By Nathaly Estremera
In honor of Black History Month, an annual recognition and celebration of Black culture in America, a series of events like movie night will be hosted by the Umoja Community at Grossmont College.
The month-long celebration, established in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, is meant to call attention to the contributions African Americans have made to American History and honor famous Black figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, Rosa Parks and many more.
There are seven events: three movie nights, two Umoja lecture series, a Knowledge Bowl and a Retelling of stories. The films have been selected by polls conducted among student members of the Umoja program.
Kalon Bell, Umoja program coordinator selected films of representation to be on the poll, as it is important for, “students not to be portrayed as less than” Bell said.
Umoja kicked off the event with Grossmont’s First Year Experience (FYE) on Feb. six at the Griffin Gate with a screening of Black Panther. All Grossmont students and others were welcome to attend events and debrief their experiences and popcorn and hot chocolate were available.
Admission of Justice major and Umoja member, Malik Gadson hopes these events build communities. “Us coming together as people,” Gadson expressed is the goal for Umoja while hosting these events.
When asked what is one message Umoja wishes attendees of the event could take home with them. Program member Ashunte McFadden, a Psychology major said, “How diverse and nuance the black community is” and “Black people are just people.”
“And appreciate Black cinema,” Bell said.
Black representation has been limited to the same character and storyline. When films give Black characters a different plot, it gives the younger generation something the one before didn’t have.
