Black History Month Highlighted Weekly Activities on the Campus

York College celebrated Black History Month with film screenings, art showcases, and discussions highlighting Black love, resilience, and creativity.

The Office of Student Activities and Africana Studies Center hosted a screening of The Six Triple Eight on Feb. 7, a film about the true story of the 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black, all-female battalion of 855 women during World War II, who despite discrimination and war-torn conditions, sorted and delivered a three-year backlog of over seventeen million pieces of mail ahead of their seemingly impossible six-month deadline.

The following week, Black History and the Arts: Black Love—a screening, artist talk, and improvisation workshop—was hosted by the York Male Initiative Program. Dean George White delivered the welcome and introductory remarks, followed by Professor Andrew Sekou Jackson, who introduced the afternoon’s guests, including a guest poet.

Dr. Emily Verla Bovino gave an insightful presentation on the history of Black love in the arts. Guest speaker Carl Clay from Black Spectrum Theatre screened his film Black Love, which explored the complexities of Black love across various social contexts.

“We took Black love as a theme because of where we are in the state of this country, and we really need to be intentional about people of color, our culture, and the things that we have been doing forever,” coordinator Roosevelt Smith said. “We give honor to people like Carl Clay and the work that they’ve done. Also, we set a beautiful example for our students on the work that has been done all these years and how we can move it forward,” he continued.

Following the screening, Dr. Patricia Haggler and Clay participated in an artist talk before Clay led an improvisation workshop. The event concluded with a brief Q&A session.

“The Black Love event was a beautiful way to preface Valentine’s Day. When that holiday comes around, there is very little representation of Black people, and it was fulfilling to see that despite that, Black love is real, authentic, and fiercely prevalent,” Rashidah Fowler said.

In addition to Black Love, the Black History and the Arts series featured a session titled Dap, Snap and Wrap with guest Andre Zachary from the Renegade Performance Group on Feb. 19, and another titled Taking Up Space, an art exhibition on Feb. 26 with guest artist Julian Ali, who used York students and graduates as the subjects for his work. The event was well attended and the audience was entertained with spoken word and discourse on the ways art takes up space.

“Taking Up Space was my very first solo art show and it meant the world to me that it took place at York College surrounded by so many beautiful (Black) people of all ages,” said Julian.

“Being a child from Norfolk, VA and a current resident of NY, I understand that access and opportunity is something that you have to either scour for or create yourself. I always want the work that I share to not just resonate with people who look like me - but actually be accessible to them as well.”

The event was well attended and Julian’s artwork was well received. Two poets also entertained the audience with spoken word and discourse on how art takes up space.

On Feb. 21, Patt Terrelongue, past president of the Claude B. Govan Tri-State Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., spoke during the reception after the screening of the movie Red Tails, a film about the 332^nd Fighter Group, an all-black World War II unit of escort pilots. The film is based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were so skilled that American bomber crews often requested to be escorted by them due to their fierce combat skills and the lowest loss records of any fighter escort group.

Rounding out the month, on Feb. 27, the Office of Student Activities hosted a student-led Black History Month program featuring the York College Chorus Club, poetic performances, speakers and more.