Bakersfield College celebrates African American Heritage Month with numerous events
on campus and participation in events in the community.
History and Resources
African American Heritage Month began as Negro History Week in 1925. Started by historian
Carter G. Woodson and the organization he founded, Association for the Study of Negro
Life and History (ASNLH), the celebration of Black history and promotion of awareness
was expanded to a month in 1976. Discover more about African American Heritage Month
and the importance of Black history in the development of the American nation by visiting
these sites:
Bakersfield College Archives rescued this bust of an African-American man during the
Center for Student Services remodel. There was no label or plaque identifying the
model or sculptor. Do you know the model or sculptor for this bust? If you do, please
email bcarchives@bakersfieldcollege.edu!
Events at Bakersfield College
Monday, February 2, 2026
Black Military Figures
9:15-10:30 A.M. | Veterans Memorial Plaza, Panorama Campus
Join us at the Veterans Memorial Plaza as we celebrate Black Military Servicemembers.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Black Serving Institution (BSI) Recognition & Black History Month Kick-Off
10:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. | CSS Lawn
Join us for BSI Recognition and the official kick-off of Black History Month at Bakersfield
College!
Monday, February 2, 2026
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Caravan
11:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
Join us at the BC Main Campus for an exciting HBCU Caravan featuring representatives
from several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This event provides
students with the opportunity to learn about academic programs, admissions requirements,
scholarships, campus life, and application processes directly from HBCU admissions
counselors. Students can ask questions, explore their options, and gain valuable insight
into attending an HBCU.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Black History Month Movie Screening
4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. | Fireside Room
Movie screening of "I Am Not Your Negro" - a film that explores race relations in
America and its' impact. (This event was postponed until further notice)
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Guest Speaker: Garry Templeton
11:00 A.M.-1:00P.M. | Norman Levan Center, Panorama Campus
Please join us as we welcome guest speaker Garry Templeton - former Major League Baseball
player. He will be sharing stories of his professional experiences, records, post-baseball
life, and more.
Clinicians address African-American health and wellness and its impact on success
and community.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Guest Speaker: Lyle Martin
1:30 P.M.-2:30P.M. | Norman Levan Center, Panorama Campus
Please join us as we welcome guest speaker Lyle Martin - former Chief of Police at
the Bakersfield Police Department. He will be sharing stories of his professional
experiences, ;law enforcement reform, and more.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Umoja’s 8th Annual Black History Month Conference
9:30-2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
BC's Umoja Community invites you to attend their 8th Annual Black History Month Conference.
This day is designed for Umoja students, other motivated African-American students,
students/faculty/staff, and community members who are interested in learning more
about Umoja and celebrating African American culture. There will be guest panel, resource
fair and and artistic performance.
The event is FREE and includes snacks and lunch. Registration is required.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Black History Month Campus Stories
11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. | Norman Levan Center, Panorama Campus
In celebration of Black History Month, AAI is hosting Campus Stories - a guest panel
who will share personal stories of impact at BC as well as the larger community.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
BC Black History Month Celebration Brunch
10:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. | Renegade Event Center, Panorama Campus
In celebration of Black History Month, AAI is hosting Campus Stories - a guest panel
who will share personal stories of impact at BC as well as the larger community.
Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Caravan
12:00-2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center, Panorama Campus
The event is a great opportunity to explore your transfer options to Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Over 20 HBCUs will be visiting our campus
to share valuable information about the opportunities they offer and provide onsite
admission.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Umoja Club 7th Annual Black History Month Conference
9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
The conference is part cultural education to support, motivate, and uplift and part
celebration to engage and encourage black history.
Friday, February 7, 2025
annual Black History Month Kick-off Breakfast
8:00-9:00 A.M. | Renegade Room
Join us at the inaugural Black History Month kick-off event to celebrate Black History.
This event will mark the beginning of the month-long observance.
Monday, February 10, 2025
African American Public Safety Panel: Pathway to Success
Stop by and learn more about public safety and policing from former and current law
enforcement officers and firefighters.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Black Panther Movie Screening
4:00 P.M. | Fireside Room, Panorama Campus
Enjoy the curated space to support and affirm Black people and Black joy through a
free screening of the movie Black Panther
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Campus Stories, Voices of Black Scholars
11:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M. | Renegade Event Center, Panorama Campus
Hear inspiring stories from Black and African American scholars as they share their
personal journeys, challenges, and achievements in higher education. Join us after
the panel for a networking reception.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Black History Mobile Museum
10 A.M.-3:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center, Panorama Campus
The Black History 101 Mobil Museum has 10,000 original artifacts from shackles from
the enslavement period to "no colored allowed" signs to signed photographs of Angela
Davis. Presented by Umoja.
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Zuzu Acrobats
1:00-2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
The Zuzu Acrobats perform traditional Kenyan acrobatic skills set to high energy beats.
This event featured keynote speaker Brian E. Sibley and special live drumming performance.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Rise & Thrive: The Power of African American Administrators
8:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. | Norman Levan Center, Panorama Campus
Featured a special panel covering various topics including: diversity, equity, and
inclusion in administrative settings, and emphasizing the importance of representation
and unity.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Soul Reel: A Cinematic Journey Through Black History
6:30-9:00 P.M. | Fireside Room, Panorama Campus
A2MEND organized an evening of honor and discussion as we looked further at the cultural
impact that Black Panther and Wakanda Forever had on black culture, as well as, the impact of black representation in film. This
free event welcomed families and provided food and beverages.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Excellence Through Cultural Affirmation
12:30-2:30 P.M. | Norman Levan Center, Panorama Campus
Umoja Community ASTEP presented Excellence Through Cultural Affirmation, an interactive
Black History Month Presentation featuring guest speaker Nzingha Dugas.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
D.E.I Perspectives Luncheon: Navigating Unity in Administrative Settings
A2MEND presented an extraordinary experience at the D.E.I. Perspectives Luncheon:
Navigating Unity in Administrative Settings. In the Fireside Room, attendees immersed
themselves in an enlightening journey where three dynamic faculty members of color
tackled the crucial topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Attendees discovered
the significance of representation as they shared insights and strategies for fostering
diversity in administrative settings.
They engaged in an interactive session where carefully crafted questions were answered,
unraveling the secrets to creating a more inclusive organizational landscape. This
transformative luncheon transcended the ordinary, delivering an impactful experience
that will shape the future of unity in our professional environments.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Barber Shop Talk
3:30-5:30 P.M. | Campus Center 232, Panorama Campus
A2MEND presented this lesson on pushing boundaries and accepting breakthroughs at
this thought-provoking program. This event sought to create an inclusive space where
varied ideas can develop during this pivotal time. Share thoughts and tales as we
celebrate innovation and discuss ways to overcome barriers.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Campus Stories: Voices of Black Scholars at Bakersfield College
11:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
BCSGA highlighted the stories and experiences of our Black and African American students,
staff, and faculty at Bakersfield College and fostered a strong sense of affinity
on campus and in the local community. The panel discussion was followed by a networking
reception with refreshments.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Empowering Unity: Building Stronger Alliances for Black Communities
11:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M. | Levan Center, Panorama Campus
A2MEND organized an intimate lunch with guest speaker AJ Mada giving students a unique
opportunity to engage in insightful conversations, network with like-minded individuals,
and savor delicious cuisine.
5:30-8:00 P.M. | Renegade Events Center, Panorama Campus
A2MEND organized a special event where attendees had dinner with AJ Mada leading to
his speaking engagement from 6:30pm to 8:30P.M..
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Zuzu African Acrobats
6:00-7:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
The Zuzu Acrobats perform traditional Kenyan acrobatic skills set to high energy beats.
Presented by Umoja.
Monday, January 30, 2023
HBCU Caravan
11:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. | Renegade Event Center
Representatives from over 22 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
will be on the BC campus. Bring at least 10 copies of your transcripts for the chance
to get accepted on the spot, qualify for scholarships, and/or get your college application
fees waived at over 22 universities across the country. If you are interested in attending
an HBCU, please join us!
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Umoja's Black History Month Kick-Off
5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. | Simonson Indoor Theater
Umoja Community presents: Kick-Off Black History Month featuring Step Afrika - an
energetic performance of the history of stepping from Africa to today!
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Distinguished Speaker Dr. Eddie Cole
2:30 P.M. Levan Center & 7:00 P.M. Renegade Event Center
Dr. Eddie R. Cole is Associate Professor of Higher Education and Organizational Change
at UCLA. His research focuses on college presidents' historic role in shaping racial
policies and practices both inside and outside of the educational sphere. His book
The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom - called
“groundbreaking”, “essential”, and “required reading” by reviewers - was described
by New York Times-bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi as “a stunning and ambitious origin
story… embedded with breath-taking narratives recovered from meticulous research.”
Friday, February 17, 2023
Umoja Club 5th Annual Black History Month Conference
9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. | Simonson Indoor Theater
African drumming
Keynote on Black Wall Street
Resource Fair
Panel Discussion
Tuesday, February 4, 2022
The 4th Annual UMOJA Black History Month Conference
12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. for the 4th Annual Conference
Woke Black Folk: The Power of the Arts in Today's Movement for Unity and Liberation.
Join scholar and artist Funmilola Fagbamila for a performance and discussion on the
complexities of Black political identity and the power of the Arts.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Transfer to an Historically Black College or University: It's Easier Than You Think!
3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. for Transfer to an Historically Black College or University:
It's Easier Than You Think!
Want some culture with your quality education? Transfer to an HBCU.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Monday, February 28, 2022
Black History: The Missing Pages of World History
4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Black History: The Missing Pages of World History
You're invited to join a meeting - Black History: The Missing Pages of World History
with Jamaal Brown.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Distinguished Speaker: Justin Hansford
10:00 A.M. for Justin Hansford
Distinguished Speaker Series brings you civil rights activist, scholar, and law professor
Justin Hansford. He is a leading scholar and activist in the areas of critical race
theory, human rights, and law and social movements.
Gordon is a Visiting Scholar at the USC Games and head of the USC Bridge incubator
program, helping to cultivate the next generation of leaders in our craft. He has
played key business and product leadership roles at Tencent, Electronic Arts, as a
designer on Madden NFL Football, and MTV, and consulted for numerous companies in
the industry.
Friday, February 5, 2021
Umoja Club's 3rd Annual Black History Month Conference
9:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. | Live via Zoom
Join the Umoja Community Club for its Third Annual Black History Month Conference.
Washington, D.C. -based PsychoHairapist Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka is our dynamic speaker.
Weaving together hair, culture, and social issues - she will speak on "Untangling
Racial Trauma." Also, we will be captivated by the energetic African drumming and
dancing of Djelia Kadi.
Monday, February 3, 2020
HBCU Caravan
Renegade Crossroads
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Transfer Caravan made a stop at BC
to assist students with applications, provide information regarding admissions to
an HBCU, and to provide information regarding scholarships. If eligible, students
might have been admitted on the spot.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Distinguished Speaker Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Indoor Theater (livestreamed to Delano Campus 118)
In 2013, Patrisse Khan-Cullors co-founded the global movement with the viral twitter
hashtag #BlackLivesMatter which has since grown to an international organization with
dozens of chapters around the world fighting anti-Black racism.
Friday, February 7, 2020
Umoja Community Club's Black History Month Conference
Indoor Theater
Bakersfield College's Umoja Community ASTEP chapter celebrated Black History Month
with a conference themed "Hustle and Motivate: It's for the Culture”. Entertainment
was provided by Djelia Kadi, and keynote speaker was Terrance Minnoy.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Bakersfield Black American History Parade
Started at 21st and V Streets
The annual parade and Heritage Awards Festival are held the last Saturday of February
to celebrate Black History Month. The parade is free to the public starting at 21st
Street and V Street.
Bakersfield College History
1936 LeMoyne College v. BJC: First Interracial Debate
By Jerry Ludeke
Reprinted from: BC Archives Newsletter, Spring 2015, V14, Is1 P1-2
(left to right) LeMoyne College Debate Coach Boris Alexander and LeMoyne students
Charles Gilton and James Byas
The date is February 22, 1936. A headline in The Bakersfield Californian announces:
“FAMED LEMOYNE DEBATERS HERE: Noted Negro Forensic Team Will Meet J.C. Stars in Match
This Evening.” The next day's paper reports: “Big Throng Hears LeMoyne Debaters. An
interested audience heard the non-decision debate between Bakersfield Junior College
speakers and the LeMoyne College Negro debate team in the junior college lecture hall
Saturday night.” The topic was “Resolved: That Congress should have the power by two-thirds
majority to override decisions of the Supreme Court declaring legislation passed by
Congress unconstitutional.”
LeMoyne College (LeMoyne-Owen since 1968) is in the rich tradition of “private, church-related
colleges that have historically served Black students.” Located in Memphis, Tennessee,
Its roots go back to 1862. Over the years LeMoyne, as well as Bakersfield Junior College,
has been known for its strong debate teams.
Dr. Elton Weaver III, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of History at LeMoyne-Owen, is
currently writing a history of the LeMoyne debate program and contacted Bakersfield
College to confirm the match held here. A search did indeed confirm the match with
mention in the Raconteur, The Renegade Rip, and The Bakersfield Californian.
According to Dr. Weaver, “throughout the 1930s and 40s, Coach Boris Alexander arranged
for African-American debaters to participate in interracial debating tours to promote
good race relations between black and white college students. During the height of
American Apartheid—legalized racial segregation, Professor Alexander christened his
pre-Civil Rights intercollegiate and interracial tours experiments in ‘interracial
Goodwill.' ” One tour took them to the South Pacific and Australia.
We know from newspaper reports that the LeMoyne team debated in Los Angeles colleges
the days before and at UC Berkeley the day after they debated in Bakersfield. In the
1936 LeMoyne College Debate Log, Coach Alexander wrote: “Feb 22. Bakersfield Junior
College is one of the best debating schools in California, its representatives being
in the habit of winning all its debates … At Bakersfield we were entertained in the
house of Dr. and Mrs. George A. Landis, whose hospitality extended into Sunday afternoon.”
Actually the correct spelling of their hosts' name is Handis. Dr. George Handis was
a well-known and admired medical doctor. His wife, Lena Handis, was the first black
woman employed as a social worker in Kern County and was a sought after speaker in
the community. Mrs. Handis was selected to be the moderator of the debate between
BJC and LeMoyne. It is interesting to note that the two LeMoyne debaters, Charles
W. Gilton and James S. Byas, were sons of prominent black doctors.
In answering an inquiry about Boris Alexander, Dr. Weaver wrote: “Yes, Coach Alexander
was definitely white. He sincerely loved LeMoyne College and strove to help every
black student he came in contact with … He was a Russian immigrant who had escaped
Russia a few years after Lenin's Bolshevik take over… [He] always taught LeMoyne students
that, “The mind is the greatest weapon.' "
Dr. Weaver also wrote: “In my opinion, LeMoyne and Bakersfield's positive interracial
interaction illustrates both colleges' willingness to contribute to racial equality.”
Bakersfield Junior College at the time was under Miss Grace Bird's enlightened leadership.
