Do We Need Black History Month?

36 years after Black History Week expanded to a month, Shukree Hassan Tilghman asks the provocative question, “Do we need Black History Month?”  In his film, More Than a Month, Tilghman examines how Black History Month has evolved and brings into question how we teach history in this country.  What is the role of Black history in the greater scope of American history?  By designating a month, do we time-bound and limit the attention we give to Black history in America?  Who does Black history belong to?  This film offers a great opportunity to see how these interesting issues are being addressed within the African American community, and in the nation as a whole.

More Than a Month will screen at the DCJCC on February 26 as part of our Community Cinema Café series in partnership with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and PBS’s Independent Lens.

Got Weekend Plans?

Three suggestions:

1) Catch one of the last three performances of Sandra Bernhardt’s revival of her one-woman show Without You I’m Nothing. The 8pm show on Saturday is sold out, but there are limited tickets available for the late nite show and the Sunday matinee.

2) Come to the first Community Cinema Café screening at the Washington DCJCC this Sunday at 3pm. This month’s free screeing previews the award-winning documentary The Chicago 10.

3) Still buzzing from the debates? Take some time to work on a t-shirt design for our Indecision 5769 Election Night Party.

Rosh Hashanah starts Monday night, so I’ll be fitting in some last-minute sins to repent for next week.