February is Black History Month, and Cleveland State University has a full slate of special programming for the community lined up in the coming weeks.

Wednesday, February 2: CSU’s Campus Activities Board and Black Student Union celebrate Black culture with food, music, painting and conversation from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Student Center Atrium, 2121 Euclid Avenue.

Tuesday, February 8: CSU’s Black Student Union hosts Black History Kahoot. Bring a friend and join in the fun. Come learn or show your knowledge of black history. Part of Black Student Union Week.

Wednesday, February 9: Part of the 2022 Courageous Conversations series, The State of Black Health and Wellbeing in America trains the spotlight on enduring health inequalities for Black and brown people, front-and-center in the media since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020. Moderator Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, Ph.D. CSU’s vice president for campus engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion leads the Zoom discussion from 6 – 7:15 p.m. Register to attend.

Thursday, February 10: Join CSU’s Black Student Union for Black Love Matters, which includes a showing of “a classic love story” reflecting attitudes and behavior in marriage and romantic relationships. Part of Black Student Union Week.

Wednesday, February 16: Part of the 2022 Courageous Conversations series, Why Are Most Chief Diversity Officers Black/Brown Folks? dives into the hiring of Black and brown people for public relations points, then consigning them to “diversity” positions instead of preparing them for leadership. Moderator Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, Ph.D., CSU’s vice president for campus engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion leads the Zoom discussion from 6 – 7:15 p.m. Register to attend.

Thursday, February 17: In conjunction with the CSU Galleries exhibition, Blaque Cleveland: Thursday Night Art Talk features artist Isiah Williams from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Learn about the artist’s approach to his artform and the many stories and cultural significances behind Williams’ works on view now at CSU. Exhibition runs now through mid-March.

Saturday, February 19: CSU’s Wolstein Center hosts the NBA HBCU Classic with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup of Howard University vs. Morgan State University men’s basketball teams. Part of NBA All-Star Weekend 2022.

Saturday, February 19: CSU’s Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center presents the virtual Conversation with Frank “Bishop” McDuffie. Laurinburg Institute’s president and third-generation leader offers a dialogue on how Laurinburg blossomed from the Tuskegee Institute and Booker T. Washington’s leadership. A tribute to late Boston Celtics shooting guard Samuel “Mr. Clutch” Jones, an all-star and ten-time NBA champ, is planned. Tributes to the late Drs. Howard A. Mims and A. Grace Lee Mims punctuate the program.

Wednesday, February 23: CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and the CSU School of Film and Media Arts launch the Social Justice Film Series with 137 Shots, an in-person panel discussion from 5-7 p.m. in the law school’s Moot Court Room featuring Mike Milano, a native Clevelander and the director of Netflix’s 137 Shots on Netflix. Milano will be joined on the panel by other Clevelanders who are featured in the acclaimed documentary film, and Russ Mitchell, WKYC-TV3 anchor, will moderate the discussion. Register to attend.

A link to view the film on Netflix will be sent up to 7 days before the panel so that the audience will have the opportunity to see the film before the discussion.

Thursday, February 24: CSU’s Black Student Union presents the Black Love Beauty Pageant in the Student Center Atrium (2121 Euclid Avenue) from 6 – 10 p.m. This bold celebration of beauty, culture, identity, fashion and empowerment is part of Black Student Union Week.

Friday, February 25: The Unite & Prosper Gala caps CSU’s Black Student Union Week events. Enjoy a night full of music, food, fun and networking in the Student Center, 7 – 11 p.m.

Saturday, February 26: In conjunction with CSU’s Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, the annual Carter G. Woodson and Madam C. J. Walker Extravaganza Zoom Webinar starts at 7 p.m. with a virtual block party on Cleveland’s Larchmere Boulevard, where new Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin resides. Cultural presentations including poetry, music/vocal presentations and a fashion show round out the events. Register and join the Zoom by clicking here.