Black History Month, which takes place throughout the month of February, acknowledges the historical milestones of African Americans. It’s a time to celebrate Black culture by showcasing different forms of art, attending cultural events, as well as remembering historical figures.

Building an understanding of other cultures allows students to connect with history so they can better understand not only their differences but also what brings them together. Through this collaboration faculty and students were able to build a more supportive community by providing a new perspective and recognizing that one’s heritage should be celebrated.

APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American) Amplified hosted the “Far East Deep South” screening in collaboration with Umoja on Feb. 13 at the APIDA Resource Center. In celebration of Black History Month, students of different cultures were able to come together and learn about the connection between Chinese and Black communities in the South.

“As a new center we want to build those cross-racial partnerships and uplift our students because although we are an APIDA center organization we welcome any and all students & allies in our space,” said Rachel Reyes, project manager for the APIDA Amplified Program. “We wanted to partner with Umoja to bring on this event and build those relationships across campus to better support our students.”

As the event started, students were welcomed into the lobby and offered snacks and drinks.
“Far East Deep South” highlighted the struggles of a Chinese American family uncovering family history in Mississippi during a period of segregation where they discovered an interconnected relationship with African Americans.

Milani Smith, outreach assistant for the Umoja community, shared that she hopes students are able to recognize that when people of different cultural backgrounds have worked together, they’ve succeeded.

“Hopefully this is just a chance to let students know to come out of their comfort zones a little bit more. Community is not just people who look like you as well, it’s anyone who’s willing to look at life through a different lens and just willing to commit and have that home together,” said Smith.

Rosie Kar, professor in the ethnic studies department and project director for APIDA Amplified, shared that she first saw this film at the Association for Asian American Studies Conference in Long Beach in 2023. She spoke about how “Far East Deep South” ties into genocide, orientalism and exploitation, but also joy.

“As part of the ethnic studies commitment to collective liberation, you know this narrative is important because it looks at how all of our histories are interconnected,” said Kar “I think that this is a really good model of how history, family, conversations, filmmaking, and art center all of that.”

Rebecca Yingling, a first-year ethnic studies major, mentioned she has learned a lot about the topics discussed in the film.

“It seems really interesting to look specifically into the instance of one family, specifically people that are still around, where it had a modern, everyday impact in their life,” said Yingling.

Anthony Siqueiros, a second-year student, said it taught him about the similar discrimination Chinese and African Americans faced during that time period.

“It was a nice heartwarming documentary where the family was searching for their roots and their history and they made a lot of discoveries along the way. It seems like it was a priceless journey for them,” said Siqueiros. “My biggest takeaway was that the Chinese and African Americans built a relationship out of respect for one another and relied on each other during the great depression.”

As the event came to an end, students were encouraged to spin a wheel for a chance to win prizes such as sunglasses and tote bags, and were able to take a t-shirt. Staff mentioned they were pleased with the turnout of this event.

The Umoja and APIDA Amplified programs are still in the process of planning events however they look forward to future collaborations.

In the meantime, students can continue to use their academic resources, support centers, and student services. As well as enjoy their individual upcoming events by keeping up with their social media. The APIDA Resource Center can be located in building 100, room 121 and are opened Tues. through Thurs. from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“At the end of the day we are all looking forward to a new life and a chance for the American Dream so I hope this definitely opens eyes for students, not only looking at the history of the past but also taking into account the present,” said Smith. “At the end of the day we’re all human and we only have each other.”

*This article was updated on Feb. 18, 2025  to provide the location and hours for the APIDA Resource Center.

*This article was updated on Feb. 24, 2025.