Black History Month Event to Honor Immigrant Story Explored in Bestselling Novel

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is proud to observe Black History Month with an event celebrating the work of an acclaimed writer and her moving story of a young Jamaican immigrant making a new life in New York City.

On February 24, the CUNY SPS Black Student Union (BSU), in collaboration with the School’s Committee on Institutional Equity and Diversity (CIED), will host the event A Conversation with Nicole Dennis-Benn, featuring an interview with the two-time Lambda Award Winner and New York Times bestselling author of the novel Patsy.

Moderated by Kpana Kpoto, a graduate student in the School’s MA in disability studies program, the conversation with Dennis-Benn will focus on the themes explored in her second book Patsy, which follows the story of a young single mother in Jamaica who moves to Brooklyn. The interview will also highlight Dennis-Benn’s experiences as a writer, her personal inspirations, and the challenges she faced while writing about sexuality in a conservative Caribbean society.

The free event will be hosted on Zoom and is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to read the novel prior to the talk.

In related programming, the CUNY SPS Book Club has also chosen the book Patsy for their monthly read in February and its members will be meeting to discuss the novel prior to the public event.

The conversation with Dennis-Benn was organized by the BSU, a student organization whose mission is to “…to empower our Black students on campus and provide them with the resources they deserve to have a holistic student experience.” As part of their stated vision to “…honor our Black Community and the multiple intersecting identities we hold,” the event is designed to spotlight just one of the many stories of Black immigrants whose lives and diverse experiences may otherwise be overlooked.

Rachelle Russell, BSU administration co-chair, reflected on what inspired the group to organize a public discussion of the novel. “The story of Patsy is one that everyone can relate with; there is struggle and there is joy. There is loss but most importantly, there is purpose."

For the BSU, Patsy’s journey and the real-life context of her story represents a larger theme underlying Black History Month: that of the systemic inequality and discrimination faced by Black people and how they may defeat these immense barriers.

As Jacklyn Tomlin, BSU media and marketing chair, explained, “We cannot talk about Black history without acknowledging our struggle. The important thing for us to remember is that we are more than that struggle. We can overcome that…but to do so we must understand who we are and love ourselves for it.”

More than anything, the BSU is excited to bring the larger CUNY SPS community together for thoughtful dialogue. “At the end of the meeting, we hope that everyone leaves lighter and more hopeful,” said Russell. “Ms. Benn is such an amazing writer and speaker. Our hope is that her words energize the crowd. This is an important conversation for us to learn, yes, but also an important moment for us to grow.”

The BSU is also planning a separate Black History Month event for the CUNY SPS student community. On February 10, the group will host the discussion What Is Critical Race Theory?, featuring guest speakers Dr. H. Sharif Williams, a faculty member in the CUNY SPS MA in Applied Theatre program, and Dr. T. Dewayne Cash, an educator from the Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland.

Register for A Conversation with Nicole Dennis-Benn here. For more information on the BSU, visit their roundup of upcoming programming or their CUNY SPS student club page.

Photo of Nicole Dennis-Benn by Frances F. Denny for The New York Times.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York’s leader in online education since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor’s and master’s degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University’s only undergraduate all-transfer college. With 24 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor’s degree, progress from an associate’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, and noted for its soaring growth and enrollment, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School’s renowned and affordable online programs—which offer in-state tuition to all students regardless of where they live—ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

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