BLACK HISTORY MONTH | Scheduled events in the Mahoning Valley

A list of area events to commemorate Black History Month in February, as submitted to The Vindicator:

Mahoning COUNTY

Friday: Maple Turner III art exhibit at Bliss Hall Gallery, College of Creative Arts and Communication, YSU, and panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. at McDonough Museum of Art, 525 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Turner, a Youngstown native, attended YSU. He works in watercolor, acrylic, oil, sand and reused materials.

Sunday: Program on the civil-rights movement and 2013 progress, presented by Rev. Henry McNeil of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown. The Rev. Mr. McNeil is a native of Akron and participated in civil-rights protests in the 1960s. 4 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown.

Tuesday: Keynote lecture with Dr. Molefi Asante, a professor in the Department of African- American Studies at Temple University, 7 p.m., Chestnut Room, Kilcawley Center. Co-sponsored by the Youngstown Board of Education, The Youngstown School Parent Association and The Family Institute of Youngstown.

Feb. 15: Children’s story time based on “Henry’s Freedom Box” by Ellen Levine, 2 p.m., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 381 Boardman-Poland Road, Boardman.

Feb. 16: “Hidden Colors II” movie and panel discussion on the movie and the differences between fact and fiction, 4 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown.

Feb. 16: Black History program with a special tribute to The Edsels, a rhythm-and-blues doo-wop group from Campbell, known for their hit “Rama Lama Ding Dong,” 4 to 6:30 p.m., Early Morning Church of God, 1437 Stewart Ave., Youngstown. Call Pastor James Reynolds for information, 330-744-7125.

Feb. 18: “Modern Day Slavery in Human Trafficking” lecture with Dr. Denise Narcisse, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at YSU, 6:30 p.m., Ohio Room, Kilcawley Center.

Feb. 19: Choffin Career and Technical Center third annual Black History Month Celebration, “African-American Music, Dance and Art Appreciation.” Speaker Jerald Daemyon, an African-American master violinist, lecturer, educator, composer, producer and recording artist, will host a workshop, “Music Meet Technology,” for Choffin students, 1 to 2:45 p.m., Commons, CCTC, 200 E. Wood St., Youngstown.

Feb. 20: Chaney Visual and Performing Arts School Black History Month performance “Motown in Yo-town!” celebrating the Motown era, 6 p.m., auditorium, 731 S. Hazelwood Ave., Youngstown. Tickets are $3 for students and $4 for adults.

Feb. 22: Black History Month tribute, “Our Story,” with Carmella Marie, 1 to 3 p.m., Kidston classroom, Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown.

Feb. 22: Panel discussion on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, 7 p.m. Chestnut Room, Kilcawley Center. Panelists on the subject are Dr. Daniel Ayana, of YSU’s history department; Dr. Dolores Sisco, English department; Dr. Frank Ackpadock, senior researcher, Regional Center for Urban Studies; Dr. David Porter, political science department; Dr. Samuel Adu-Poku, department of art education; and Dr. Christian Onwudiwe, department of criminal justice.

Feb. 22: Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County East Friends committee, Black History Month program at 1 p.m., with refreshments, including black-eyed peas, sweet potato pie and sweet tea, as well as a craft for children and special presentation, East Branch Library, 430 Early Road, Youngstown.

Feb. 23: Black History Month talent program with singing, miming, flag dancing, skits and black-history readings, 4 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown. Free and open to the public.

Feb. 25: Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s “12 Years A Slave: Understanding Slave Narratives” with panelists Vince Shivers, Kenneth King, Sarah Brown Clark and Dr. Diane Barnes discussing the historic significance of slave narratives and insights into the literary movement, 7 p.m., Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, 325 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Free. For information call 330-743-2589 or go to www.mahoninghistory.org.

Feb. 26: Poetry reading, Jones Room, Kilcawley Center. A poetry competition on subjects related to African or the African-American experience. To participate, a maximum of two submissions per individual should be forwarded to the YSU Africana Studies Program by Feb. 21. A panel of judges will select the best three poems to receive prizes.

Feb. 28: YSU Black Alumni Chapter “Movie and a Meeting,” presentation of black film and discussion to follow, 5:30 p.m., Jones Room, Kilcawley Center.

TRUMBULL COUNTY

Today: Legends, a history of African-American music told in song and dance, shows at 4 and 8 p.m., Kent Trumbull Theatre at Kent State University at Trumbull, 4314 Mahoning Ave. NW, Champion. No charge. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Feb. 12: Lecture “Black History in the Age of Obama” with Idris Kabir Syed of the Department of Pan-African Studies at Kent State University, noon to 1 p.m., lower commons, first floor, classroom/administration building, Kent State University at Trumbull.

Feb. 26: Lecture “The Negro Baseball Leagues“ with Leslie Heaphy of the Department of History at Kent State University, noon to 1 p.m., lower commons, first floor, classroom/administration building, Kent State University at Trumbull.