Community College of Philadelphia to Host Black History Month Keynote Event

Originally published: Feb. 10, 2022
Contact:
Barry Johnson 
Email: btjohnson@ccp.edu 
Cell: 267-666-7881

The theme for this year’s Black History Month is titled “The Message Has Always Been in our Music” 

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia will host its annual Black History Month keynote event at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10. This year’s keynote speaker is Professor James Small, a scholar activist, dynamic speaker, and organizational consultant. His academic focus includes African American history and culture, as well as African traditional religion and spirituality. 

Professor Small will present on the understanding that Black music is deeply rooted in the way the African diasporas communicated through drum and dance. He will explore how this traditional form of communication was used to record the past, and still guides us through modern day music. 

This theme for this year’s Black History Month programming is titled “The Message Has Always Been in our Music” and will explore the ways in which music has shaped Black culture, identity, and survival.  

All events are free and open to the public. In addition to the keynote event, media are highly encouraged to attend the following events: 

Power in the Word: African traditional to African American Spiritual Music 

11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, via Zoom 

In Power in the Word, Dr. Ardencie Hall-Karambe, English and Theater faculty member at the College, will explore how African traditional music transformed into African American spiritual music through this creative multi-media experience. 

Get Schooled by Dr. Anyabwile (Aaron) Love: How didn't Black folk lose their minds 

11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, via Zoom 

Join Dr. Anyabwile (Aaron) Love, Black Studies professor at the College, as he discusses the role Black music plays as a form of memory and a path to liberation. This presentation will provide attendees with a snapshot of how cultural memory maintained Black liberatory spaces or as Dr. Love states, “how didn't Black folk lose their minds." 

The Blue Note: From Be-bop to Hip-Hop 

11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, via Zoom 

In the Blue Note: From Be-bop to hip-hop, Dr. Ardencie Hall-Karambe, English and Theater faculty member at the College, will explore how be-bop, the first modern style of Jazz, later transformed into hip-hop music through this creative multi-media experience. 

Black Joy: A Black Woman’s Imperative 

3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, via Zoom 

During this candid conversation on Black joy, Professor Tracey Lewis-Giggetts will be joined by former Philadelphia poets laurette Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta Mayson to discuss her new book, “Black Joy: A Strategy for Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration.” 

To RSVP for any of the College’s Black History Month programming, please email Barry Johnson at btjohnson@ccp.edu. 

WHAT: Community College of Philadelphia to Host Black History Month Keynote Event  

WHO:   Community College of Philadelphia 

WHERE: Via Zoom  

WHEN:  11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 

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