Every year, Sacramento State celebrates Black History Month in an effort to educate students about the importance of black history and all that African-Americans have accomplished.

”[As students] become aware of the various cultural events that happen on campus, (they will) attend them,” said Unique program advisor Ajamu Lamumba. “Open your minds because college is a time for exploration and a time for getting out of your comfort zone.”

Unique, the Multicultural Center and the Pride Center are a few organizations Sac State offers to help students get involved with school and celebrate events such as Black History Month.

For the month of February, these organizations are hosting events like movie screenings, lectures and discussions in hopes students will attend for an opportunity to learn.

On Feb. 18, there will be a movie screening held in the University Union Hinde Auditorium of  “Looking for Langston,” a movie about African-American poet Langston Hughes and his struggle with being a homosexual  in the early 1900s.

“The Butler,” a movie about the life of a man who served eight presidents, will be playing in the University Union Ballroom on Feb. 20.

On that same day, there will be a lecture in honor of Carter G. Woodson,  founder of Black History Week, which is now known as Black History Month in the University Union Orchard room.

“Our purpose is to bring in entertainment for the students, but try to make it [an] educational entertainment,” Lamumba said.

Artist Milton Bowens’ art exhibit “The Mis-Education of the Post Black Negro,” will be in the University Union Gallery through Feb. 27. The exhibit features a collection of original  paintings that incorporate stereotypes, Civil Rights, Black Power icons and hip-hop songs. Vintage American Slave Era documents and magazine articles will also be featured.

Gallery attendant Alyssa Alcantara, said she believes it is important for to learn about Black history.

“We grew up learning about the white side of history and in our history books that’s all there is,” Alcantara said.

Alcantara said as a Filipino woman, she thinks it is important to learn about the other sides of history that is often filtered through history books.

The Multicultural Center will be hosting “Distant Cousins,” a two part discussion on African-American history. The first discussion will take place on Feb. 19 and the second part Feb. 26.

Sociology graduate student Kevin Easley, an active member of the Multicultural Center, said the title of this discussion is “Distant Cousins” because people are all still related and trying to bridge together.

“Black history is American history,” Easley said.

To end Black History Month, from Feb. 27th through March 9, there will be various performances to celebrate the Black Art of Dance in Solano Hall.

For this event tickets can be purchased at the Hornet ticket office, which is located in the Athletic Center.