BLACK HISTORY month | Events planned

A brief listing of upcoming area events to commemorate Black History Month in February as submitted to The Vindicator. A longer list will be published Sunday:

MAHONING COUNTY

Sunday: Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown, will host Black History month events every Sunday in February. The 4 p.m. event is a talent program, featuring performers from churches in the Youngstown area. There will be miming, singers and other talents on display.

Next Wednesday: As part of a 2015 African-American History Month celebration at Youngstown State University, a reception and lecture for visiting artists will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the McDonough Museum of Art, 525 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Kelly Eugene Phelps, an associate professor and chairman of art at Xavier University, and Kyle Edward Phelps, associate professor of art at the University of Dayton, will present a joint lecture on their work followed by a panel discussion. Their work encompasses the creation of traditional ceramic sculpture along with media art. The twin brothers earned their bachelor’s degrees from Ball State University in 1996 and their master of fine arts degrees in ceramics from the University of Kentucky. The event is co-sponsored by the College of Creative Arts and Communication.

Feb. 6: Monica Beasley- Martin will present a lecture on black women, hair care and baldness titled “Black Women and Their Hair“ at 6:30 p.m. in the gallery at YSU’s Kilcawley Center. The lecture will highlight how black women value and love their hair and spend considerable time and resources to maintain a variety of styles that accentuate the natural beauty of African hair — whether it is fine and bold weaves or dreadlocks. There also is the bald style, which can come about as a result of either too much chemical treatment, cancer or a rare condition known as alopecia, which results in the loss of hair because the body is allergic to it. Beasley-Martin was diagnosed with alopecia in her 20s, an experience that led her to write “Bald is Beautiful.” Her lecture, along with Carmelia Williams, will cover care of hair for black women and her book. Monica is an ordained minister and a drama teacher who lives in Youngstown. A book-signing will follow the lecture.

TRUMBULL COUNTY

Feb. 5: A family story time event, “Moments in Black History” will take place at 6 p.m. at the Warren branch library, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW. Madonna Chism Pinkard, director of community relations for WFMJ/WBCB Television and adjunct instructor at YSU, will be special guest and will share stories from black history that will inspire and entertain. For families with children age 5 to 12.