In honor of Black History Month February 2024, Eastern Washington University’s Africana Studies presents: Afropolitanism: Expressing Black Joy

Africana Studies has partnered with departments and programs across campus to offer a wide range of events throughout the month with plenty of opportunities to learn and connect with the campus community.

Join us at any of the upcoming events:

Those needing accommodations should email Angela Schwendiman

Afrobeats & Hip-Hop
Masterclass with Urban Culture of Spokane on African Dance
Thursday, February 1st | Noon – 1pm | PUB NCR

Observe a masterclass with Kiara “KiKi” White on traditional West African and African American dances featuring music from Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States – or get on the dance floor, bust a move, and join the fun!

Why Recognize Proteins When Fats Taste So Good?
Presentation by Dr. Dequina Nicholas 
Friday, February 2nd | 2 – 3pm | JFK Library Auditorium

Learn more about Dr. Nicholas’s (University of California, Irvine) research, which explores the intersection between the nutrient environment, the immune system, and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. Brought to you by the EWU Board of Trustees Diversity Initiative Grant – ‘Diversifying EWU STEM through the Science and Stories of Marginalized Communities’

Local Black Artists on Display!
Featuring Robert “Bob” Lloyd (EWU Art Professor Emeritus), Amber Hoit, and Tracy Pindexter-Canton
Tuesday, February 6th | 12 – 1:30pm | PUB NCR
Join us for a Q&A session at 12:30pm

Enjoy the rich artistry of Bob Lloyd and other creative artists who interpret the African American experience in its majesty and range of beauty. Listen as they share their stories of inspiration, how they define their artistic expression, and reveal the legacy they hope to leave behind.

Food From the Diaspora
Brought to you by Spokane’s Feast World Kitchen
Thursday, February 8th | 12-1:30pm | PUB NCR

Taste the flavorful, authentic spices and aromas of Ethiopian and West African cuisine brought to you from native chefs from Spokane’s Feast World Kitchen. Enjoy food from the diaspora!

• Siga Wot – spicy (beef with potato) cooked with avocado oil & clarified butter
• Kiki Wot not spicy, cooked clarified butter
• Lentil Wot, (misir), vegetarian dish cooked with avocado oil (vegan)
• Marinated Chicken
• Rice with vegetable and curry and turmeric
• Baklava walnut, pistachio, clarified butter
• Injera (bread) and salad

From African Immigrants, Black, to African American – Personal Journeys to Discovering Black Identity
Presented by BSU Student Panel
Thursday, February 15th | Noon – 1pm | JFK Auditorium

Hear from Eastern’s BSU students as they share the challenges, nuances, and complexities of self-acceptance and group acceptance within Black communities from the African immigrant, Black, and African American perspectives.

Black Maternal Health – Girl, Get a Doula!
Presentation with Stephanie Courtney
Tuesday, February 20th | Noon – 1:30pm | Tawanka 215

Laugh, enjoy, and engage in wonderful conversation as Stephany Courtney tackles serious health issues that plague Black maternal health and focuses on helping BIPOC women obtain health equity and social justice.

Recognizing Eastern’s Tenured Black Professors
A Historical Tribute Ceremony
Thursday, February 22nd | Noon – 1pm | Hargreaves Reading Room 201

Long time coming but finally arriving, we congratulate and honor the efforts of some of our valiant tenured Black professors whose contributions have impacted students, shaped minds, and left lasting impressions on the annals of academia and time.

Realizing Authentic Black Identity at Eastern Washington University
Presentation with Angela Schwendiman
Tuesday, February 27th | Noon – 1pm | Patterson 126

Join an open discussion as we explore removing the mask and becoming our authentic selves as Black, diasporic people undergoing a transformation of self, embracing an emerging consciousness, and expressing appreciation and joy in Black identity development. How do we experience it and how do we support others in their journey to self-acceptance?

Presidents Dialogue on Diversity
Presentation with Dr. China Jude
Wednesday, February 28th | Noon – 1pm| Hargreaves Reading Room 201

Learn More

Afropolitan Projects and Diasporic Cultural Politics: Context, Contest, and Connections
Presentation with Dr. Anima Adjepong
Thursday, February 29th | Noon – 1pm | Showalter 109
Zoom option available

Dr. Adjepong examines the diverse cultural and transnational strategies through which Ghanaians position themselves as citizens of the world. The Afropolitan is a politic, identity, and aesthetic that insists on elevating Africa’s place on a global stage. Afropolitan Projects demonstrate how the politics of race, class, gender, and sexuality shape the way an increasingly class-privileged cohort of Africans connect with others on the continent and in the diaspora.

Thursday, February 29th
Noon | Join us via Zoom

In my book, Afropolitan Projects: Redefining Blackness, Sexualities and Culture from Houston to Accra, I examine the diverse cultural and transnational strategies through which Ghanaians position themselves as citizens of the world.

The Afropolitan is a politic, identity, and aesthetic that insists on elevating Africa’s place on a global stage. Afropolitan Projects demonstrate how a politics of race, class, gender, and sexuality shape the way an increasingly class-privileged cohort of Africans connect with others on the continent and in the diaspora.

In this presentation, I have three aims:

• First, I outline how immigration policies such as the U.S. Diversity Visa Program and African national contexts such as state failures and access to higher education have shaped the emergence of this “new” African diaspora.
• Second, focusing on the politics of return, global anti-blackness, and anti-queer movements, I illuminate some of the political contests that inform Afropolitan projects in the African diaspora.
• Third, I provide an analysis of what this context and contests offer by way of transnational connections and diasporic solidarity.

Through this analysis, I invite audiences to consider how Afropolitan Africa as a contemporary Black diasporic site presents opportunities and pitfalls in the struggle for Black liberation.

Author Bio: Anima Adjepong is the author of Afropolitan Projects: Redefining Blackness, Sexualities and Culture from Houston to Accra, founder of Silent Majority, Ghana, a nonprofit that engages indigenous Ghanaian knowledge and collective organizing to champion queer freedom in Ghana, and Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Cincinnati.

Spokane Convention Center | Centennial Ballroom – 300 BCD

Hosted by: 

• Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good
• EWU Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Africana Studies
• Black Student Union

Schedule: 

11:30 – 12:15pm | Light Refreshments & Explore the Resource Fair

12:30 – 1:30pm | Keynote Speakers

1:30 – 2:30pm | Activism 101 Workshop

2:30 – 3:30pm | Panel Discussion

Following the Rally and March in Downtown Spokane

Keynote Speakers: 12:30 – 1:30pm

Continuing the Legacy: Activism in the 21^st Century

Betsy Wilkerson | Spokane City Council 

Emphasis is to motivate participants to embrace the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and become advocates for social change.

Empowering Students of Color:
Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Oscar Harris | Chief Family and Community Engagement Officer for Spokane Public Schools

Designed to provide a platform for understanding the history and current landscape of activism, particularly as it pertains to students of color.

Creating Change: The Role of Faculty and Staff
in Student Activism

Dr. Robin Kelley | Chief Diversity Officer at Gonzaga University

Tailored to foster a sense of unity among attendees and to encourage collaboration between students, faculty, and staff that contributes to an inclusive campus environment.

Activism 101 Workshop: 1:30 – 2:30pm

Principles & Practical Tools of Activism

Lisa Gardner | Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the City of Spokane and President of the Spokane NAACP

A hands-on workshop exploring the fundamental principles of activism and providing practical tools for effective advocacy.

Panel Discussion: 2:30 – 3:30pm

A facilitated conversation with speakers and activists, Betsy Wilkerson, Dr. Oscar Harris, Dr. Robin Kelley, and Lisa Gardner. Panelists will share their thoughts on engaging in activism today and answer questions from the audience.

All are Welcome! 

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson organized the first celebration of Black History Week. The scholar quickly disproved doubts that he could muster enough Black history to last more than 2-3 days and pushed for the expansion of the celebration to a month.

Black History Month provides a unique lens to view the Black American experience from the perspective of Blacks. Such a perspective humanizes the dehumanized, centers the marginalized, and provides dignity to a people who were once deemed uneducable and denied their inalienable rights.

Black History Month celebrates the victory of all Americans when we value the voices of those who were historically perceived as the least. It symbolizes the possibility of America living up to its democratic principles by recognizing the experiences and contributions of Blacks whose ancestors arrived by force and in chains to the New World.

This year Africana Studies partnered with the Multicultural Center, Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Eagle Entertainment, Sorority and Fraternity Life and the departments of history, anthropology, and modern languages and literature to host a series of events for members of the campus and community to come together and learn and celebrate.

Black Owned Business Pop-Up Shop

This event welcomed black owned businesses to campus to sell their products and/or set up a table to promote their businesses.

The Easterner wrote a great story about the event.

Food from the Diaspora – Africa

The Africana Studies program brought authentic cuisine from Eastern and Western Africa to campus for all to enjoy. Everyone got to enjoy amazing authentic Ethiopian-Eritrean food such as injera (pancake-like flatbread), Spice chicken stew (door wot), salad, lentil stews (misir wot), kiki wot (split pea stew), and many more dishes. And from Nigeria, they experienced seasoned oven baked chicken with jollaf rice and collard greens.

The Easterner wrote a great story about the event.

Sydney Guillaume – Haitian Music Composer

The Africana Studies Program partnered with the Music Program to welcome Haitian music composer Sydney Guillaume to Spokane where he performed a commissioned piece with the Spokane Symphony at the Fox Theatre.

In addition, Sydney returned in March to talk with EWU students in multiple classrooms about overcoming many challenges as a Black Haitian musician and shared his unique life experiences and perspectives.

Sydney’s visit was covered by KHQ: Sydney Guillaume Performs at the Fox Theater

Learn more about Sydney and his trip to Spokane in this article by the Spokesman Review: Spokane Symphony will perform world premiere of a new work by Portland composer Sydney Guillaume

Dr. Bettina Love – Living a Hip Hop and Abolitionist Life

Dr. Love discussed how Hip-Hop Civics Ed, when linked to the framework of intersectionality and abolitionist teaching, creates a space where Black lives matter and analytic sensibilities are nurtured to engage youth in the work of fighting for visibility, inclusion and justice.

Her talk ended by calling for us all to not only teach students about racial violence, oppression and how to make sustainable change in their communities through innovative and radical civic curriculum, but also to expose youth to the possibilities that come with envisioning a world built on Black Joy, creativity, imagination, boldness, ingenuity, and the rebellious spirit and methods of abolitionists.

In addition to an amazing presentation by Dr. Bettina Love, Angela Schwendiman Recognized for Her Outstanding Work at EWU

Dr. Bettina Love – Respect the Process: Examining Our Social Justice Perspectives

This event was open to faculty and staff and through interactive activities, this workshop helped participants examine their own perspectives of their social justice work and ideas about diversity, privilege and intersectionality. Participants gained a better understanding of how institutional power that reproduces injustice, social exclusion and oppression, despite our best efforts, is embedded in our social justice work.

The Cheney Free Press wrote about Dr. Love’s visit: EWU hosts Abolitionist Bettina Love for Black History Month

And KHQ interview Dr. Love and participants of the events: Eastern Washington University hosts guest speaker for Black History Month

Divine 9 Panel

Co-hosted by the Black Student Union Club, members of the nine historically Black Greek Letter Organizations spoke and answered questions about how the Divine 9 can be brought back to EWU’s campus.

First Generation Black Student Panel

A panel of four current EWU students talked about their experience here at Eastern as Black students, and their stories on the trials and tribulations that they have gone through and have faced as first-generation students.

African American Black Experience – The Role of Social Movements in Shaping Black Identity with Angela Schwendiman

For centuries, social movements have shaped and characterized Black identity and the African American experience. In the 21st century, people of African descent seek social justice and racial equality by establishing community and fostering activism through social media. Angela Schwendiman talk explores social movements and social media as mechanisms to dismantle systemic racism and redefine Blackness and Black identity as a collective experience.

Attendee Paul Merchant from IT wrote: “It should have been at least 2 hours long, however. I would have enjoyed more stories…there is something hopeful, at least to me, in being told of a movement that cherishes individual liberties (cherishes them to the point of recognizing that free markets are a part of individual liberties)”

First Silent Auction – Africana Studies Fundraiser

Every year, Africana Studies ends Black History Month with a silent auction where all donations go towards student scholarships and other educational programming for our students. We want to thank the Cheney, Spokane, and EWU Communities, as well as other businesses around the state of Washington and Idaho — for donating items to be auctioned off.

We had Seattle Mariners Tickets, golf course passes, tattoo certificates and more! Every year we get a number of donations and we look forward to seeing what comes in next year!

Next Year Thoughts/ Support Africana Studies from Program Director Angela Schwendiman.

What a delight it was this year to have scholar/activist Dr. Bettina Love as the keynote speaker for Black History Month. She passionately shared her knowledge and wisdom of the cultural contributions and historical influences of African traditions to Black American joy and survival. Dr. Love’s presence was an example of how Eastern Washington University provides opportunities for transformative experiences to the public.

Next year, Africana Studies hopes to continue to bring quality guest speakers and talented artists from the Black community, food from the African diaspora, participation from local Black vendors for the pop-up shop, the annual Silent Auction, and more for our Black History Month celebration. All of this requires the continued support of our campus partners as well as donations from alumni and community supporters.

We encourage everyone to visit the Africana Studies Program website, check out our features and course offerings, and make a pledge of support. No contribution is too small to help provide culturally enriching events for Black History Month and throughout the year.

Every year the National College Resources Foundation hosts the Black College Expo in Los Angeles at the LA Convention Center where Seniors, Juniors, and College Transfer Students have the opportunity to meet over 190 colleges and universities and this year our Africana Studies Program was able to attend on behalf of the Admissions team to recruit for EWU.

Rosie Rodriguez, Program Coordinator/Recruiter, and Gloria (Jeanne) Baynes, PhD, Africana Quarterly Faculty were able to attend and talked to students non-stop for the full 5 hours of the expo. Dr. Baynes talked to students about our programs, offerings, and EWU as a whole, while Rodriguez was able to do onsite admissions and answer questions from parents and perspective students.

Rodriguez was able to admit 45 students to EWU on site and was able to connect with Juniors that are graduating next year.

What led you to attending the Black College Expo in LA?

Rodriguez: Admissions presented us with this opportunity that was sent to them. We are very lucky and grateful that admissions paid for the expo fee for us to attend this event. They paid for the LA Expo as well as on in Renton. When we attended the Renton Black College Expo on Nov 5th, 2022, we were asked to attend the LA expo in January because the turnout was going to be far bigger, which proved to be true! There were about 3,000 students at the Renton Expo and over 10,000 students at the LA Expo.

How did it feel walking in the doors and seeing so many tables?

Rodriguez: Seeing all the Black Owned Businesses, HBCU’s and more was beyond beautiful. Seeing the Black culture and Black Excellence was just amazing.

How did it feel when the students first walked in the door?

Rodriguez: It was so exciting. It was amazing to see so many students at an event like this. We had some students immediately gravitate towards us because we were some of the few schools that were out of state.

What were some of the questions that students asked?

Rodriguez: Students asked about scholarships, weather, our sports teams, our majors, what the ambiance of EWU was, professors. Tt was a little bit of everything.

What do you feel students were the most excited about with EWU?

Rodriguez: It would have to be that we are out of state, but we have the WUE scholarship to combat the out of the state costs for California residents. Also, we got a lot of “Oh Cooper Kupp played there!!” “Its the school with the Red Football Field!!”

Why do you think it is important for us to attend these kinds of events?

Rodriguez: We focus heavily on in-state recruitment and miss out on the opportunities to speak to students who may be interested in going out of state. As an ethnicity program, parents and students were happy to see that there was dedicated studies and a space for people of the same background. One parent referred to Africana Studies as “a safe space for Black students” which made me feel happy to hear, since some people in attendance had never heard of a program for Black studies.

We look forward to making this a yearly attendance and want to add a special thanks to the Admissions Team for making this happen!

An Innovative Collaboration

Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies (GWSS) and the Women’s and Gender Education (WAGE) Center were pleased to collaborate with Visual Communication Design faculty Sonja Durr, MFA to host the Black Lives and Movements Matter: Black History Month graphic design contest in her Visual Communication Design 3 – Design for Social Change students. The amazing results were featured on our social media throughout February and the four winning posters will be displayed in the WAGE Center. First, second, and third prizes were awarded.

Submitted content reflected the values and principles of Black activist movements and highlighted inclusiveness and the celebration of Black life. Social media images and posters featured issues related to various diverse Black communities and movements. Students were able to choose historical or contemporary issues and/or leaders. Unique submissions that considered the intersectionality of identities and oppressions were encouraged.

First Place

Mary Hoerner’s Claudette Colvin social media images:

Mary Hoerner’s Claudette Colvin poster:

Second Place

Sela Tran’s George Floyd, Alberta Odell Jones, and Emmett Till social media images:

Sela Tran’s Trayvon Martin poster:

Third Place (Tie)

Cameron Todd’s W.E.B. DuBois social media images:

Cameron Todd’s W.E.B. DuBois poster:

Savannah Johnson’s Black Voices Matter social media images:

Savannah Johnson’s Black Voices Matter poster:

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to every student who submitted their work! Winning students will receive gift cards to local vendors.

The EWU Africana Studies Program presents “Reclaiming Black Excellence: Black History Month 2019.” To make arrangements for access accommodations, call 509.359.2205. To make donations to our annual silent auction, please contact our secretary at bnicholson37@ewu.edu or 509.359.2205.

Tuesday, Feb. 5
Perpetual Punishment of Cedric Bradley
Okera Nsombi, PhD and Cedric Bradley
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Wednesday, Feb. 6
More Than Just an Entertainer: Invisible Stories of a Black Man in America
George Duvall
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Thursday, Feb. 7
Of Ebony Embers
Office for Diversity and Inclusion
Noon to 2 p.m. | Showalter Auditorium

Monday, Feb. 11
Blackfishing: Cultural Appropriation and Bias
Black Student Union
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Tuesday, Feb. 12
Understanding the Speech Gap
Angela Schwendiman
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Black KKKlansman
5 p.m. | Martin 158

Wednesday, Feb. 13
Black Love: Relationships and Race
Black Student Union
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Thursday, Feb. 14
Authority Figures and the Black Community: Finding a New Way Forward
Tadé Ayeni, PhD
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Tuesday, Feb. 19
Enjoy the Stars When You Don’t Trust Your Neighbors: Poems of Faith, Love, Courage, Healing, and Hope
Gloria Baynes, PhD
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Wednesday, Feb. 20
African Queens: Celebrating Black Women
Black Student Union
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Thursday, Mar. 21
Trip to Africa: Experiences in the Mother Country
Scott Finnie, PhD
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Monday, Feb. 25
African Kings: Celebrating Black Men
Black Student Union
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Tuesday, Feb. 26
Live Telecast with Black Lives Matter Co-founder Alicia Garza
Noon to 1:30 p.m. | Showalter Auditorium

Wednesday, Feb. 27
The Rise of Food Insecurity in African American Households
Kianna Baker – TRiO McNair Scholar
Noon to 12:50 p.m. | Monroe 205

Thursday, Feb. 28
Annual Silent Auction Benefiting Africana Studies Student Scholarships
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Monroe 205