SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College celebrates Black History Month with a series of free events to which the public is invited.

"It's important to have a connection to American history, to never forget how much progress we've made in the United States," said Vadrin Colvin-King, chair of CCCC's Diversity Committee. "As progressive as we get, we also need a sense of direction, and we only get that by remembering the past and being culturally appreciative."

Events:

• "The Great Debators" - Time: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 and 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9
  Location: Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Lecture Hall
  "The Great Debators," starring Denzel Washington, is based on the story of the debate team at historically black Wiley College in Texas in the 1930s. The movie depicts Wiley beating Harvard College, but the story is based on an historic 1935 competition when Wiley accomplished a major upset in the collegiate debating world by defeating the University of Southern California, then the national debating champions.
• "The History of Black History Month" - A presentation by CCCC history instructor Robert Barnes
  • Time: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8
    Location: Room 108, Building 2, Chatham County Campus, Pittsboro
  • Time: 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15
    Location: Room 9206, Science Building, Lee County Campus, Sanford
  • Time: 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22
    Location: Room 142, Miriello Building, Harnett County Campus, Lillington
• "History of Hip Hop"
  • Time: Monday, 2 p.m. Feb. 13
    Location: Room 9206, Science Building, Lee County Campus, Sanford
  • Time: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14
    Location: Room 229, Building 1, Chatham County Campus, Pittsboro
• "Brown vs. Board of Education: Over Fifty Years Later"
  Time: 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16
  Location: Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Lecture Hall
  This Mike Wiley Productions play recounts the impact of the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that segregation was unconstitutional. It is appropriate for grades 6 through adult. The college's Natural Chef Culinary Program will serve light refreshments following the show.
• "A Conversation Party"
  By Vadrin Colvin-King and Theresa Cry,
  Time: 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22
  Location: Student Center, Lee County Campus

For more information, visit www.cccc.edu and click on the "Events" calendar.