Image - program title
San Francisco

‘Epicenter: The Struggle for Black Studies in the Bay Area’: Screening and Discussion

Buy Tickets

Members receive discounts on tickets, free events, special programs, early notice, travel opportunities and more. Plus, your membership helps support our work as a nonprofit. You can become a monthly sustaining member for just $13 a month.

Please join us for a special film documentary screening of Epicenter:The Struggle for Black Studies in the Bay Area, followed by an intimate conversation with filmmaker Doug Harris, Douglas Harris Jr. and cast members. 

The film examines the early student activism of the 1960s and 1970s, which brought the first Black studies departments to higher education in the entire country. The film is very timely, as African American studies programs at institutions of higher education are currently being targeted for closure around the country. 

In chronological order, the documentary will feature segments about Merritt College (1966), San Francisco State (1968) and UC Berkeley (1970), as told by cast members of the film who were on the ground floor of the Bay Area struggles through protests, strikes and riots. The Bay Area stood at the forefront, taking the leap toward introducing the study of Black and other minority cultures that would eventually spread throughout the country.

Organizer
Robert Melton
Notes

This program is in-person only. If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

An Arts Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.

Photus courtesy the speakers.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Mon, Feb 2 / 6:00 PM PST

The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Doug Harris

Doug Harris

Filmmaker, Epicenter

Image - Douglas Harris Jr.

Douglas Harris Jr.

Filmmaker, Epicenter

Image - Ramona Tascoe

Dr. Ramona Tascoe

Cast Member, Epicenter; SF State alumnus

Image - James Garrett

Dr. James Garrett

Cast Member, Epicenter; SF State alumnus

Image - Leo Bazile

Leo Bazile

Cast Member, Epicenter; Oakland Merritt College alumnus

Image - Renee Kemp

Moderator: Renee Kemp

Former Anchor & Reporter, KRON-TV and Channel 2

Image - Robert Melton

Introduction: Robert Melton

Art Curator and Co-chair, Arts Member-led Forum, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California

Format

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. film screening & discussion
7–8 p.m. reception
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

In-person: 
$22
Free for Leadership Circle members and students