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February 7, 2026
The re-emergence of Black Lives Matter after the police killing of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 made anti-racism as mainstream as it had been in this country since perhaps the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The political right has subsequently made pushing that consciousness back into the margins one of their priorities in the so-called "culture wars" ever since. The backlash started against the so-called "imposition" of Critical Race Theory in academics, and has since escalated to full-scale assault against any organized efforts to promote diversity, equity, or inclusion ("DEI") in any and all major American institutions.
This controversy raises several questions. For starters, why are conservatives so unwilling, resentful, or even afraid of any honest discussion of race or racism in U.S. history? (And why are liberals often just as uncomfortable about it?) And since February is Black History Month, we hope that we can go a bit further and explore what makes Black history in particular so powerful (or potentially dangerous, to the powers-that-be). What is it about the Black-American experience that everyone in this country should understand?
As always, our events are free and open to the public. The Black Cat House welcomes all ages, and is a drug and alcohol-free venue. To help keep everyone safe and healthy, we ask that all guests wear face masks in our space. We are wheelchair accessible.