Black History Month is short but Black History in the U.S. is long and deep. Each week in February, you will receive info about local activities, essays, art, and more.
We have a long weekend…grab popcorn and sit down to stream one of these excellent films!
- When We Were Kings (1997) This Oscar-winning documentary takes us back to the “Rumble in the Jungle” between legendary boxers George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. It’s also a captivating snapshot of the political and cultural moment.
- Marley (2012) Bob Marley became a prophet for the world’s oppressed, preaching peace, love, and understanding with a universal language – song.
- I Am Not Your Negro (2017) This film about author James Baldwin includes powerful original footage of him as well as narration about race in America that tracks the lives and assassinations of Baldwin’s friends Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers.
- Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane(2017) John Coltrane wasn’t just a phenomenal musician – he was a cultural and spiritual figure who inspired the Church of John Coltraine which held services on Fillmore Street for decades!
Students are also encouraged to join any of the outings we have planned in our neighborhood – including:
- Visit the oldest Black-owned and operated radio station on the West Coast: KPOO 89.5 DJ Marilynn will show us where the magic happens! (Date TBD)
- African American Arts & Culture Complex hosts art exhibits, theater and dance performances, and events – just a few miles from JCHS! Join us to check out the space and see their current exhibits (Feb. 27th @ 11:20 – 12:15 pm)
Black History Month is Fillmore History (& today!)
As most of us know, our neighborhood was once called the “Harlem of the West” because of the Jazz clubs that lined Fillmore Street, and it was also home to African American shops, churches, and community.
Marcus Books, one of the country’s first bookstores dedicated to the work of African American writers, opened in 1960 in the Fillmore district.
The Church of St. John Coltrane, an African Orthodox Church dedicated to the music and teachings of the famous saxophonist, was established in 1968.
The African American Arts and Culture Complex, located about a mile from JCHS, has been open for more than forty years and is home to ten separate Black arts companies, including the African American Shakespeare Company, Cultural Odyssey and the Juneteenth Celebration Committee to name just a few. In total, the complex holds more Black Arts organizations than any other building in the city.Join us for a visit to the AAACC during Office Hours on Thursday, Feb. 27th. RSVP to Ms. Ben-David! Check out their current exhibits here.
