University Plans Events for Black History Month
The University of Scranton will show the film “The Mask You Live In” Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in the PNC Auditorium of the Loyola Science Center. The documentary follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity. The screening is free of charge and open to the public.
The University of Scranton’s Multicultural Center has planned two public events for Black History Month, in addition to several campus events for students, faculty and staff. Public events, offered free of charge, include a spoken word poetry performance and the screening or the documentary film “The Mask You Live In.”
Award-winning slam and spoken word poet Javon Johnson, Ph.D., will present “And Your Kids Will Be Painted Black” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. An assistant professor of performance and communication studies at San Francisco State University, Dr. Johnson’s work combines race and gender theory with comedy and lyricism. He appeared on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam,” BET’s “Lyric Café” and “The Arsenio Hall Show,” among other television shows. He co-wrote a documentary titled “Crossover,” which aired on Showtime, in collaboration with the NBA and Nike.
The author of six book chapters and two manuscripts, Dr. Johnson has also published numerous articles in journals, magazines and newspapers. He writes for The Huffington Post, The Root and Our Weekly. He has participated in academic workshops and performed at more than 50 colleges throughout the United States.
Dr. Johnson recently finished a national tour with Fiveology, a collective of spoken word poets. He currently serves on the Board of Say Word, an organization that mentors teenagers and promotes creative self-expression through spoken word poetry in Los Angeles.
Dr. Johnson earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University and his doctorate from Northwestern University.
Premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, “The Mask You Live In” will be shown Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in the PNC Auditorium of the Loyola Science Center. The documentary written, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom explores how America’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming boys, men and society at large.
“Masculinity can be about more than physical force, sexual conquest and economic success. These stereotypes are hurting all of us,” said Newsom when discussing the reasons for making the film. According to a report published by the National Center on Education Statistics, compared to girls, boys are more likely to flunk or drop out or school and are four times more likely to be expelled.
For more information about these events, contact the University’s Multicultural Center at 570-941-5904 or by email at multicultural@scranton.edu.
