The Center for Black Studies will host Black Heritage Month events with the theme Reclaiming Our Roots, Renewing Our Commitment.

Throughout February the center will host events that honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Assistant history professor Ismael Montana will lead a discussion following a screening of the documentary “Mandela: From Prison to President” from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in the Holmes Student Center.

Mandela, who died Dec. 5 at 95, championed the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and became its first black president after winning the country’s first democratically held elections in 1994.

“The discussion of the film ‘Mandela: from Prisoner to President’ is part of a lineup [of] events intended for the NIU community to pay tribute and reflect on Mandela’s achievements and legacy,” Montana said. “The year 2014 … presents a unique challenge to the African American youth to reflect to reflect on the meaning of Nelson Mandela’s legacy in their lives.”

Montana encourages members of the community to discuss the questions that will be presented after the movie and to reflect on Mandela’s legacy.

“Traditionally, Black History Month has been an occasion that allows students and the broader community alike to acknowledge the important contributions that African Americans or black people around the diasporic world have made to their respective societies,” Montana said.

Following the discussion, the Ancestral Opening Ceremony honoring Mandela will be hosted by representatives from the John Henrik Clarke Honor Society at 7 p.m.

“It will feature spoken word, a skit, one of Mandela’s speeches, clips of Mandela, a tribute to Winnie Mandela, a praise dance and a performance by the NIU choir,” said Joy Coates, Center for Black Studies associate director.

Graduate counseling major Charles Davis said Black Heritage month isn’t about focusing on one topic in history, but rather a whole range of ideas that have been put into action and some ideas that may still need to be enacted.

“It’s not like a ‘look how many black people we hurt.’ It’s more of a solution-focused, motivation type of thing,” Davis said.