Celebrating Black Scientists Part 2

Join us for Part 2 of our Celebrating Black Scientists series with the honorable Dr. Runoko Rashidi returns to WorldBeat Center this Saturday, February 20th. Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence. We’ll be live on Facebook and YouTube from 7-8:30PM Part 2 will feature an exclusive single release of “Plant Whispers” by Chico Freeman, Avery Sharpe and Jamie Shadowlight. WorldBeat Cultural Center chose to present Black Scientists because we want more African- Americans and people of color represented in the sciences. As African-Americans, we do not have Our story accurately written in history books and there is an awareness and light coming through the cracks and to know the truth of our ancestors will set us all free. It’s important that our children know of our ancestors’ contributions. They should know that we had great mathematicians, botanists, biologists, chemists, scientists, and inventors. This is why we are so excited about Ronoko Rashi’s return for a virtual presentation on Black Scientists.

Celebrating Black Scientists Part 1: African Contributions to Science and Technology

Save the dates! Our resident historian, Dr. Runoko Rashidi returns for a virtual Black History Month presentation on February 17th and 20th for a 2 part presentation on the contributions of Black Scientists. We’ll be live on Facebook and YouTube from 7-8PM Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of eighteen books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence and Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017. As a traveler and researcher Dr. Rashidi has visited 120 countries. As a lecturer and presenter, he has spoken in sixty-five countries. Runoko has worked with and under some of the most distinguished scholars of our generation, including Ivan Van Sertima, John Henrik Clarke, Asa G. Hilliard, Edward Scobie, John G. Jackson, Jan Carew and Yosef ben-Jochannan.

32nd Martin Luther King Day Celebration

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that we want to share with our children, especially in today’s world. While we can’t have our 32nd annual MLK Celebration in person we are continuing our programming virtually. One of Dr. King’s dearest message was a message of unity. All nations together regardless of the color of their skin or creed. Every year WorldBeat Center showcases our drum and dance classes representing the cultures of the world as well the sacred dances and music of the indigenous and native peoples.

The evening featured archived cultural performances, guest speakers Chico Freeman and Avery Sharpe, Reggae artists Pato Banton, Wayne Stoddart and the Righteous Revolution as well as archived Reggae performances by Yami Bolo, Lutan Fyah, Warrior King, the Rastafarians, Kush, and Layne Tadesse. MC’d by Ras Pablo and Makeda Dread. Plus we’ll have community reflections on what Martin Luther King has meant to them.

Celebrating the 7 Days of Kwanzaa

WorldBeat Cultural Center will be celebrating its 40th Annual Celebration virtually on social media. Since Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that is celebrated through community gatherings, we have decided to continue the daily ritual online and bring it to your homes. Each night will feature live and archived content of special guest speakers or performers, Ceremonial candle lighting and libation with drumming, Poetry Readings, and view of the Karamu – the traditional feast and family get down.

Kwanzaa is an African American Holiday celebrated from the 26th of December to the 1st of January. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate and reaffirm family, community, and culture.

The African Presence and Black Communities of Peru

Featuring renowned historian, Dr. Runoko Rashidi. For his last series presentation, Dr. Rashidi will examine the Black presence in the Moche civilization of ancient Peru and a photographic overview of the Black community in El Carmen, Peru. 

Our second guest, José Miguel Vidal, anthropology professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. will share some insights about the resistance of Africans and Afro-descendants in Peru among colonial era and the beginnings of the republic.

Dharma Talk: Cultivating Awakening Emotions by Tuere Sala – September 25th

Insight San Diego and Worldbeat Center welcome Tuere Sala to San Diego. Tune in for a dharma talk, the first day of a weekend retreat focused on ‘Awakening Emotions’

The African Resistance to Enslavement Latin America featuring Runoko Rashidi – August 26th

The African Presence in Latin America featuring Runoko Rashidi is a three-part webinair and the African Resistance to Enslavement Latin America is part 2. This livestreamed event looks at The African Resistance to Enslavement in Latin America, including slave revolts and maroon communities.

Part 2: NUESTROS ANDARES POR EL RECONOCIMIENTO Y VISIBILIDAD DE LOS PUEBLOS NEGROS DE MÉXICO

This is a bilingual virtual presentation and talk with Israel Reyes Larrea, founder of Africa AC from Costa Chica, Oaxaca Mexico. Israel shares with us his photographic documentation of the Black and indigenous community of Costa Chica. 

Afro-Mexico: The (In)visibilization of Blackness in Mexico & Struggle for Inclusion Series

Watch part 1 of a 2 part series featuring Jorge Gonzalez, Director of the Afro-Mexican department at the Worldbeat Cultural Center and Patricia Ann Talley. Jorge shared a virtual multi-media presentation that will cover more than 200+ years of Afro-Mexican history. He will share excerpts from his 2012 M.A. thesis from UCSB focused on his field research in the Afro-Mexican region of Costa Chica, Oaxaca.

 African Presence In Latin America featuring Runoko Rashidi-

July 22nd

The African Presence in Latin America featuring Runoko Rashidi is a three-part webinair that looks at the subject in a vastly different light than we are used to. The livestreamed event looks at the Ancient African Presence in the Americas with a focus on the African presence in classical Meso-American civilization, including the Olmec, the Maya and the Moche.  

Virtual Community Conversation: Malcolm X 95th Birthday Panel – Tuesday, May 19th

Listen to San Diego’s community speaking on and honoring the legacy of Malcolm X.