Santa Monica College Celebrates Black History Month

By Lookout Staff

February 5, 2018 -- The history of West Coast hip-hop and the saga of Santa Monica's black community are part of a celebration of Black History Month in the beach city.

The presentations, which also include a look at blacks in media and getting back on track for black women released from prison, will be held on the Santa Monica College main campus in the Humanities & Social Sciences Lecture Hall 165.

The series kicks off Thursday, February 15 at 11:15 a.m., with “Black Representation in Media,” a talk by Kyle Bowser, an entertainment industry executive who founded Res Ipsa Media, Inc.

Bowser's multimedia company has struck development deals with Warner Bros., Home Box Office and 3 Arts Entertainment, providing him with "a unique insight into the intersecting parameters of the performing arts, business development and emerging technologies," event organizers said.

Bowser, who has work in film, television, music, theater, radio and new media, also offers "strategic planning and counsel for several entertainment industry artists and firms."

The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates (smc.edu/associates) and SMC’s Black Collegians Program.

The series continues Tuesday, February 20 at 11:15 a.m. with “A Conversation with the Producers and Talent of the Films Break Dance Revolution and N.ot W.ithout A.lonzo: The Story of West Coast Hip-Hop.”

Presenters include Marque ‘DJ Cli-N-Tel’ Hawkins, an original member of the legendary Hip-Hop group World Class Wreckin' Cru; Michael ‘Boogaloo Shrimp’ Chambers, who is "renowned for his skills in popping, boogaloo, and robot dancing, as well as the freestyle art of b-boying," and Alonzo ‘Grandmaster Lonzo’ Williams, who is considered "the Godfather of West Coast Hip-Hop."

Hawkins is the producer of Break Dance Revolution, a third installment in the Breakin’ series, set for production in 2018.

Part of the SMC Communication & Media Series. The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates (smc.edu/associates) and SMC Communication and Media Department.

On Thursday, February 22 at 11:15 a.m., Carolyne Edwards and guests present “Black History in Santa Monica: The Philomatheans,” one of the oldest African American service organizations in Southern California.

Edwards and other members of the group will discuss "the rich history and culture of African Americans in Santa Monica," organizers said.

The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates (smc.edu/associates) and SMC’s Black Collegians Program.

The series concludes Tuesday, February 27 at 11:15 a.m. with a presentation by Civil rights activist Susan Burton titled “Champion for Justice -- Leading the Fight for the Formerly Incarcerated.”

Burton will talk about "getting back on track after her release from prison, and starting the nonprofit A New Way of Life to provide housing and other support to formerly incarcerated women," organizers said.

Burton -- the author of Becoming Ms. Burton and the founder of the Justice On Trial Film Festival -- also will discuss "issues related to Black Lives Matter and current public policy implications.

The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates (smc.edu/associates), SMC Office of Community & Academic Relations, and Homegirl & Homeboy Scholars of SMC.

For more information, please call SMC’s Office of Public Programs at (310) 434-4100.