Upperman African American Cultural Center

We soar into our spring semester with an interactive art exhibit that reveals the rich and storied history of black superheroes in comics and their influence on the modern media landscape today

Explore the Marvel superhero America Chavez as we consider the intersections that shape Gabby Rivera’s groundbreaking character.

Co-Sponsored by Centro Hispano and the LGBTQIA Resource Office

A kickoff to our MLK Celebration program, join the Upperman Center and Housing and Residence Life for a showing of While I Breathe, I Hope. What does it mean to be young, Black, and Democrat in the South? While I Breathe, I Hope unravels this question through the experiences of South Carolina politician Bakari Sellers. The film follows Sellers on his 2014 bid for Lt. Governor, through the Charleston Shootings in 2015, and to the present as he takes on a national role on CNN and considers his future in Trump’s America. 

"We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today..."

Join the Upperman Center and UNCW on Jan. 22nd, 7PM at Kenan Auditorium for our 34th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration entitled 'When Tomorrow Is Today: The Fierce Urgency of Now' with keynote speaker Bakari Sellers!

Admission is free with ticket. Tickets can be picked up at Kenan Auditorium. For groups larger than four, RSVP here

The Gullah Geechee Festival of Learning will include lectures on Gullah Geechee culture and history, on challenges to the preservation of Gullah culture and history, films, exhibits and more. The festival opens with an art exhibit at the Wilmington Arts Council on Jan. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. (221 N Front St Suite 101) and continues on January 26, 2019, at the CIS Building on the campus of UNCW from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Partnering with The Links, INC and The Arts Council of Wilmington and NHC

'The Inferior Sex' is a poignant and hilarious behind-the-scenes look at a woman's magazine that gets political, faces hard truths, and breaks new ground in an ever-changing world. It's the summer of 1972. As the war in Vietnam intensifies, the battle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment ramps up across the nation, and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm remains undeterred in her campaign for president. In midtown Manhattan, a small woman's magazine is on the verge of collapsing and threatens to dash the hopes and dreams of a group of women tired of being treated as second class. This timely piece deals with race, discrimination, women in the workplace, politics, and history.

Join us for this All Black Affair as The Upperman Center and the Black Graduate & Professional Student Association Seeks To Host an event that brings Alumni together over sumptuous cocktails and libations. Tickets are $40 online and $50 at the door. All proceeds to benefit Upperman’s programming slate. Register here.

Join the Upperman African American Cultural Center and AAGA as the engage in an hour of reflection and celebration through faith and community. Register here.

Before you witness the wonder of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), hear from Theara Ward, former principle dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and now program associate for DTH’s Dancing Through Barriers as she share some lesser known stories in the history of African American classical music and dance.

5 | BFSA Mixer
5:30 p.m. Upperman Center

The Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble (ALJE) is an octet of some of the most virtuosic musicians in jazz today. Led by Arturo O'Farrill, the ALJE is a part of The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance who are dedicated to preserving the music and heritage of Afro Latin jazz, supporting its performance for new audiences, and educating young people in the understanding and performance of this important cultural treasure. Their repertoire honors the pioneers of Latin jazz while keeping a strong foothold in progressing that music by performing contemporary compositions of the genre. The ALJE has performed internationally to critical acclaim, playing such festivals as the Cubadisco Festival (Havana, Cuba), the Luminato Festival (Toronto, Canada), Aperitivo in Concerto (Milan, Italy) and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (Becket, MA). In collaboration with the UNCW Office of the Arts.

9-15 | Civil Rights Spring Break Tour
12 p.m., Upperman Center

18-25 | Dr. Kaia Shivers: Artist in Residence
UNCW

Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers, professor of Liberal Arts Studies at New York University, will come down for a week-long residency at Upperman where she will give lectures, provide workshops for student groups, participate in the NC Black Film Festival and much more. Dr. Shivers’ research focuses on black representations in media and the African diaspora.

27 | UPPGrade: Networking 101 and Mock Interview
12 p.m., Upperman Center

Join the Upperman Center as we share what employers are looking for in their new hires. We will teach you how to successfully master interviews by providing information such as tips, salary negotiating, and guidance. Then you will get a chance to use those skills in a mock interview.

29 | Bounce Aerobics
12 p.m., Upperman Center

Work off your spring break splurge off with some bounce aerobics as we get fit and learn about this New Orleans musical tradition and it’s impact in the pop culture landscape.

31 | Waffles and Worship with Brent Campbell
12:45 p.m., Madeline Suite

The Upperman African American Cultural Center invites you to a two-day celebration of the contributions that black superheroes, writers, and artists have made to the pop-culture landscape. There will be a movie marathon with mini-games for prizes, academic lectures, art displays, a panel with local creatives, cosplay opportunities, and more!

Whether you are used to living alone or are about to leave the dorms, cooking for one can be a challenge. All too often cookery books and websites only offer recipes for two, four or more people, and reducing the quantities of ingredients can be fiddly and easy to get wrong. And it may be the case that you have never needed to cook for yourself before, and suddenly find that you need to learn what to do to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Join the Upperman Center as we teach you how to cook for yourself.

It’s time to Level UPP your organization! Learn best practices for programming, membership development and more! RSVP at www.uncw.edu/upperman by April 6th.

Join us for our annual fundraiser and party to raise money for African American student scholarships. Food, Libations, Live Music make this annual event a must for those who love a good cause and supporting students.