AACC will host more than a dozen exhibits, demonstrations and lectures to celebrate Black History Month on campus in February.

The events center around the college’s theme for Black History Month, “Afro-Futurism,” which “embod[ies] all of that past, present and the future,” according to health sciences professor Stephanie Smith-Baker, the coordinator of the campus observance. 

“It’s a testament to that legacy of 100 years,” Smith-Baker said.

The college celebrates Black History Month, which is a national observance, every year. Smith-Baker has been AACC’s coordinator for four years, working with a planning committee of faculty and students.

Some students said they like the Afro-Futurism theme.

“It definitely makes me think what we’re capable of, and what the capabilities of anything in the future is, and I think that’s very important,” student Maria Halm said. “I feel like when it comes to Black History Month, we focus a lot on the past and forget that we have a future going ahead of us. Yes, we need to learn the past. We need to also know that we can keep going for the future.”

AACC employee Stephanie Berry agreed.

“I do like the theme Afro-Futurism,” said Barry, the lead kitchen steward for the AACC Hotel, Culinary Arts & Tourism Institute’s baking and pastry department. “That is what we want to see. We want to see what the aspect is for the up-and-coming generation, how they feel about it, how they will represent Black History Month.”

Among the month’s campus events are a Feb. 19 basketball tailgate party that will focus on Black excellence in sports and school spirit, and a Feb. 26 social gathering featuring painting images of Black culture.

Barry said she would like next year’s Black History Month schedule to include traditional African-American food.

Heres a full list of Black History Month events!