., and deposit papers in a basket as a symbolic “letting go” of these concerns.
McMillan Center, main lounge
Feb. 13, 12 p.m.
Skip first impressions! Pick from a variety of wrapped books and meet a new love.
Hosted by the English Department
Douglass Day: celebrating Frederick Douglass and his legacy
Center for Computing and Mathematics, 100f
Feb. 14, 12 p.m.
Celebrate the accomplishments of Frederick Douglass and his fellow abolitionists in a national, community event that celebrates and features aspects of black history especially as they relate to 19th century abolitionist efforts. Hear virtually from African American studies experts and take part in a hands-on crowdsourcing project transcribing the papers of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, an ally and adviser to Douglass. Hosted by the English Department
Pan-African culinary spirituality: how food and faith roots us back home
Virtual presentation
Feb. 22, 7 p.m.
How can food serve as a lens to understanding Africanisms while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to social justice? Panelists will discuss the roll food has played in preserving Black History, community and culinary genius. Learn about a Pan African cultural tour created for Africans in the diaspora that specializes in West African cuisine and culture. And learn about the nonprofit Muloma Heritage Center – an educational, culinary and pastoral destination in South Carolina.
