By Rich Bockmann
Queensborough Community College, the Queens Library and York College are among some of the borough’s institutions that have scheduled events in celebration of Black History Month.
“This has been an historic time for people of color throughout the country,” said City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), who plans to host a celebration at Queensborough Saturday. “With the annual celebration of Black History upon us, and having just witnessed President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, we must take this time to reflect on where we came from, envision where we are headed and celebrate those who sacrificed so much to get us to where we are today.”
The event will be held at the college’s Performing Arts Center in Bayside from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature a keynote address from WBLS radio host Bob Slade.
The Queens Library will kick off four weeks’ worth of events Saturday with a panel discussion and an exploration of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection of African-American works at the Central Library on Merrick Boulevard at 2 p.m.
Other library events include an open mic night beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Flushing Library Feb. 7, a full day’s worth of programming Feb. 9 at Corona’s Langston Hughes Library and an African-American trivia game at the McGoldrick branch in Flushing Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.
York College in Jamaica will celebrate Sunday when author, poet and playwright Sonia Sanchez will join Medgar Evers College professor Brenda Greene and others to participate in the 43rd annual African American Read-in, an event during which hundreds of thousands of people across the country read the works of African-American writers.
From Feb. 7-10, the Black Spectrum Theatre will premier “Dumas,” a depiction of the author Alexander Dumas, who wrote “The Three Musketeers’” and “The Count of Monte Cristo.” He will be portrayed by Marcus Chong, best known for his role as Tank the Operator in “The Matrix.”
Comedian Phyllis Stickney is also scheduled to perform at the theater Feb. 23.
“Ms. Stickney has her own special brand of comedy and she will keep you laughing as she keeps you thinking about many contemporary issues that she’ll cover in a night of comedy at Black Spectrum Theatre,” the theatre said.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
