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The Black Psychology Project and the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis’ annual celebration of Black History Month returns.
For the last decade, February at CIIS has been highlighted by 28 Days of Blackness, an annual celebration of Black History Month. The series began as a collaboration between Black students, faculty and staff out of a need to support and build community at CIIS, and over the years has developed into a rich, month-long calendar of talks, workshops, and events.
This year’s program, curated by the Black Psychology Project’s 2024-2025 Jegnaship Cohort in partnership with the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis, centers on the theme "A Celebration of Remembrance, Resistance, and Resilience." Offerings include ceremony, music, hip-hop, and spoken word woven through workshops and talks honoring the resilience and resistance of people of African ancestry. All of the events are online and are free or have a sliding scale entry fee, extending their reach and impact far beyond the University campus.
The month began with an opening ceremony including a moving keynote from Renee Cage, LCSW, on the necessity of rest to individual and collective thriving.
By "embracing the power of pause," Cage offered, one can honor the struggles of previous generations by becoming more resilient and supportive for both self and community.
Upcoming panels and workshops cover a wide variety of topics in Black history, artistry, sexuality, and spirituality. The calendar mixes embodied practices for rest, meditation, and strength with discussions of Black women’s spirituality and gospel music; transforming surviving to thriving; scholarly explorations of Ghana, Guyana, and African epistemologies; and the links between soul and land.
On February 20, the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis will join 10 other San Francisco organizations and institutions at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater for Generations, a longstanding event celebrating Black LGBTQIA+ cultures. This year’s event will include a screening of the iconic documentary Paris is Burning (1990), panel discussion, ballroom demonstration, and a mini ball with audience participation encouraged.
The final week of 28 Days of Blackness centers on music: A two-workshop series led by Benu Amun-Ra and Sherman Wing and will delve into the evolution, politics, and worldwide reach of hip-hop culture, including an opportunity for participants to work on their own rap or slam poetry. The closing ceremony on February 28 features a musical performance by singer-songwriter and producer Lewis Raye, who melds soul, funk, and R&B into his own blend of urban pop.
To join in the festivities, register for events during 28 Days of Blackness, or learn more about the speakers and programming on the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis’ padlet.
Read about the History of 28 Days of Blackness
Register for Events
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