As part of its programming for Black History Month, EC will host a series of events including a play, speech, and food festival, throughout February, according to sources.

“We commemorate Black History Month because I want to recognize the contribution of African Americans to American society,” Gloria Miranda, who oversees the the Black History Month Committee, said. “The goal of faculty is to make continuous awareness of those contributions.”

Miranda hopes that these events, while enjoyable, also serve as an educational experience for their audiences.

“We are hopping that it provides not only an awareness of African American contribution to our society, but also brings a general sense of understanding of the richness of the African American experiences,” she said.

The events began Feb. 4 with “Dreamscape,” a play presented by EC alumnus Rickerby Hinds.

The play, which included hip-hop performances, was based upon the true story of an African American, Tyisha Miller’s, death, Dr. Daniel Walker, a Black History Month Committee member, said.

In addition to the series of scheduled events, Maria Brown, another committee member, organized an exhibit in Schauerman Library from Jan. 31 to Feb. 28 titled “Let Freedom Ring.”

“The exhibition is about the black experience,” Brown said. “There are books, figurines, there are some artifacts that deal with African Americans experiences.”

“We have a lot material, for example, on President Obama, so he will be part of the exhibit. We have lot material on Dr. King and other heroes in the African American community, which will be part of the exhibit too,” she added.

On Feb. 18, a panel presentation, titled “Images of Blacks in Contemporary Film,” will discuss the contribution of black community to film industry, Brown said.

“The main goal is to show that African Americans do have influence in the film society and we do have a history of being involved,” Brandy Bruce, 24, business and film major, and president of Project Success Club, said.

The events will conclude on Feb. 27 with a food festival, “Taste of Soul,” where the students can taste different dishes from African American culture, Briana Thomas, 21, psychology major, and vice president of EC’s Black Student Union, said

The events are sponsored by the EC office of staff and Student Diversity, also by the Vice president for academic affairs and The Black History Month committee, Dean Miranda said.

“Hopefully everyone comes out and attends some of the events, if not all of them,” Miranda said. “They’re at convenient times and we guarantee that they will be very rewarding for everyone. They’ll take away not only an educational experience, but a cultural enrichment experience for themselves.”