HFA Celebrates 2024 Black History Month with Art Galleries, Lectures, Readings, and More
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The College of Humanities & Fine Arts is commemorating Black History Month with the following events and programming.
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
To commemorate Black History Month and the birthday of social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass, the College of Humanities & Fine Arts (HFA) will host Reading Frederick Douglass Together on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon in the South College Atrium.
The event—held on Douglass’s birthday—is part of the Mass Humanities Reading Frederick Douglass Together grant program, which invites communities to host free, public readings and discussions of Douglass’s influential address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” UMass Amherst students, faculty, and staff will gather to read passages from the address out loud and discuss its significance. All are invited to attend.
Art Exhibit: As We Move Forward
The UMass Amherst Augusta Savage Gallery has announced that it will open its spring art exhibition, “As We Move Forward,” on Wednesday, Feb. 7, with a reception scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 27 and a curators’ talk on April 4 at 6 p.m. The exhibition will be on view through Friday, May 10.
“As We Move Forward” honors the work and legacy of American sculptor and educator Augusta Savage by gathering the artwork of BIPOC women from Savage’s home state of Florida. It is co-curated by Juana Valdes, associate professor in the UMass art department, and Nhadya Lawes and features a space of celebration and growth for young artists from Miami and across the Global South.
Keynote Address: Catherine Coleman Flowers
Catherine Coleman Flowers—internationally recognized environmental activist, critically acclaimed author of “Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret,” MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and Vice Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council—will deliver a keynote address for Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Register here.
The keynote address is the culminating event of HFA's Black History Month celebrations. It is free and open to the public. A cross-campus collaboration aimed at deepening the discussions around climate change, the talk will highlight the intersectional nature of climate change by centering racial, economic and health inequities as they relate to our changing planet.
Black Creativity in the Arts
UMass Amherst is looking back at its storied history of Black creativity that generated festivals, performances, and academics; brought prominent Black artists, musicians, and educators to campus; and saw the appointment of the university’s first Black chancellor, whose priorities laid the groundwork for current arts programming. Read the story here.
Upcoming Events
Partners across UMass Amherst will host the following events throughout February.
Global Black History Trivia
Monday, Feb. 5 - 6-8 p.m.
Berkshire Dining Commons, Lower Level
Webinar Presentation by Dr. Carol Anderson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Africana Studies, Emory University
Tuesday, Feb. 6, noon-1:30 p.m.
Virtual event
Rethinking Black History
Monday Feb. 12, noon to 1:30 p.m.
New Africa House Theater
Black History of UMass
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
New Africa House Theater
People's Supper - Black History Month
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Augusta Savage Gallery and Theater Room, New Africa House
Rethinking Black Love
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
New Africa House 311 (3rd floor)
Queer and Trans People of Color Pal-entine’s Dinner
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - 6-7 p.m.
Stonewall Center
The People's Supper: Dinner and Art Viewing
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - 6:30-8 p.m.
New Africa House
Black Feminisms Lecture Series: Fania Noël, Occupying the Border: Afrofeminist Quietness as a Response to the Problem-Space
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - 6:30 p.m.
South College W245
Black Arts & Movie Night
Thursday, Feb. 15, 6:30-8 p.m.
New Africa House Theater
Sister:Resisters - Black Women's Mentoring Tool Kit
Friday, Feb. 16 – Noon-1:30 p.m.
Online
The Cookout
Friday, Feb. 16, 4:30-7 p.m.
New African House Basement
Black History Month Showcase - All Black Affair
Friday, Feb. 16 - 6-8 p.m.
The Jazz Workshop: Dance with Master Teacher Sheila Barker
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 & 18 - All day
Totman Gym & Studio
"Thinking Lucille Clifton Thinking" with Kevin Quashie
Thursday, Feb. 22 - 6:30 p.m.
Hybrid: South College E470 or Zoom
Documentary Screening: Paul Robeson: "I'm a Negro. I'm an American."
Sunday, Feb. 18 through Monday, Feb. 25 - All day
Online
Black Feminisms Lecture Series: Beaudelaine Pierre, Tout Moun Se Moun, Experiments in Beings, and Ecologies of Waste
Wednesday, Feb. 21 - 6:30 p.m.
South College W245
Poetry Workshop: Margareth Ngueza Antonio
Monday, Feb. 26 - 6-8 p.m.
Malcolm X Cultural Center
Black History Month Keynote Address by Catherine Coleman Flowers
Thursday, Feb. 29 - 5:30-7 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom
Bright Moments Spoken Word Night
Thursday, Feb. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts Lobby
Workshop - Anti-Racist Pedagogy
Friday, March 1 – 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Furcolo Hall W201
Black Feminisms Lecture Series: Mary Pena, Black Feminist Sensory Ethnography and Material Afterlives in Puerto Plata
Wednesday, March 1 - 6:30 p.m.
South College W245