Home 9 Black History Month

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Kellogg Community College will continue its annual celebration of Black History Month in February 2025 with a series of community events focused on the African American experience.

Black History Month Events & Activities

All Black History Month events at KCC are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated and take place on KCC’s campus at 450 North Ave. in Battle Creek.

Community-wide Sing-along: Traditional Hymns and African American Spirituals
3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2
Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center Auditorium

KCC’s popular community hymn and spirituals sing-along event returns to campus! KCC Vocal Arts Director Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard will lead the audience in singing traditional Christian hymns and African American spirituals favored across various denominations.

Lunch ‘n’ Learn with Ed Genesis
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4
Kellogg Room and streamed live to student lounges at KCC Regional Centers

Join us in welcoming Local hip-hop artist Ed Genesis over lunch as he facilitates a seminar on hip-hop through a social justice lens. Note: Regional Center Participants, this event is BYOLunch

African Drum and Dance Performances by Rootead
11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13
Student Center

Reconnect with black roots and celebrate youth empowerment and community healing with Rootead’s youth dance troupe. These spirited demonstrations will feature West African dance and Djembe drumming.

Soul Food Luncheon
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19
Binda Performing Arts Center Lobby

A Black History Month favorite, the Soul Food Luncheon returns this year with a menu including traditional fried chicken, ribs, mac and cheese, prepared by KCC staff and faculty. Sweet potatoes and collard greens provided by Taste-A-Licious Catering. Dessert choice of banana pudding, pound cake, or peach cobbler, Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for staff and community members.

Black-owned Business Showcase (BOBS)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19
Binda Lobby and Kellogg Room

Join us to support area Black-owned businesses, participate in prize raffles, and more.

From Motown to Mic Drop: A Karaoke Celebration of Black Music
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27
Student Center

Join in the fun of singing popular Motown classics!

In addition to the above events and activities, KCC’s Morris Library will host Black History Month book and movie displays in the library all month long.

Transfer Tuesday: HBCU & Divine 9 Highlight
Tuesday, February 25
All KCC Campuses

Once each month, KCC faculty and staff share their own educational journeys by participating in “Transfer Tuesdays,” wearing spirited apparel from the institutions they attended, in order to spark conversations with students about the wealth of possibilities in their future beyond being a Bruin. During Black History Month, Transfer Tuesday seeks to highlight Historically Back Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and those in our community who have been or are currently members of the Divine Nine.

Some fast facts about the Divine Nine: Early in the 20^th century, Black students came together from mainly HBCUs to form their own sororities and fraternities. These organizations are known collectively as the National Pan-Hellenic Council or the “Divine Nine”. Each organization has its own unique values, yet they share the common goal of educating and uplifting the Black community from racial inequities.

Alpha Phi Alpha: The first Black intercollegiate Greek fraternity, founded at Cornell University,1906
Alpha Kappa Alpha: Sorority, A founding member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, founded at Howard University, 1908
Delta Sigma Theta: Sorority, founded at Howard University by women who were passionate about social justice and community service, 1913
Kappa Alpha Psi: A Divine Nine fraternity, founded 1911, Indiana University
Omega Psi Phi: A Divine Nine fraternity, founded 1911, Howard University
Phi Beta Sigma: A Divine Nine fraternity, founded 1914, Howard University
Zeta Phi Beta: A Divine Nine sorority and founding member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, founded at Howard University, 1920
Sigma Gamma Rho: A Divine Nine sorority, founded 1922, Butler University
Iota Phi Theta: A Divine Nine fraternity, founded 1963, Morgan State University

Are you a Bruin and an alum from an HBCU or Divine Nine member? We encourage reach out to studentlife@kellogg.edu for ways to share your experience with current KCC students!

KCC President Dr. Paul Watson II reflects on Black History Month