2018 Spring

ABCC Midwest-West Regional Mini Conference | ONWARD – Discussing the Black Diaspora in the Digital Age

Date: February 16, 2018

Location: Purdue University Black Cultural Center – 1100 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN

Regional Conference Leadership: Renee Thomas (Regional Conference Advisor, Director of the Black Cultural Center)

2018 ABCC Conference Mission Statement:

The Association for Black Culture Centers is an organization that seeks to celebrate, promote and critically examine the cultures (ways of life) of the following ethnic groups: African American, Latino, Asian American and Native American. We aim to institutionalize those Centers, including Multicultural Centers, to enhance individual, community and global development.

The ABCC expects that increased understanding of history and culture of each ethnic group will lead to authentic integration on campus and in the community. Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans have an historical and contemporary connection with Africana people, and we begin these relationships by focusing on the connections.

2018 ABCC Conference Promotional Tagline & Description:

The 2018 ABCC Regional Conference, ONWARD – Discussing the Black Diaspora in the Digital Age, will explore concepts that expand ideas and programs well beyond the confines of traditional thinking leveraging unique panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and networking activities with a special Keynote by Dr. Meredith Clark who is a former newspaper journalist with research focused on the intersections of race, media and power. Her award winning dissertation on Black Twitter landed her on The Root 100, the news website’s list of the most influential African Americans in the country in 2015.

ABCC welcomes all to expand, explore and engage during this upcoming conference session.

Featured Session:

Purdue University’s Black Cultural Center (BCC) is hosting the 2018 Association of Black Cultural Centers (ABCC) Midwest-West Regional Mini-Conference on February 16, 2018. In conjunction with a week of events celebrating the release of the New Black Panther film, the BCC has curated a lineup of programming featuring a panel conversation focused on Afrofuturism and the Black Aesthetic in New Media titled “Afrofuturism x Aesthetics”. Panelists include professor Jonathan Gayles of Georgia State University, professor Deborah Whaley from the University of Iowa, Niobe comic illustrator Ashley Woods and professor Leah Milne of the University of Indiana, facilitated by Purdue University’s own Dr. Marlo David.

On the cusp of the release of the anxiously awaited Black Panther movie, this universal panel; ranging from academia to artist to activist, will discuss how Afrofuturism is playing a role in mass media, pop culture and policy - catapulting the conversation surrounding Black Hero’s in comics, Black actors in film and the widening Black narrative in the socio-political context.

The Fierce Urgency of Now

This spring series kicks off in high gear. We begin the year in celebration of one of the world's most celebrated civil rights advocates - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Special guest, Indiana Supreme Court Justic - Robert Rucker - is our honored Keynote speaker to adorn a bevy of campus wide activities in rembrance of Dr. King's legacy. Justice Robert Rucker, the 105th appointee to the Indiana Supreme Court and recently retired judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, will keynote the Purdue University celebration of the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16. Last year’s theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” will carry into the 2018 celebration.

Justice Rucker will speak on Tuesday January 16th at 6:30p in Loeb Playhouse to be preceded by a 5:46 p.m. candlelight vigil and march from the Black Cultural Center to Loeb Playhouse, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Moving Parts by Thomas Lucas

January - February 25th | Art Museum of Greater Lafayette

Lucas was the former visual arts chair at The Chicago Academy for the Arts as well as the former director of printmaking at Lillstreet Art Center. He is the founder and master printer at Hummingbird Press. He now teaches full time at Chicago State University and teaches adjunct at Harold Washington College

Printmaking Workshop with Thomas Lucas

January 23rd, 12pm | Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and 4p | Purdue Honors College

Pre-registration is required due to limited space

Freedom Riders a Play

Sunday, January 28th, 2018 | 3:00 pm | Stewart Center - Loeb Playhouse

A new play with original songs and music that celebrates the valiant, courageous personalities behind one of the American Civil Rights Movement's most critical chapters

Banned Black Books Installation

February 9 - Feb 28 | BCC Foyer

Celebrate our right to read. On display will be a rotation of books by Black Authers that have been banned over the years. Inspired by a selection. Stop by the BCC Library to check out a copy.

Black Superheros Monday Movie Marathon

Monday, February 12, 2018 | Showtimes at 11a, 1:30p and 3:30p | BCC Student Lounge

We know you're excited about the Marvel Black Panther movie on the horizon. In preparation for the occasion, stop by the BCC and reminise about Black Superheros from the past.

Free popcorn