TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Tallahassee Community College’s celebration of Black History Month began on Monday, January 28 with the unveiling of the 13th annual Cherry Alexander African-American History Month Calendar.
Monday night’s event honored 14 African-American individuals who have made significant contributions in Leon and surrounding counties.
The College’s official Black History Month celebration, however, runs throughout the month of February and will include a series of events open to TCC students, faculty and staff, as well as the Tallahassee community.
Youth Day will kick off the event lineup on Thursday, February 7. Youth from Leon and the surrounding counties will convene at TCC’s Center for Workforce Development from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants, including youth with Gear-Up, TCC’s College Reach-out Program, and the Educational Talent Search, will hear from TCC Faculty about influential African-Americans in history, the art of “spoken word,” and nutrition. The event will also include STEM activities and a word from TCC SGA President, Ms. Adia Blaize.
On Thursday, February 12, the TCC Library and the College’s John G. Riley House Archives will welcome guest lecturer Eluster Richardson, who will be discussing the significance of the art and quilts in his collection “The Life of a Quilt” and the importance of art in African-American culture. Richardson will also focus on the history and style of the famous Florida Highwaymen, a group of self-taught black painters from Florida during the mid-1950’s to 1980’s. The lecture will be held in Room 265 of the TCC Library from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The final event – the popular Gospel Extravaganza and Soul Food Festival – will be held Thursday, February 28. The event, a showcase of local gospel choirs and entertainers, will be held in the Student Union Ballroom and begins with a 6 p.m. reception followed by entertainment at 7 p.m.
Admission to all events is free.
For more information on TCC’s celebration of Black History Month, contact Rita Dickey by phone, 850-201-6178, or email dickeyr@tcc.fl.edu.
