2023 - Black History Month 2023: Resistance Through Black Excellence

Elgin Community College is celebrating Black History Month through the 2023 theme Resistance Through Black Excellence with in-person events. Join ECC this year in honoring BHM with peer and employee networking and critical conversations through formal discussions, creative outlets, and community gatherings.

“Our Black History Month planning committee is excited to share this year’s events with our ECC campus community and the greater Elgin community and invite everyone to join in the celebration,” said Erik Enders, student life coordinator for student equity. “Our committee decided to focus on the various ways we resist. The word resistance may evoke powerful imagery of the violent resistance that has occurred in our country during our fight for equality. We hope to demonstrate how resistance occurs in the way Black people have excelled, overcome, and disrupted American society with creativity and non-violence, yet with indelible impact.”

New this year is a Short Film Festival in partnership with the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Black Student Achievers, an ECC student club. The festival showcases the best and brightest Black filmmakers in the Chicagoland area. The month ends with the return of the popular African Ball on Friday, March 3, at 6:30 pm.

2023 Black History Month events:

Black Student Connection

Thursday, February 2, 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Main Event in Hoffman Estates

Celebrate Black History Month at Main Event in Hoffman Estates by networking with peers, ECC faculty, and staff.

Conscious Conversations

Wednesday, February 8, 11 am to 12:15 pm

Building B, Rm 180

Join us for a pivotal conversation surrounding equity issues faced by the Black Community.

BHM Game Night

Thursday, February 16, 6 to 7:30 pm

Building B, Jobe Lounge

Celebrate Black History Month with a night of family fun and fellowship. 

Short Film Festival

Saturday, February 25, 1 to 4 pm

Building E, Seigle Auditorium

Join the Black History Month Film Festival showcasing the best and brightest Black Filmmakers in the Chicagoland area and a small vendor fair highlighting Black-owned businesses.

Resistance Through Black Excellence

Tuesday, February 28, 11 am to 12:30 pm

Building B, Rm 181, Alumni Room

Gain insights into creative forms of Black resistance, from obtaining an education and expressing joy to becoming experts in the creative arts. Act to help Black families by resisting stereotypes and institutional racism in our communities.

African Ball: Honoring Black overcomers, resistors, and disruptors

Friday, March 3, 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Building B, Jobe Lounge

Celebrate the culmination of Black History Month with African cuisine, dance, and song to honor Black overcomers, resistors, and disruptors in the community.

All events are open to the public. For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at 847-214-7079.