Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) is paying tribute to Black History Month with a series of events to honor the contributions and sacrifices of Black Americans who have helped shape our country.
Black History Month is held each February to recognize African Americans’ central role in the history of the United States. Its origins go back to 1915, and every U.S. president since 1976 has officially designated February as Black History Month.
Student Activities and the College’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee have also planned a series of events and activities that run through the end of the month.
“As an institution dedicated to our community, we stand for justice, equity, and anti-racism through education,” Tori Penney, SMCC Student Life Assistant Director, said. “The stories and contributions of Black people have been unjustly kept out of history books and the tales of America. It’s important that we learn about, honor, and celebrate the contributions of Black changemakers. This month we are focusing on these stories as a way to celebrate our students, our community, and our history.”
SCHEDULE OF SMCC EVENTS
Black Icons Showcase
February 1 – 28
South Portland Campus Center Hallway
Black History Month Watch Party Series
February 6Â – MLK FBI
February 13Â – Your Attention Please – Volume 1
February 20 – Kindred Episode – 1 & 2
Participants must have a Hulu Account. Join via Zoom Link at 6:00 p.m. to go to the Watch Party! https://zoom.us/j/91470615704
Trivia Tuesday
February 21
Campus Center Noisy Lounge – 6:30 p.m.
Featuring questions about Black History, culture, and icons, as well as questions about current events that affect the Black community.
Resources from SMCC Political Science Department
SMCC Political Science Professor Julie Mueller and others in the Social Sciences Department created a website with links to resources celebrating and giving historical context to the history of Black people in America, with a special emphasis on Maine.
Maine Black History Month ResourcesÂ
Maine Historical Society
- It’s A Family Affair – A Personal Conversation about Black History in Maine: Discussion explores Black History in Maine with panelists sharing their family’s history and experience in Maine dating back to the 18th century.
- Nineteenth-Century Black Politics in Maine: Panel discussion on the important history of Black politics in Maine.
- List of Black History projects at the Maine Historical SocietyÂ
Maine Public
- Maine Calling Radio: Maine’s Role in the Slave Trade
- Black History in Maine – The Stories and Contributions of Maine’s Black Individuals and Communities
VisitMaine: Portland Freedom Trail – The trail is a self-guided tour through Portland along the oldest sections of the city that takes walkers to sites important to Maine’s African American history, specifically those dealing with 19th-century Black Mainers fighting against slavery.
Greater Portland Landmarks
- Abyssinian Meeting House– Third oldest standing African American meeting house in the United States stands at 73 Newbury Street in Portland.
- Portland Freedom Trail
Visit Portland:Â Portland’s Freedom Trail
The Atlantic Black Box Project – “Through collaborative research, place-based education programs, digital humanities projects, events, and advocacy, The Atlantic Black Box Project seeks to engage the public in the collective rewriting of our regional history.”