2025 Black History Month Celebration – February 2025
For centuries, African Americans have used the arts as a powerful medium for cultural expression, community resonance, and social critique. Each generation, within the African diaspora spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to present day, has transformed the globe through their numerous contributions in literature, fashion, film, theater, music, architecture, and language. Join the James Farmer Multicultural Center’s celebration and recognition of these memorable stories.
Gospelfest
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 3 p.m. | Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall
Join gospel choirs and praise dance teams as they engage in spiritual song and dance.
Colors of Africa
Saturday, Feb. 8 | 5 p.m. | Chandler Ballroom, Cedric Rucker University Center
Sponsored by the African Student Union and the James Farmer Multicultural Center
Colors of Africa seeks to celebrate the culture that Black people create. Whether it is Black people of the African continent, African Americans, or the Caribbean, Blackness is a transnational and multicultural experience and it ought to be celebrated as such.
Black History Month Major Performance: Kia Bennett
Thursday, Feb. 20 | 7 p.m. | The Underground, Lee Hall
Kia Bennett is a native of Richmond, Virginia and a product of Howard University. She made her introduction into entertainment while singing with former Washington D.C. group “Entyme,” along with other respected soul artists Geno Young, Sy Smith, and Yahzarah. Kia is a member of the new school RAMP (Roy Ayers Music Production) whose musical contributions provided the world with samples for hits like A Tribe Called Quest’s “Bonita Applebum”, Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” and Erykah Badu’s “Amerykah’s Promise”. She is best noted for her background vocals on records featuring international recording artists Roy Ayers, D’Angelo, Ledisi, Michael Bolton, and others. She is also formerly half of the singing duo, Kia Bennett & Desiree Jordan as KiDe’. Kia was nominated as 2012 Best New Artist and 2017 Song of The Year (A Beautiful Forever) for SoulTracks Reader’s Choice Awards. Kia has also served as a Board Member and Governor of The Washington D.C. Chapter of the Grammy’s Recording Academy, ASCAP Member (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and SoundExchange. Additionally, she is a member of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), and WALA (Washington Area Lawyers For The Arts). Kia devotes her time as an Artist in Residence at The Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and The Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center in the music and healing arts programs. Recently, she has been a background actor in movies such as Rustin, Harriet, Dopesick, Atlantis, among others. Currently, she is a teaching artist with Creative Works and YAMZ (Young Artists and Musicians Zone). She has an EP entitled, Duet of Daffodils and is working on her full-length album.
Step Show
Saturday, Feb. 22 | 7 p.m. | Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall
Join area step teams from high schools, regional colleges and universities as they engage in a high-energy, entertaining competition. For cost information, please contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center.
For more information, contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540/654-1044 or umwjfmc@gmail.com. Visit students.umw.edu/multicultural.
Please email us at umwjfmc@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding disability-related accommodations.