Festival to Kick Off Black History Month

Mission College will host a series of events celebrating Black History Month beginning today with a free all-day film festival in the school’s Campus Center, officials said.

Other free public events marking the month at the Sylmar campus include an arts festival, a cultural fair and a panel discussion on race relations sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women.

Today’s film festival--featuring at least four films, including “A Matter of Race,” “Soul Food,” “When We Were Colored” and “The Color Purple”--will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 6 of the Campus Center, officials said.

On Feb. 18, Mission will host an arts festival featuring historical presentations, artwork displays and poetry readings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Free Speech Area in the center of campus.

A panel discussion about race relations in the San Fernando Valley will be held Feb. 23 in the Campus Center. The discussion is part of the national dialogue on race called for by President Clinton, said Barbara Perkins of the National Council of Negro Women.

“It’s a chance for people to hear what some key local leaders are thinking about the issue and also for them to come and share their own thoughts and ideas,” she said.

The discussion, moderated by Sam Brown of KPFK, will include panelists Joe Hicks of the city’s Human Relations Commission, Irene Tovar of the Latin American Civic Assn., anti-gang activist William “Blinky” Rodriguez and the Rev. Zedar Broadous, president of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the NAACP.

The National Council of Negro Women will also sponsor a cultural festival at Mission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 28. The event will include workshops on health, public policy, the environment and other issues as well as speakers, entertainment, games, and vendor and food booths.

Mission College is at 13356 Eldridge Ave.