Black History Month 2021 at USC will include virtual student performances and interactive art and yoga workshops. (Graphic/K Selnick)
USC to celebrate Black History Month with thoughtful discussions and a film festival
The universitywide commemoration features virtual events led by students, faculty and alumni that highlight Black culture, intersectionality and achievement at USC and beyond.
USC is celebrating Black History Month in February with a series of virtual events that include student performances, a film festival, public forums on criminal justice and health inequities, and interactive art and yoga workshops.
The universitywide celebration features events from students, faculty and alumni groups that showcase Black history, culture, intersectionality and achievement at USC and abroad. Scroll through a few highlights below; you can also find a full, updated list of online happenings on the 2021 USC Black History Month event calendar.
Tuesday, Feb. 9 — Conversation with Black Law Enforcement
The relationship between police and the community has been at the forefront since George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020. However, the perspective of Black law enforcement professionals hasn’t always been part of that conversation. This panel will explore what it’s like to be a Black police officer in today’s society and how to fight institutional racism and white supremacy from within police departments. This panel is organized by the Safe Communities Institute, the USC Black Alumni Association and the Department of Public Safety.
Wednesday, Feb. 17 — FRO Fest
A showcase of short films curated by Black Trojan filmmakers. FRO stands for Films Reflecting Ourselves. The festival gives audiences a chance to see films and stories they might not normally be exposed to, which is particularly noteworthy due to the lack of diverse representation in mass media. This event is sponsored by the USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC Fisher Museum of Art and the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs.
Friday, Feb. 19 — Black Fulbrighters: Experiences Abroad
Hear directly from Black Trojan Fulbright scholars about their experiences living abroad, their projects and what it was like to be as ambassadors of the United States. The panel includes 2016 graduate Azmera Hammouri-Davis and 2019 graduate Amri Rigby. Hammouri-Davis traveled to Brazil to study Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art, and Rigby wrote a feature film based in Kampala, Uganda, that she is currently directing.
Tuesday, Feb. 23 — Black Women and Health Care Discrimination
Whether it’s related to infertility, pregnancy, mental health or other factors, Black women in the U.S. face high levels of discrimination in health care. In this panel discussion hosted by Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, health care experts will discuss Black women’s experiences and what can be done to provide more equitable health care.
Friday, Feb. 26 — ‘All-Negro Comics’ and Counter-histories of Race in the Golden Age
In 1947, the first comic book written and illustrated entirely by Black artists hit newsstands. The comic featured crime, adventure, fantasy and humor stories specifically created to disrupt the popular and profitable racial caricatures of the day. This panel discussion explores the publication’s significance and what we can learn from its inaugural stories and characters.
