Pepperdine Launches Black History Month Events with a Conversation with Bernard Kinsey, Cofounder of Kinsey African American Art & History Collection

This year the Pepperdine University community will celebrate Black History Month (February 1–28, 2021) with a series of virtual events centered on faith, Black history, and personal expression. Each event is designed to uplift Black voices, celebrate Black achievements, and serve as moments of reflection and remembrance of Black history. The Office of the President, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Pepperdine Volunteer Center began its commemoration of Black History Month with a conversation between University president Jim Gash (JD ’93) and Bernard Kinsey (MBA ’73), cofounder of the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, on Friday, January 29, 2021.

The event, titled Coffee with Jim: A Conversation with Bernard Kinsey, focused on Kinsey’s unique story, the importance of diversity and representation in business environments, and the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection. Kinsey is an internationally sought-after business consultant and a recognized expert and leader in the field of urban revitalization and market development. Described by the New York Times as an “Aggressive Achiever,” Kinsey is a former Xerox executive and former COO and co-chair of Rebuild Los Angeles (RLA). Kinsey now serves as president and founder of KBK Enterprises, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in the areas of communication, change management, business process reengineering, and problem-solving real issues. He cofounded the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection alongside his wife of more than 50 years, Shirley P. Kinsey.

“It was an honor to begin the University’s celebration of Black History Month with insights from Bernard Kinsey, who has served as an powerful Black community leader in Los Angeles for more than four decades,” said Pepperdine University president Jim Gash. “From his efforts to revitalize Los Angeles following the 1992 L.A. Riots to his and his wife Shirley’s philanthropic work in education and the arts, we have much to learn from Mr. Kinsey.”

A recording of the full event, Coffee With Jim: A Conversation with Bernard Kinsey, is now available.

Events are free and open to the public, but registration is required for most programming. A schedule of all University-wide Black History Month events is available on Pepperdine's Black History Month website.

Coffee With Jim: A Conversation with Bernard Kinsey
Friday, January 29, 2021 | 12 PM PST
Bernard Kinsey (MBA ’73), cofounder of the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, will share his story with University president Jim Gash and speak about the Kinsey art collection.
Watch video recording

Faith Formation - Open Letter To Estrangement: Recontextualizing Dr. King’s "Letter From a Birmingham Jail"
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 5 PM PST
Presented by Eric Wilson, preaching minister of University Church of Christ, this program is inspired by “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” and reinforces the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and the racial reconciliation tenets in living a life of faith.

The Power of Our Voices: Black Voices at Pepperdine
Friday, February 12, 2021 | 5 PM PST
This event will provide students with the opportunity to share and learn about the very specific experience of being Black in America today. It will also offer an opportunity for belonging across a common experience while empowering students to stay resilient amidst adversity.
Students interested in attending this event can contact Intercultural Affairs.

President's Speaker Series featuring Bernard Kinsey
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 | 5 PM PST
Bernard Kinsey, cofounder of the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, will be discussing “The Myth of Absence: What You Didn’t Learn About American History in High School.”

 

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