Via Santa Monica College.

Kyle Bowser hosts the open-dialogue screening/presentation “Trial by Jury: The Case of the N-Word” as part of SMC’s Black History Month celebrations on February 21 at 11:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Main Stage at SMC Theatre Arts Complex. Image via Santa Monica College.

Santa Monica College is proud to present a trio of free events in February honoring Black History Month. The events – which include a “Trial by Jury” presentation and informative talks and discussions – are all held on SMC’s main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.

SMC’s Black History Month events are:

  • Thursday, February 16 at 11:15 a.m. in Humanities & Social Sciences Lecture Hall 165: Alephonsion Deng & Judy Bernstein: “Sudan to San Diego: The Hard Way.” Two co-authors of They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys From Sudan” – the story of three young boys and their arduous journey after their South Sudan homes were torched by napalm – will discuss the challenges of dealing with traumatic losses in Africa and creating new lives in America. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Black Collegians Program, SMC English Department, and SMC Global Citizenship.
  • Tuesday, February 21 at 11:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Main Stage at SMC Theatre Arts Complex: Screening & Discussion: SMC Black Collegians and SMC Public Policy Institute present the Res Ipsa Media production of “Trial by Jury: The Case of the N-Word”: Film and TV producer Kyle Bowser hosts an open-dialogue event on using the ‘N-word’ in school curriculum, framing the conversation with a fictional on-film trial. The film stops when jury deliberations start, and members of the audience are invited to join the deliberations and express their opinions on the topic. Sponsored by the SMC Associates, Associated Students of SMC, and the Santa Monica College Foundation.
  • Tuesday, February 28 at 11:15 a.m. in Humanities & Social Sciences Lecture Hall 165: James McKeever: “Criminalization of Black Males and Placing the Black Lives Matter Movement into a Sociological Context”: Sociologist and LA Pierce College professor James McKeever will talk about the sociological aspects and effects of the criminalization of the black male and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Sponsored by the SMC Associates and SMC Black Collegians Program.

 For more information, please call SMC’s Office of Public Programs at (310) 434-4100.

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