University of the Pacific’s annual Black History Month celebration involves a number of activities that honor the history and heritage of African-Americans and the African Diaspora.

We are proud to announce our 2017 BHM Keynote Speaker is LECRAE, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning hip-hop artist and author of the autobiography, Unashamed. Lecrae has sold 1.7 million albums to date, including his latest Anomaly, that debuted on the Billboard 200 Album Chart at No. 1. He has performed on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and the Hip Hop Awards on BET Network. He is an artist focused on caring for people, providing messages of hope and inspiration. He feels, “Music doesn’t need to be categorized. It just needs to be good.” On Feb. 10, 2017, he will provide some of that good music and provide a lecture revealing how he has overcome the challenges in his life and is impacting an entire generation-building community one person at a time. His lecture and performance will be held at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton at 7 p.m. Tix Presale is on Sept. 28, 2016, General Public Sale is Sept. 30. You can purchase tickets http://go.pacific.edu/lecrae.

On Saturday, Feb.18, nationally acclaimed Gospel Artist and Stellar Award winner Donald Lawrence will be headlining Gospelfest 2017. This event will also feature performances from Lena Byrd-Miles and Ascension Praise Dance and will be hosted by Steven Parker and Destiny Robbins and be held at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Dec. 22. You can purchase tickets at  http://go.pacific.edu/gospelfest2017 or by going to the Stockton Arena.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, prominent social justice advocate and author Shaun King will be speaking at Faye Spanos Concert Hall. His presentation will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Pacific Black History Month Planning Committee Mission Statement
The Black History Month Committee will, through the usage of identified funds, collaborate within the University and local community to plan and execute a monthlong series of events and activities that support the overall goals of education and enrichment in relation to the contributions of peoples of African ancestry and culture to society past and present.

Origin of Black History Month
Known as the “Father of Black History,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the celebration he called “Negro History Week” in 1926. Dr. Woodson selected the second week of February for the celebration because it fell between the birthdays of the famed orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the celebration expanded to include the entire month of February. Today, Black History Month is celebrated across the United States by people of all ethnic and social backgrounds. At Pacific, it is observed during a monthlong celebration in February organized by Pacific’s Black History Month Planning Committee.