UNIVERISTY PARK — Penn State University is set to host a range of events throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month.
Having already hosted “The Joyfull ‘PURPLE’ Edition” on Wednesday, Jan. 29, “Black Women’s Brunch, on Saturday, Feb. 1, “Black Activism in the 1800s: A Virtual Tour of Resources through Penn State’s Center for Black Digital Research” on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and “What Does PURPLE Sound Like?” on Wednesday, Feb. 4, these are the events scheduled for the month:
2025 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Hosted by the Penn State School of Music, this event started on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and will run through Saturday, Feb. 8. The theme for the event is Spirituals and The Blues.
“The 2025 African American Music Festival promises to be an inspiring celebration of music that reflects the soul and history of African American culture,” Penn State News stated.
Student vocalists will perform at Eisenhower Chapel in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at Bach’s Lunch Concert at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6. On the same day, there will be an Instrumental Ensembles Recital at 7:30 p.m. in Music Building 1’s Recital Hall.
On Friday, Feb. 7, at 2:30 p.m. in Music Building 1’s Recital Hall, a Common Hour that will feature student performances will be held, and The Cyrus Chestnut Jazz Trio and D. K. Harrell Blues Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre.
On the last day of the festival, Saturday, Feb. 8, guest conductors Michele Fowlin and Omar Dickerson will oversee a performance by different Penn State choirs at 1 p.m. in the Worship Hall in Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.
‘FIRE THROUGH DRY GRASS’ FILM SCREENING
A virtual film screening of “Fire Through Dry Grass” will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, on Zoom.
“Penn State Sustainability and WPSU are hosting this online film screening detailing the experience of disabled African American artists in a New York City nursing home trying to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting the disproportionate impacts the pandemic had on communities of color and those with health preconditions,” Penn State News said.
After the film screening, a panel discussion will take place.
Preregistration for the event is required.
PRCC BLACK HISTORY MONTH FUN FRIDAY
The Black Caucus, Black Graduate Student Association and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center will host the second annual “Black History Month Fun Friday,” on Friday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 122 HUB-Robeson Center, Heritage Hall. The event will feature music by DJ Bennie, free food and games.
DOUGLASS DAY 2025
Douglass Day 2025 will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.
“In collaboration with the Library of Congress, participants of the Center for Black Digital Research’s annual event honoring the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass will transcribe material from the African American Perspectives Collection on the LOC’s By the People platform,” Penn State News wrote.
Transcribed materials will go live on the Douglass Day. Multiple Penn State campuses will host Douglass Day, with the University Park event taking place in the Dewey Collaboration Commons, ground floor West Pattee Library.
‘BROTHER YOU’RE ON MY MIND’
“Brother You’re On My Mind” will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. According to Penn State News, it will provide “an opportunity for program attendees to engage in conversations centered upon de-stigmatizing mental health, increasing mental health awareness and promoting therapy as both an impactful tool and preventive measure.”
The event is a collaboration between the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the Black Emotions Advocate Team and the Black Male Leadership Symposium and will feature keynote speaker Johnie Geathers.
‘WILLIAM STILL: FATHER OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD’ ONLINE COURSE
OLLI at Penn State University Park will host this online course from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, on Zoom.
The course will be presented by John Grant.
Registration is required.
‘BLACK CHEFS IN THE WHITE HOUSE’ FEATURING ADRIAN MILLER
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center in collaboration with Student Affairs and World Campus will host “Black Chefs in the White House” featuring Adrian Miller from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, on Zoom.
“ This virtual event offers an engaging and educational journey through the lives of African Americans who have served as cooks for U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama,” the event’s website state. “Adrian Miller will focus on the achievements and contributions of these skilled individuals, drawing from his book “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet” to showcase their stories.”
To register for the event, visit orgcentral.psu.edu/event/10826448.
LAKECIA BENJAMIN
Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Eisenhower Auditorium. Penn State News noted that Benjamin’s performance “fuses traditional conceptions of jazz, hip-hop and soul with her roots in Latin dance music.”
EXHIBITION TOUR “DEFINING THE NEW NEGRO: VOICES OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE A CENTURY LATER”
A tour of the exhibit “Defining the New Negro: Voices of the Harlem Renaissance a Century Later” a the Pattee Library will be held by the curator of the exhibit from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. After, from 11:30 to noon, an open house of the Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora will be held.
QTPOC FASHION SHOW
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center in collaboration with QTPOC will host “a gender-affirming fashion show inspired by the queer ballroom culture of the 1970s and 1980s,” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center.
“Participants are encouraged to walk the runway in outfits that make them feel confident in their gender identity,” Penn State News noted.
For more information about each event or to pre-register for events that require it, visit psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/penn-state-campuses-celebrate-commemorate-black-history-month-2025,
