Signature Events

The African American Cultural Center hosts a series of events every year that have come to be known as our Signature Events. Events are open to all students, faculty, and staff, and everyone is encouraged to participate and learn.

The African American Cultural Center and our partners at NC State Libraries invite the campus and surrounding community to our first annual Black Research Symposium. For 30+ years, the African American Cultural Center, and of Black communities, have fostered spaces of education, exploration, cultivation, creativity, and community at NC State. In honor of this legacy, we center the theme “Afro-Diasporic Worldbuilding and a Sustainable Futurity.”

The annual Ebony Harlem Awards honor exceptional achievements of students and student organizations affiliated with the African American Cultural Center. We invite you to attend this special recognition ceremony of the best and brightest of NC State.

The African American Cultural Center’s annual Harambee! campus welcome celebration offers the opportunity for all to come together at the beginning of the new academic year. Get acquainted with the center and its warm and welcoming community. All are welcome.

The NC State inaugural Juneteenth is an intimate afternoon of community, rest, and celebration! NC State partners have come together to bring a wellness-centered joyful celebration including FREE food trucks, a DJ, chair massages, pop-up fitness, self-care kits, and community vibes!

Kwanzaa celebrates contributions of the African diaspora, family and the community through the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba.

While celebrated early on campus, Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday, from December 26 through January 1, celebrated by many people of the African diaspora. It is a time to reflect on your actions over the previous year in regard to supporting the diaspora and to renew your commitments for the following year.

Join us each January for events celebrating and commemorating the great Martin Luther King, Jr. Past speakers have included Dick Gregory, Iyanla Vanzant, Symone Sanders and Benjamin Jealous as well as lectures by numerous NC State scholars and immersive VR exhibits.

What’s on the table is the African American Cultural Center’s weekly space for black folx across the campus to come together to unpack important conversations essential to our communities. For more information, please visit the WOTT page.