Bunche Center for African American Studies celebrates Black History Month
Events will include film screenings, discussions and author lectures
The UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, one of the oldest centers of its kind in the nation, will host a series of events during Black History Month.
"Black History Month is a time for us to take a step back and think about the various struggles and contributions of African Americans in our history," said Bunche Center director Darnell Hunt. "While our center presents events throughout the year, we take great pride in the events we have scheduled for this month."
Events are free and include film screenings, discussions and author presentations. All events take place on the UCLA campus. For more information, visit www.bunchecenter.ucla.edu.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Noon–1 p.m.
Former Vice Chancellor Charles Z. Wilson speaks about inner-city challenges
Haines Hall (Room 135)
Charles Z. Wilson, author and former UCLA vice chancellor for student affairs, will speak about his book "Crossing Learning Boundaries by Choice: Black People Must Save Themselves — A Memoir," which deals with the challenges faced by inner-city African Americans and what they must do to become active participants in the revitalization of their communities.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Noon–2 p.m.
Screening of "The Eastsiders: A Celebration" and Q&A
Young Research Library's Presentation Room (Room 11348)
"The Eastsiders" documents the life and times of the generation of African Americans who grew up in the Central Avenue corridor on the eastside of Los Angeles between the 1920s and 1965. A question-and-answer session with executive producer William C. Beverly will follow the screening. The event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research, the nonprofit Eighth & Wall Incorporated, the Afrikan Student Union at UCLA, and the UCLA Black Staff and Faculty Association.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Noon–2 p.m.
Screening of "Leimert Park: The Story of a Village in South Central Los Angeles" and Q&A
Young Research Library's Presentation Room (Room 11348)
The documentary "Leimert Park" tells the story of Richard Fulton, a formerly homeless man who opened Fifth Street Dick's coffeehouse in Leimert Park. During the Los Angeles riots of 1992, the coffeehouse became a gathering spot for the community and ultimately helped spark a renaissance in African American art and culture. A question-and-answer session with producer and director Jeannette Lindsay and director of photography Zan Zetina will follow the screening. The event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research, the Afrikan Student Union at UCLA, and the UCLA Black Staff and Faculty Association.
Thursday, Feb. 19
Noon–1 p.m.
Actress and author Denise Nicholas speaks about her novel
Haines Hall (Room 135)
Denise Nicholas, former star of the television series "Room 222" and "In the Heat of the Night," will speak about her debut novel, "Freshwater Road." The book's central character, Celeste Tyree, is a Northerner who has enjoyed a comfortable life until she ventures to the South to help register African Americans to vote during the summer of 1964.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
7:30–9:30 p.m.
Screening of "Black on Black" and panel discussion
UCLA James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall
Los Angeles television station KNXT (now KCBS-TV) broadcast the groundbreaking television documentary "Black on Black" during the tension-filled summer of 1968. The program gave African American residents of South-Central Los Angeles a chance to speak for themselves without a narrator, reporter, script or commercial interruptions. The documentary won numerous awards, including an Emmy and the first NAACP Image Award. Dan Einstein, an archivist with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, will introduce "Black on Black," and the screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the film's producer, Joe Saltzman, and executive producer, Dan Gingold. Darnell Hunt, director of the UCLA Bunche Center for African American Studies, will moderate the discussion.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Noon–1 p.m.
UCLA, UC Berkeley law professors speak about their book
Haines Hall (Room 135)
UCLA law professor Devon Carbado and UC Berkeley law professor Rachel F. Moran will discuss "Race Law Stories," which brings to life well-known and not so well-known legal opinions that address slavery, Native Americans, Chinese exclusion, voting rights and employment discrimination, among other topics. Each story goes beyond the legal opinion to explore the historical context of the cases, as well as the ordinary people and larger-than-life personalities who drove the litigation process.
