Black History Month 2021

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February 2021

February is Black History Month and a great opportunity to celebrate the many contributions African Americans have made in our local communities and state, to this country and to the world. The Center for Diversity, Interfaith and Inclusion is sponsoring several events in recognition of Black History:

The Black History Art Contest co-sponsored with the IT Department is based on the poem, “The Hill We Climb,” by National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman. Please see COBRAnnouncements for Details. A musical and poetry performance by Bhakti Hough and accompanists as well as a presentation by Coker Professor Dr. Danny Malone are all exciting events planned for this February.

Additionally, while we have this specific month to highlight achievements and focus on those that have been outstanding leaders and accomplished great things in their field, it is also a reminder that recognition and acknowledgement of the role African Americans have played and continue to play in the advancement of all fields is an ongoing conversation and should be included in our discussions about great leadership, innovation and inspiration throughout the year.

Presidential Black History Speech

February 8, 2021 — 7:00 PM

SGA President Mahari Greene will be delivered a Black History Month speech LIVE on ZOOM. Thanks to all who joined us for this event.
BHM Event: Student Panel

February 15, 2021 — 7:00 PM

Coker Students on Black Experiences: A Panel Presentation

Sponsored by African American Studies and The Center for Diversity, Interfaith and Inclusion Education. This panel will feature the research of Coker students from various courses open to all students. Our guest moderator will be Coker alumnus Eimari Bradley (’18).
BHM Guest Performer: Bhakti Hough

February 17, 2021 — 6:00 PM

Jazzy Poetic: Singing in a Strange Land: Musical and Literary Artistic Expression in the African American Quest for Freedom

An educational and entertaining journey through the musical and literary artistic expressions of African American people in their quest to endure and protest slavery and oppression, vent pain and grief, celebrate their history and culture, and give voice to their agency and infinitely creative spirits. Teaching artist, vocalist, percussionist, and lay historian Bhakti Larry Hough will lead listeners and viewers on the journey through African drumming, field hollers, prison and work songs, the Blues, jazz, and poetry with musical performances and historical exposition. The repertoire will include mostly well-known standards, but also Bhakti’s own original works that have been inspired and influenced by the musical and literary arts of his African and African American ancestors. He will be accompanied on keyboards and woodwinds by William Gerald and Tamir Mubarak, respectively.
Bhakti Hough Biography

Bhakti Larry Hough is a multidisciplinary teaching and performing artist and presenter who uses the arts, history, and the humanities to educate, inform, inspire, and entertain. He is president and artist-in-residence at Bhakti’s NewWorld Arts, whose mission is to promote higher order thinking, social justice, human rights and interracial and inter-ethnic understanding and harmony through educational, inspiring and entertaining cultural artistic experiences for adults and children. A native of Hartsville living in Bishopville, he is an award-winning writer and journalist, singer/songwriter, poet and African drummer, and jazz combo and choir leader. He is on the SC Arts Commission’s Roster of Approved Artists and has served as artist-in-residence in more 20 South Carolina public schools, including the Thornwell School for the Arts in Hartsville and the Darlington County Intervention School in Darlington. He has taught introductory African drumming classes at the Black Creeks Arts Center in Hartsville. The Bhakti Project, his jazz combo headlined the Jazz! Carolina festival in Hartsville twice. Also, he’s had a long career in radio broadcasting as a station general manager, program director, and producer and host of jazz and public affairs talk shows. He is a charter member and former chairman of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission. He now serves as a creative communications consultant to the SCAAHC as producer/host of a live streaming show called Drumbeat and an oral history interviewer for its Black Carolinians Speak: Portraits of a Pandemic initiative.
BHM Presenter: Dr. Danny Malone

February 22, 2021 — 4:00 PM

The Gift of Black Folk: Contributions of African Americans to the American Experience

A review and appreciation of the many contributions African Americans have made across many areas of American life. From public intellectuals, artists, activists, scientists, to the 44th president of the United States, America is not America without what Dr. W.E.B. DuBois calls, “The Gift of Black Folk”. I will detail a number of individuals and their gifts that have made all of our lives better.
Danny Malone Biography

Danny Malone is from Houston, Texas and is currently in his fifth year as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Coker University. He earned his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2017 and currently serves as the coordinator of the Sociology program and the coordinator of the African American Studies Specialization. His teaching mantra comes from Dr. W.E.B DuBois: Education must not simply teach work, it must teach Life. Outside of his role as professor, Danny loves spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Shanelle.
Success at Coker and Beyond

February 24, 2021 — 6:30 PM

How Black Alumni Have Connected their Coker Experience to Career Success
A zoom meeting presented by the Offices of Alumni Engagement and Student Engagement. Thank you to all who joined us!
BHM Performer: Ethan Dumas

February 26, 2021

The Agnostic Vodouisant

Choreographer and Performer: Ethan Dumas
Music: I Put A Spell On You by Alice Smith
Ethan’s Description: This is an improvisational work that was inspired by the musical stylings of Nina Simone. In “I Put A Spell On You,” Ms.Simone sings about casting a spell on her lover knowing that he is already hers in efforts to bring them closer. I wanted to redirect the strong need for her lover to the need for equality and equity in society today. The purpose of this work is to encourage devotion to conversations that will bring individuals of different backgrounds closer together.

WATCH WITH MUSIC ON VIEWSYNC
Ethan Dumas Biography

Ethan Dumas is currently pursuing his Bachelors in Arts in Dance Education with a K-12 Teaching Certification from Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina. Ethan has participated in works choreographed by Dejan Tubic, Xu Ying, and Meghan Thompson as well as his own choreography. Most recently Ethan has performed his solo “The Snake That Finished Himself” in the Composition 1 Spring Showcase at Coker University and repertoire with the Coker Repertory Dance Company. Ethan one day hopes to pursue a career in commercial dance and would like to thank all artists who have inspired him.