UConn Voices University News

February 4, 2021 | Mike Enright '88 (CLAS), University Communications

Black Lives Matter Co-Founder to Open Black History Month Celebration at UConn

The author and activist will be the guest of honor at the first event in month-long series of activities at UConn.

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Patrisse Cullors is the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and founder of Dignity and Power Now.

UConn’s celebration of Black History Month will be comprised of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that will not make it any less significant or important.

The month of workshops, presentations, and other activities will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 with the program “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Dialogue with Patrisse Cullors.” Cullors is the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and founder of Dignity and Power Now – a Los Angeles-based grass roots organization. Cullors was recognized in Time magazine’s 2020 “100 Women of the Year” issue.

Cullors is the co-author of the best-selling book “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir,” an empowering account of survival, strength, and resilience.

Her appearance is presented by the H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center (AACC) at UConn and is co-sponsored by numerous other units of the University, including the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost.

To attend the virtual event, please RSVP here.

“Her name has always been in my frame of reference because I teach about her and her book in my classes,” says Dr. Willena Kimpson Price, Director of the AACC and an affiliate faculty member in the Africana Studies Institute. “I had a feeling I was on to something when I started to look into bringing Patrisse to the UConn community. The timing could not be better. I feel our University’s level of conversation will be elevated to a great degree just hearing from her.”

Other events for Black History Month at UConn are:

  • Cullors’ book, which she wrote with Asha Bandele, is the focus of a program called “AACC Reads,” which brings people together once a week in a virtual format to discuss a book.  For information on joining that group, please email paris.pruitt@uconn.edu or odia.kane@uconn.edu.
  • The AACC will present The Black Excellence Showcase on Thursday, Feb. 18. To attend the virtual event, please RSVP here.
  • There will be a African-American Faculty and Staff Association Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 at noon. Further details and a webex link will be forthcoming, but RSVP here for this event.

The AACC website will be updated with details as more events are finalized.