{"id":51941,"date":"2021-02-01T12:26:19","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T20:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/?p=51941"},"modified":"2024-02-29T07:59:51","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T15:59:51","slug":"black-history-month-at-town-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/black-history-month-at-town-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History Month at Town Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is February 1, which marks the beginning of Black History Month. Black History Month was established in 1976, and what you may not know is that there is a theme every year. The theme is decided by the <\/span>Association for the Study of African American Life and History<\/span><\/a>, and the 2021 theme is \u201cBlack Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,\u201d exploring the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across the United States. We have put together a calendar of programs that support this theme, and we\u2019ll also be taking a look back in our <\/span>Media Library<\/span><\/a> at past events that are worth revisiting this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upcoming<\/b><\/p>\n

Conversations on our In The Moment<\/em> podcast<\/a> will feature Black authors and poets throughout the month. (As a reminder, these episodes are released at 1 PM on Mondays, and available anytime after that.) Historian <\/span>Thomas C. Holt (2\/1)<\/b><\/a> will be talking with correspondent and local journalist Mike Davis, contending with how the civil rights movement has been misrepresented and misunderstood. The next week, Shin Yu Pai welcomes poet <\/span>Gary Copeland Lilley (2\/8)<\/b><\/a> to the February Lyric World episode for a dialogue about the creative and intellectual influences that have shaped his work. And finally, poet and novelist <\/span>V\u00e9ronique Tadjo (2\/22)<\/b> discusses her new book, a timely fable drawing on real accounts of the Ebola outbreak, with correspondent Kevin Kibet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us grew up with images of African women that were purely anthropological-bright displays of exotica where the deeper personhood seemed tucked away. Or were chronicles of war and \u201cpoverty porn.\u201d But curator <\/span>Catherine E. McKinley (2\/10)<\/b><\/a> says these images tell a different story of African women: how deeply cosmopolitan and modern they are in their style, how they were able to reclaim the tools of the colonial oppression that threatened their selfhood and livelihoods. She\u2019ll be in conversation with fellow curator and designer Erika Dalya Massaquoi to discuss her takeaways while collecting images in her new book <\/span>The African Lookbook: A Visual History of 100 Years of African Women<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Black contribution to musical history is undeniable. Renowned bass player, five-time Grammy winner, and author <\/span>Victor L. Wooten (2\/13)<\/b><\/a> invites us to stretch our imaginations and our awareness of our interaction with music in a wholly unique presentation that provides a poignant reminder of the healing power\u2014and humanity\u2014in music.<\/span><\/p>\n

A tiny, fastidiously-dressed man emerged from Black Philadelphia around the turn of the century to become the mentor to a generation of young artists, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence. He coined the term \u201cNew Negro\u201d for this generation, a reference to the creative African Americans whose art, literature, music, and drama would inspire Black people to greatness. Have you heard of Alain Locke? Professor <\/span>Jeffrey Stewart (2\/18)<\/b><\/a> brings Locke\u2019s story to the forefront, exploring his legacy and impact in promoting the cultural heritage of Black people with LaNesha DeBardelaben of the Northwest African American Museum for this co-presented program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Ronald A Crutcher (2\/20)<\/b>, a national leader in higher education and a distinguished classical musician and Professor of Music, joins us to share lessons captured in his memoir <\/span>I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership<\/span><\/i>. He relates how he found success as a Black intellectual steering through highly charged social issues, to become President at the University of Richmond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you wondered how educators can help destroy entrenched inequalities and enact values of Black Lives Matter in their classrooms, schools, and communities? Educators and members of the Black Lives Matter at School movement <\/span>Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones (2\/24)<\/b><\/a> have gathered essential essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from educators, students, and activists. They join us to lay bare the institutional racism inherent in our educational system, and present a critical call to radically reshape learning environments.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the Library<\/b><\/p>\n

1\/19\/2021: <\/span>Tyler Stovall with ChrisTiana ObeySumner<\/b><\/a> about the intertwined histories of racism and freedom, specifically using America and France as reference points<\/span><\/p>\n

12\/14\/2020: On this episode of In The Moment, sociologist <\/span>Matthew Clair<\/b><\/a> discussed how race and class matter in criminal court with correspondent Marcus Harrison Green<\/span><\/p>\n

12\/10\/2020: The Seattle Human Rights Commission and UW Center for Human Rights hosted a panel about <\/span>the Black experience in Seattle<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

12\/8\/2020: <\/span>Michael Eric Dyson<\/b><\/a> talked with Robin DiAngelo about reckoning with race on America<\/span><\/p>\n

11\/15\/2020: <\/span>Tamara Payne<\/b><\/a>\u2014along with her mother and brother\u2014talked about the National Book Award-winning biography of Malcolm X, written over decades by her father, which she completed after his unexpected death<\/span><\/p>\n

11\/9\/2020:<\/span> Daudi Abe<\/b><\/a> talked with Geo Quibuyen about the history of hip hop in Seattle<\/span><\/p>\n

10\/21\/2020: A panel hosted by Town Hall, Seattle Disabilities Commission, and Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission discussed <\/span>the unique wisdom of intersectional identities<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

10\/2\/2020: On this episode of In The Moment, professor <\/span>Dr. Eddie Cole<\/b><\/a> was in conversation with correspondent Shaun Scott about the role of campus activism in the fight for social equality<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/22\/2020: <\/span>Mychal Denzel Smith<\/b><\/a> discussed how he believes there are shortcomings in the stories we tell ourselves about our American identity, in conversation with author R. O. Kwon<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/14\/2020: This episode of In The Moment featured acclaimed writer <\/span>Calvin Baker<\/b><\/a> about his book arguing that the only meaningful remedy to our civil rights efforts is true integration, with correspondent Shaun Scott<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/6\/2020: The<\/span> Deep End Friends podcast<\/b><\/a> talked about Black healing, exploring liberation, healing, hope, joy, and wholeness<\/span><\/p>\n

And more. Visit our Media Library<\/a> to see past events.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Black history and Black accomplishments have been minimized and erased, and it is wonderful to be take this time to celebrate Black people\u2019s many contributions, to all industries and communities. But most importantly, Black history is American history\u2014this month and every month\u2014and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Black voices year-round.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is February 1, which marks the beginning of Black History Month. Black History Month was established in 1976, and what you may not know is that there is a theme every year. The theme is decided by the <\/span>Association for the Study of African American Life and History<\/span><\/a>, and the 2021 theme is \u201cBlack Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,\u201d exploring the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across the United States. We have put together a calendar of programs that support this theme, and we\u2019ll also be taking a look back in our <\/span>Media Library<\/span><\/a> at past events that are worth revisiting this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upcoming<\/b><\/p>\n

Conversations on our In The Moment<\/em> podcast<\/a> will feature Black authors and poets throughout the month. (As a reminder, these episodes are released at 1 PM on Mondays, and available anytime after that.) Historian <\/span>Thomas C. Holt (2\/1)<\/b><\/a> will be talking with correspondent and local journalist Mike Davis, contending with how the civil rights movement has been misrepresented and misunderstood. The next week, Shin Yu Pai welcomes poet <\/span>Gary Copeland Lilley (2\/8)<\/b><\/a> to the February Lyric World episode for a dialogue about the creative and intellectual influences that have shaped his work. And finally, poet and novelist <\/span>V\u00e9ronique Tadjo (2\/22)<\/b> discusses her new book, a timely fable drawing on real accounts of the Ebola outbreak, with correspondent Kevin Kibet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us grew up with images of African women that were purely anthropological-bright displays of exotica where the deeper personhood seemed tucked away. Or were chronicles of war and \u201cpoverty porn.\u201d But curator <\/span>Catherine E. McKinley (2\/10)<\/b><\/a> says these images tell a different story of African women: how deeply cosmopolitan and modern they are in their style, how they were able to reclaim the tools of the colonial oppression that threatened their selfhood and livelihoods. She\u2019ll be in conversation with fellow curator and designer Erika Dalya Massaquoi to discuss her takeaways while collecting images in her new book <\/span>The African Lookbook: A Visual History of 100 Years of African Women<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Black contribution to musical history is undeniable. Renowned bass player, five-time Grammy winner, and author <\/span>Victor L. Wooten (2\/13)<\/b><\/a> invites us to stretch our imaginations and our awareness of our interaction with music in a wholly unique presentation that provides a poignant reminder of the healing power\u2014and humanity\u2014in music.<\/span><\/p>\n

A tiny, fastidiously-dressed man emerged from Black Philadelphia around the turn of the century to become the mentor to a generation of young artists, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence. He coined the term \u201cNew Negro\u201d for this generation, a reference to the creative African Americans whose art, literature, music, and drama would inspire Black people to greatness. Have you heard of Alain Locke? Professor <\/span>Jeffrey Stewart (2\/18)<\/b><\/a> brings Locke\u2019s story to the forefront, exploring his legacy and impact in promoting the cultural heritage of Black people with LaNesha DeBardelaben of the Northwest African American Museum for this co-presented program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Ronald A Crutcher (2\/20)<\/b>, a national leader in higher education and a distinguished classical musician and Professor of Music, joins us to share lessons captured in his memoir <\/span>I Had No Idea You Were Black: Navigating Race on the Road to Leadership<\/span><\/i>. He relates how he found success as a Black intellectual steering through highly charged social issues, to become President at the University of Richmond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you wondered how educators can help destroy entrenched inequalities and enact values of Black Lives Matter in their classrooms, schools, and communities? Educators and members of the Black Lives Matter at School movement <\/span>Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones (2\/24)<\/b><\/a> have gathered essential essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from educators, students, and activists. They join us to lay bare the institutional racism inherent in our educational system, and present a critical call to radically reshape learning environments.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the Library<\/b><\/p>\n

1\/19\/2021: <\/span>Tyler Stovall with ChrisTiana ObeySumner<\/b><\/a> about the intertwined histories of racism and freedom, specifically using America and France as reference points<\/span><\/p>\n

12\/14\/2020: On this episode of In The Moment, sociologist <\/span>Matthew Clair<\/b><\/a> discussed how race and class matter in criminal court with correspondent Marcus Harrison Green<\/span><\/p>\n

12\/10\/2020: The Seattle Human Rights Commission and UW Center for Human Rights hosted a panel about <\/span>the Black experience in Seattle<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

12\/8\/2020: <\/span>Michael Eric Dyson<\/b><\/a> talked with Robin DiAngelo about reckoning with race on America<\/span><\/p>\n

11\/15\/2020: <\/span>Tamara Payne<\/b><\/a>\u2014along with her mother and brother\u2014talked about the National Book Award-winning biography of Malcolm X, written over decades by her father, which she completed after his unexpected death<\/span><\/p>\n

11\/9\/2020:<\/span> Daudi Abe<\/b><\/a> talked with Geo Quibuyen about the history of hip hop in Seattle<\/span><\/p>\n

10\/21\/2020: A panel hosted by Town Hall, Seattle Disabilities Commission, and Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission discussed <\/span>the unique wisdom of intersectional identities<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

10\/2\/2020: On this episode of In The Moment, professor <\/span>Dr. Eddie Cole<\/b><\/a> was in conversation with correspondent Shaun Scott about the role of campus activism in the fight for social equality<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/22\/2020: <\/span>Mychal Denzel Smith<\/b><\/a> discussed how he believes there are shortcomings in the stories we tell ourselves about our American identity, in conversation with author R. O. Kwon<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/14\/2020: This episode of In The Moment featured acclaimed writer <\/span>Calvin Baker<\/b><\/a> about his book arguing that the only meaningful remedy to our civil rights efforts is true integration, with correspondent Shaun Scott<\/span><\/p>\n

9\/6\/2020: The<\/span> Deep End Friends podcast<\/b><\/a> talked about Black healing, exploring liberation, healing, hope, joy, and wholeness<\/span><\/p>\n

And more. Visit our Media Library<\/a> to see past events.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Black history and Black accomplishments have been minimized and erased, and it is wonderful to be take this time to celebrate Black people\u2019s many contributions, to all industries and communities. But most importantly, Black history is American history\u2014this month and every month\u2014and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Black voices year-round.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","category-town-crier"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51941\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townhallseattle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}