Black History Month activities at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College begin Feb. 6 with a kick-off performance by ABAC musicians and a speech by the Honorable Judge Larry Mims at 6 p.m. in Driggers Hall.  ABAC fine arts major Elijah Alford organized the program. “The reason I put this program together is to challenge everyone to think about what Black history means to them,”  

ABAC student Elijah Alford prepares for his Black  History Month presentation scheduled for Feb. 6  in Driggers Hall at 6 p.m.

Alford said. “Perhaps it’s a friend,  teacher, coach, or musician. In some  form, everyone has been positively  affected by Black history.” 

Alford will be playing his saxophone as a part of the event.  

Other events during the month include 7 p.m. movie nights in the ABAC Lakeside lobby  featuring “Candyman” on Feb. 7, “The Photograph” on Feb. 14, and “Harriett” on Feb. 28. 

An essay contest will begin on Feb. 7, and winners will be selected on Feb. 21. The first place essay winner will receive a $100 prize and the second-place finisher will receive a $50  reward. There will be a Young Black Professionals Panel on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in Bowen Hall  100.  

The New Georgia Project collaborated with the Black History Month events to offer voter  registration on Feb. 8 and Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall  Lobby.  

While supplies last, a Bears to Build event will be in the Thrash Wellness Center on  Valentine’s Day from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students must have a valid ABAC ID. The event  is sponsored by CAB and Active Minds.  

A presentation of “Birth and Beyond Midwifery,” is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Bowen 100 on  Feb. 21. Jayma Holt, CNM, APRN, a midwife from St. Petersburg, Fla., will be giving the  presentation. Dinner will be provided for the first 20 guests. 

“Culture Shock” is the title of a presentation scheduled for 6 p.m. in Bowen 100 on Feb. 23.  Participants will engage in an open dialogue about personal identity, life experiences, and  embracing individuality.  

ABAC Bainbridge is sponsoring an essay contest for fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders in  the Early County School System. The top three finishers in each of the grades will receive  prizes. The essays will be collected on Feb. 18, and the winners will be announced on Feb.  25. Frederick Shorter is coordinating the event for the third consecutive year.  

Black History Month activities culminate with, “Let’s Talk: Unspoken Truths and Taboos”, a  virtual event via Teams with social worker Regina Scruggs, LCSW. The event will be in the  Donaldson Dining Hall on Feb. 28 from 12 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. Students without a meal plan  should arrive early for a complimentary meal.