VCU news

By VCU News staff

Black History Month at Virginia Commonwealth University this month will feature a wide range of planned events and activities, including speakers, conferences, performances and other celebrations.  

Below is a sampling of this year’s programming compiled by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at VCU. OMSA offers more information about events and activities throughout the month via an updated calendar at linktr.ee/vcuomsa. The schedule also includes community events such as a guided gallery tour at the VMFA, a film festival at the Modlin Center for the Arts and a Black history program at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, among others. 

Feb. 4

VCU Libraries 2025 Black History Month Lecture: “Building a Home for Change: The Obama Presidential Center”

7 p.m., James Branch Cabell Library, Lecture Hall, Room 303

Crystal M. Moten, Ph.D., the curator of collections and exhibitions at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, will deliver VCU Libraries’ annual Black History Month Lecture. Moten’s talk will be free and open to the public. Seating is limited. To register, visit the event webpage. Moten will provide an overview of the Obama Presidential Center focusing on its museum exhibits and how they are rooted in a larger, complex discussion about democracy.

VCUarts Lecture Series: Amber Esseiva’s "A Love Letter to Amaza Lee Meredith"

5:30 p.m., Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, Auditorium, and via Zoom

“Dear Mazie,” a group exhibition showing at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, highlights the life of Amaza Lee Meredith, the first known Black queer woman to practice as an architect in the United States. Amber Esseiva, senior curator at the ICA, will deliver a lecture that combines extensive research into Meredith’s archives and personal life, diving into topics of race, gender and queer identity to detail Meredith’s architectural and social contributions and provoke conversation regarding representation and inclusiveness in architecture, education and activism. Register.

Feb. 5

SCRAAATCH Visiting Artist Lecture

Noon, Institute for Contemporary Art

SCRAAATCH has performed and exhibited experiments at venues including MoMA PS1, Artists Space, The Kitchen, Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, the New Museum in New York, Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, Institute of Contemporary Art in Virginia, and Les Urbaines in Switzerland. They were 2020-2022 Harvard College Fellows in New Media, where they taught classes on performance and sound, and recently attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. More info.

Exploring AfroLatinidad Through a Camera Lens

1 p.m., University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., Room 215

In this presentation, we will delve into the rich cultural and historical intersection of AfroLatinidad and social photography. We will explore how Afro-Latinx identities, shaped by both African and Latin American heritages, are represented through visual storytelling. The session will highlight the pivotal role of social photography in documenting and challenging stereotypes, giving voice to marginalized communities, and reflecting the lived experiences of Afro-Latinx individuals. Through iconic images and contemporary works, we will examine how social photography serves as both an art form and a tool for social change, offering a platform for dialogue around racial identity, representation, and activism within the Afro-Latinx community. Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of how images can reshape narratives and create visibility for AfroLatinidad in the global context. (Anita Nadal/School of World Studies)

Feb. 7

Black & Abroad Global Leadership Conference

9 a.m.-3 p.m., VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons

VCU’s Global Education Office centered on global leadership through the lens of Black identity as part of its longstanding annual Black & Abroad event in celebration of Black History Month. VCU alum Oscar Kemp will deliver the event’s keynote speech at 9 a.m., and a series of speakers and panels will follow. Register.

Feb. 12

Black 'n' Black Mixer

4:30-6 p.m., Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons

A mixer for Black faculty, staff and students and an opportunity to come together, mingle and make connections. Registration information.

Feb. 13

“Bingo, Beats & Black Queer Excellence”

5:30-7:30 p.m., Richmond Salons III-IV, University Student Commons

A musical and queer celebration of Black History Month, hosted by the drag performers Melanin Monroe and Javon Love. The event combines bingo with songs that have shaped Black culture and music. Register.

“Historically VCU: A Legacy Still in the Making”

6-8 p.m., Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons

Four alumni trailblazers will discuss how Black students, faculty members and staff have built the legacy of VCU and Richmond at large. This event brings together alumni who've made their mark on the university throughout their careers for a fireside chat-style discussion. The event will include a performance by the Black Awakening Choir. The event costs $5 for alumni and is free to students. Register.

“Healing Through Heritage: Stories of Resilience and Survival”

5-8 p.m., location available upon registration

An event designed to create a space for Black students, faculty, and staff to reflect on the resilience and healing within Black communities. Register.

Roy Haynes Tribute Concert

7:30 p.m., Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Singleton Center for the Performing Arts

VCU's Music Jazz Faculty Septet will play a tribute event for legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes. General admission tickets are available for $12. Discounts offered for current VCU Music faculty and staff and VCU students. Ticket information.

Feb. 22

“A Legacy of Firsts: The William S Cooper Celebration”

6-8 p.m., Black History Museum, 122 W. Leigh St.

The VCU School of Pharmacy and the Black Student Pharmacy Organization will celebrate the groundbreaking legacy of William S. Cooper, the first Black graduate of the School of Pharmacy, recognizing his contributions to both the university and the broader community. The evening will inspire future generations by showcasing the importance of diversity, perseverance and excellence in pharmacy education and beyond. This event is free and open to the public; however, space is limited. Register by 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.

Feb. 28

“Preserving Our Soil: Celebrating Black Land Stewardship”

6 p.m., via Zoom and in person at The Y Bar Savannah, 347 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah, Georgia

Explore the importance of generational land preservation in this hybrid panel discussion. Experts will discuss challenges faced by Black landowners as well as innovative solutions and the cultural significance of maintaining ancestral properties. VCU alum Tracey Graves, whose grandmother fought to preserve her family’s land in the Gullah Geechee community, will be among the speakers, and VCU Alumni Council member Altimese Curry will moderate. Livestream link provided upon registration.