Black History Month 2024

Black History Month Kick-Off

Join us to celebrate and commemorate the start of Black History Month!

Open Mic Night: Black History Month

Our monthly Open Mic Night, in collaboration with Mosaic, The BLOC, and Student Union Events. As usual, our Open Mics are live-streamed on the Mosaic YouTube page.

Sponsored by Mosaic Cross Cultural Center and The BLOC

Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams (virtual book talk)

Cecil Williams and Claudia Brinson Smith, co-authors of "Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams" will give a virtual book talk on their forthcoming book.

Sponsored by Department of African American Studies & Department of Art and Art History

The Tapestry of Black History

True historical accounts of the Black American experience told through the intricate threads of handmade quilts. Join educator and historian Khristel Johnson for a unique recounting of periods in Black American history.

Sponsored by MLK Library

Thurgood Marshall: A Life Well Lived

Dr. Jim Armsteead will present a first person impression of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Civil Rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall and take questions in character. He will then provide his own perspective on the life and times of this famous and important jurist. This event is sponsored by the Departments of History and African American Studies. 

Sponsored by Department of African American Studies & Department of Art and Art History

An Exploration of the Music of William Grant Still

Join the students of Dr. Micheal Hernandez, San José’s award winning Echo Quartet as they perform and discuss the life and music of William Grant Still in this unique recital.

Sponsored by MLK Library and School of Music and Dance 

Black Liberation Ball

The Black Liberation Ball is a exhibition Ball, meaning it is less competitive and more focused on education, socializing, having fun, and showcasing talent in a lighthearted atmosphere.

Sponsored by The BLOC, Mosaic, and PRIDE Center

A Conversation About Black Historical Relevance, Memory & Forgetting with Dr. Keenan Norris

Who knows who David Walker was? Why has one of the central figures in the movement to abolish slavery largely been forgotten and why is knowledge of Walker's life and work so important to present day battles over book bans, critical race theory and social justice? Keenan Norris uses the digital humanities to investigate these questions and to open up a dialogue about pressing current-day concerns.

Sponsored by MLK Library and Department of English and Comparative Literature 

Spartan Speaker Series: Janelle James

The Spartan Speaker Series is bringing award-winning actress and comedian Janelle James, best known for her role as Principal Ava Coleman in Abbott's Elementary, to SJSU. Janelle will be here to speak about her experiences as an actress, a comedian, and what it's like succeeding in the industry.

Event will be live in Student Union Theater and livestreamed online.

Sponsored by Student Affairs Campus Life

What Does Your Blackness Mean to You?

What does your blackness mean to you? Join the Black Student Union as we tackle this question together as a community.

Sponsored by the Black Student Union

BLOC's 6 Year Anniversary

Celebrate the BLOC's 6th year anniversary! 

Sponsored by The BLOC

Black Healing Circle: Drumming & Dance Workshop

Come take a mental break with the BLOC Kuumba and Ujima's Ubuntu Wellness as we teach the relationship between African rhythms and dance that is guaranteed to heal the soul!

Happening at African American Community Services Agency (304 N Sixth St, San Jose, CA)

Sponsored by The BLOC, Kuumba, and Ubuntu Wellness Center

Black History Month: Movie Night

Come and watch a movie with us! Watch together in community. Movie will be announced soon.

Sponsored by Student Involvement, Student Union, Inc., The BLOC, and Associated Students

Invention and Innovation through Black Creationism

We are still filling in more details; however we will use the meeting space to display and debut the inventions many black scientists and engineers would come to make in their careers.

Sponsored by College of Engineering 

SJSU Women's Basketball Game!

Come watch the SJSU Women's Basketball Team face off against Wyoming! Go Spartans!

Beychella Revolution: Exploring the Impact of Beyoncé

Come join us for an exploration of the impact of Beyoncé on the arts, culture, and the feminist movement! Take a close look at Beyoncé's "Beychella" performance and learn more about her as an artist, as well as the wonderful black and queer dancers, musicians, and performers featured within her performance.

Sponsored by Gender Equity Center 

BLOC Cypher

Join us in community as we make music together by honoring the arts of hip hop, battle rap, beat boxing, and cypher histoy!

Sponsored by The BLOC and Mosaic

An African American Book Festival: Celebrating Black San Jose Book Authors

In celebration of Black History Month, a collection of books (in post format) will be on display encompassing various genres, History, Biography/Memoir, Self-Help/Self-Awareness, Novels, Children's books, Christian, Art  and Photo books. This exhibit will highlight the importance of Black Studies, Black voices, and Black Authors who use the artform of the written word to preserve history for the empowerment of the Black community.

This event is curated by Dr. Michael Cheers.

Sponsored by AAACNA Studies Center and the Department of African American Studies

A Seat at the Table

Join us for our weekly critical dialogue space at the BLOC, centering the voices and perspectives of the Black community. Held every Tuesday evening at The BLOC.

Sponsored by The BLOC

Calendar

Download a PDF of this year's Black History Month Calendar [pdf]

Zoom Background

Download our Zoom Background for this year's Black History Month