Lots of Events, but Low Turnout at Black History Events
From jazz concerts to film discussions the CCNY Black Studies Department found a wide range of ways to pay homage to the cultural and historical accomplishments of the African-American community during this year's Black History Month. Throughout February, students were offered a long list of events, including a month-long art exhibit with work reflecting a number of different black cultures (shown in photograph here), a series of lectures, and musical performances of styles from around the world.Although the calendar was packed full of events and the Black Studies Department tried its best to publicize everything that was going on, some organizers expressed concern about low turnout at many of them.English Professor and Black Studies Department Director Gordon Thompson and Afro-Latino History Professor Georgina Falu noticed a low number of students at the screening and discussion of the film "Freedom Riders" by award-winning CCNY alum Stanley Nelson. At one of the month's most anticipated events--the keynote address--speaker Harry Belafonte wondered where all the students were.Organizers consider Black History Month a success, even as they consider ways to drum up interest next year. Says Thompson: "I have to admit that we did not get these students, and I'm not sure about what it would take to get them in."Thompson says that a number of reasons explain the small numbers at some of the February activities. At a large college full of busy commuters, many with jobs and families, it's hard to get students out to anything. Organizers also say that a lack of funding for advertising didn't help their cause."They could stay, but there isn't a culture of staying around, and doing certain kinds of things," says Thompson. "So it takes a massive amount of work to get the audience that you want to bring in. You do see some events where you see a huge crowd, and you know that the push behind it was massive."Thompson sees Black History Month activities as an important element of CCNY's educational offerings, and whether or not students are participating to the degree that he hopes, he believes that the program has helped strengthen the Black Studies Department."It's been a long time since Black Studies put on this kind of much more intense Black History Month program," says Thompson. "This I would say would be one of the first major steps by Black Studies toward growth and in educating the student body about black studies, and history, and culture."While planning the month's events, Thompson and other organizers pushed to bring in speakers and plan events that highlight both the past and present. "I've discovered that in speaking and asking students about, especially recent history, that they're unfamiliar with it," he says."I think that we try to bring people on campus who will speak on subjects that may not get covered in courses and classes that are here," he adds.Despite small numbers of students at some events, Georgina Falu, finds hope in the ways black youth are developing to commemorate their heritage outside of school activities. "I think that this generation is really grasping it, but they are expressing their differences according to the times," she says.She specifically made reference to Puerto Rican youth who are increasingly embracing their "Afro descent" through dance and a heightened appreciation for the culture."There are many other signals that the youth are proud of who they are, and intend to keep the pressure for more learning to be taught in schools, where for a long, long time it hasn't been taught," says Falu.Adds second-year student Keisha Berry, "The celebration of black history should be every day."
