even though your mom is white and your dad is african-american, you identify as an african-american woman, but you've always had this kind of prism of looking at things through "the other," and it was almost as if they're saying, "there's a whole other 'otherness' that you need to understand." >> that's right-- secondary marginalization. and so for me, it wasn't that i wasn't a black feminist, it's that i didn't quite know what that meant for my research, and so over those years, as i developed as a teacher and as a researcher, i discovered that for me, black feminism is simply asking the same question over and over again-- of myself and of my students and of my work. and that question is: "what truths are missing here?" so eveif you're telling something that's mostly true, there's always some other truth that is missing, some other story that's not being told, some other question that's not being asked. and so it becomes not just about making sure that women's voices are there or making sure that not only heteronormative but also queer experiences are there-- it's about asking every, sin

he was involved in the group known as the oh, -- association for the study of african-american life and history. the local chapter of that group is what is now known as the african-american cultural and historical society. so it's an honor. we've been doing this for many, many years and it's great to see so many faces out here today. right now what i'd like to do is thank our partners and acknowledge them for their participateation. the san francisco public library much the california cultural arts program and we couldn't do it without the good folks in the mayor's office of neighborhood services. what i'd like to do now is strue -- shall truce -- intro duce tanish hollins from the mayor's office of neighborhood services. >> good amp, family. happy black history month. could we hear it one more time? [applause] >> we are so honored to be here. we look forward to this every year. it's a hall mark event for the city and county of san francisco. an opportunity to reflect on the many, many contributions of african-americans in this city and how each of us has changed the gee graval and cult

i'm al williams, president of the board of the san francisco african-american historical society. welcoming you all to this annual 2011 kickoff program for black history month. first of all i'd like to say that the chairs to my right are vacant and will be filled shortly. the mayor will be arriving about 11:30. he had another engagement that he was they'd at. and supervisors -- he was delayed at. and supervisors -- no, that's not them -- miracle arim aye and coyne are in committee and i understand they will be finishing up shortly and then they will be joining us to bring greetings. i want to thank pastor curran and ms. suites for their participation in the program. and ms. suites with her wonderful voice, we use this program as an opportunity to present cameos of people who are otherwise engraged shall -- engaged in black history month programs and ms. suites is going to be appearing next tuesday, february 8 at yoshii's. and of course pastor is appearing weekly and a couple times sunday at jones united methodist church. so let's certainly visit and support her at jones united mem

, it's about what african-americans have been doing for us as a soc

from the dispersal of africans throughout the world. we do that through compelling and innovative exhibitions, public programs, and education programs. our goal is to celebrate and present for appreciation to our broad and diverse public the controversial energy contributions of people of african descent to world culture in all aspects in all areas, including politics, culture, economics, education, just in all aspects of cultural forms of expression. >> one of the fascinating things since 2005 when the museum was established, is that it has become clear from science that all of humanity originates in africa. how does that influence the education programs or presentation here at moad? >> obviously, being able to attenuate that, and there is a sign at the door that says, "when did you know that you were african?" our point is that we share a common dna, and it connects us on a number of different levels. this institution is an institution available to everyone, a resourced for everyone. >> you have both permanent and temporary exhibition

that document the story of the african-american community.called the -- called the kinsey collection, shared treasures of bernard and shirley kinsey, where art and history intersect. it's been on tour to six city as -- cities and opened at the national museum of american history at the smithsonian institute and we anticipate more than 2.5 million folks will visit that exhibit. how's that for success? terrific. their wonderful book it that documents the kinsey collection has been selected by the florida department of education for the curriculum to team african-american studies to 3.6 million students throughout the state. so that's also a wonderful accomplishment. it's indeed mip pleasure to welcome a man to waves a wonderful cultural narrative of a people. please, give a warm welcome to bernard kinsey. bernard? [applause] .