Poetry Slam Kicks Off TCC’s African-American Heritage Celebrations

If you’ve got words you’ve been waiting to share, then here’s your chance. A Poetry Slam on South Campus is one of the events kicking off African-American Heritage Celebrations  (PDF will open in a new window) today, Feb. 1, on TCC campuses.

Spoken-word Events Coordinator Michael Guinn will invite those in attendance to share their talent at noon in Student Center Cafeteria. Local poets who compete nationally also are scheduled to give “high-powered poetry and spoken word performances.” Guinn, an advocate for youth and women empowerment, is the author of more than 15 books of poetry and fiction and has produced four Spoken Word CDs.

Also scheduled today for South is a free showing of the movie, “Pursuit of Happyness” from 7 to 9 p.m. in the cafeteria, and on Trinity River Campus several month-long displays will open. A gallery of Trinity River’s African-American employees will be on display in the World Lounge. In the Library, an African-American Art Display and a Black History Month Book Display will exhibited.

Indy 500 Race driver Willy T. Ribbs will share his experiences as a professional race car driver Thursday, Feb. 16, on two TCC campuses. In 1991, Ribbs became the first black driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500. He will speak from 10 to 11 a.m. on Northwest Campus in the Student Center, WSTU 1303, and from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. on Southeast Campus in the North Ballroom.

Northeast Campus history instructor Tramaine Anderson will lecture on “We Are Not Afraid,” focusing on youth activism in the 1960s within the local and national Freedom Struggle Thursday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Student Center, Center Corner, NSTU 1615A. That same day, an exhibit, “Our Grandmother’s Hands: The Folk Art of African-American authors,” will be on display from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room in the Library.