Upcoming Events for Black History Month

February means many things for different people; with several events and holidays taking place over this month. However, perhaps the most important distinction given to February is being the time of Black History Month. Several events are planned around the state, and the UAA Black Student Union, in partnership with the Anchorage branch of the NAACP, will be hosting several of these events with UAA students of all backgrounds encouraged to attend.

A few of these events have already occurred, and have both provided immense insight into Black community issues and fun times out while supporting and celebrating Black-owned businesses. These have included a virtual seminar from Dr. Frank Leon Roberts, a “Black Lives Matter Professor” who has been on the frontline of the contemporary Black Lives movement, on the 4th; and a student-led panel hosted by the UAA Black Student Union on the 5th that discussed the issue of “colorism” in the Black community. The event was held at the Anchorage Museum Theater and was free for all to attend.

Fret not about missing any of the above events, as this week there are several chances to take part in UAA student-led events. These include two showings of movies that, in their own unique ways, perfectly capture the theme of this time of year. The first film, “For The Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska,” is unique in that the subject of the documentary is actually a Tlingit woman by the name of Elizabeth Petratrovich; an activist whose testimony helped pass the anti-discrimination act of 1945 through the Alaska Territorial Senate, a civil rights bill that made Alaska the first state to reject “Jim Crow” laws and provided a groundwork for future movements in not just the Native Alaskan community, but the Black community as well. A discussion will be held after the film’s showing that will help identify the contemporary effects of Elizabeth’s fight, as well as methods for modern activism. It will all be held on February 16th, which is also Elizabeth Peratrovich day, on Zoom from 1-2:30 pm; hosted by the Alaska Center. More information and the link to the showing can be found on the Alaska Center’s Facebook Page.

The second film, “The Harder They Fall” directed by Jeymes Samuel, takes a unique approach in being a revisionist western tale released in 2021. Without spoiling too much, the film follows an outlaw, Nat Love, and his gang on a mission to take down their enemy, Rufus Buck. The film has an almost exclusively Black and Latino cast featuring the acting prowesses of Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, and Regina King to name only a few. While the film was first released as a Netflix exclusive, Century 16 in Anchorage will host a special showing of the movie at 7:00 pm on February 17th. Even better, UAA students get a special offer; $5 for a ticket including popcorn and a drink. This is thanks to the UAA at the Movies program, a partnership between Century 16 and the University that allows students to attend special showings of some of the biggest films every month. To attend, buy a ticket at UAAtix.com. The film is rated R.

If you find yourself hungry over the weekend, consider swinging by Jazzy’s Gourmet Popcorn, a Black-owned business located at Eagle River on the Old Glenn Highway, for a free bag of their renowned popcorn. Their wide variety of cheese and caramel flavors makes their Kettle corn second to none, and this offer is available to any UAA student who brings their wolf card. 

Later in the month, a student-led virtual panel will be held as part of “Conversation Cafe”, held during every “heritage month” for students to discuss current matters relevant to their community. The topic for the discussion on February 23rd will be “The Politics of being BIPOC at Work”; which will be an open dialogue about implied racial meanings behind “professional” work standards in most companies, how racism and other forms of oppression can show up in the workplace, and the unique strengths BIPOC employees bring into their fields. The event is open for all to attend, and if you would like to take part in the discussion, all that needs to be done for students is filling out the Google form and providing your email address to be sent the Zoom link.

Finally, to cap off a month of celebration, remembrance, and discussion with a light-hearted bang; the Student Union Den will host a Free Student Karaoke Night with a special performance from comedian Alex Babbit at 8 pm on February 28th. Often known by his stage name of “Mr. Babbit”, Alex has recently been featured on HBO’s All Def Comedy and will be making his first-ever performance in Alaska after starting his career in New York. Attendees for the karaoke and comedy event will also get to enjoy free Uncle Joe’s Pizza.

These events, most of which were planned by the Student Union or involve student-led programs in some way, are some of the most immediate results we can find of our student fees being put into action. It’s recommended to attend these events if you can as not only will you get to have a fun time with friends or even expand your knowledge on the most pressing matters of the current political and social landscape, but you will also be celebrating, uplifting and listening to the Black voices and culture of the entire state and beyond.