SANFORD, NC--The Diversity Committee and Staff Development Department at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) are helping the college celebrate Black History Month. The groups collaborated to organize a series of events that will be held throughout February on the campuses of CCCC.

The events planned include speakers, exhibits, displays and the viewing of a documentary on CCCC campuses in Chatham, Harnett and Lee County. "February One," a highly-acclaimed documentary, will be shown a number of times throughout the month. The film details the story of "The Greensboro Four"--the group of four college freshmen that organized the Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins in 1960.

On Tuesday, February 15, former heavyweight boxing champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith will speak at the CCCC Harnett campus in Lillington. Smith, who fought the likes of Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes in the 1980s, will speak at 11 a.m. "February One" will also be shown.

On the following day, February 16, the Lee campus of CCCC will host a series of events. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., "February One" will be showing in the Student Center. At the same time in the Student Center, there will be a black business exhibit and a Black History Month display put together by the Paralegal Club. The black business exhibit will feature representatives from local businesses including Petals, Carla's Hair Island, Quad Divisions Inc., Blandonia Child Care and Jeremiah's Place.

At noon, Squire Thomas, member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Association, will speak in the Bell Building training room on the Lee campus. The 555th Parachute Infantry Company, known by many as the "Triple Nickel," was the first black airborne unit and paved the way for future advancement of blacks in the armed forces.

The Chatham campus of CCCC will have a speaker on Monday, February 21. Charles Watts, Jr., senior vice president and corporate counsel for North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, will speak in room 108 of the Small Business & Health Building in Pittsboro from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Watts, a direct descendent of one of the company's founders, is part of the largest black-managed insurance company in the United States. "February One" will be shown in the same room at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23.

On Tuesday, February 22, the Lee campus will host another speaker in the gym of the Classroom and Fitness Center. Dr. Delores Parker, the North Carolina Community College System's vice president of academic and student services, will speak at 11 a.m.

The final viewing of "February One" will be held on Thursday, February 24 at the Siler City Center.

The libraries on the Chatham, Harnett and Lee campuses will have displays featuring black authors and books and videos by and about black authors all month long.

Students in the broadcast production technologies program are also celebrating Black History Month. WDCC-FM 90.5, the CCCC radio station, will feature salutes and historical vignettes about black artists during its programming this month.

The events are open to all faculty, staff and students. Staff development credit will be given for sessions attended. No pre-registration is needed.

For more information on the celebration of Black History Month at CCCC, contact George Clayton of the Diversity Committee at 718-7446 or staff development coordinator Karen H. Brown at 718-7319.