The Cleveland Cavaliers 12th annual Black Heritage Celebration (BHC) presented by Hennessy will tip off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 18th at the nationally-televised Cavs vs. Golden State Warriors game at Quicken Loans Arena at 8:00 p.m. The special night will begin a month-long celebration themed "Empowering and Inspiring One Generation to the Next." The BHC, which is a salute to Black History Month in February, recognizes the remarkable past accomplishments of African American civic icons who have paved the path for future generations.
“This season’s Black Heritage Celebration continues the tradition with a program built to honor the achievements of African American visionaries of the past with the goal of inspiring the men and women of today to make their dreams a reality,” said Campy Russell, Cavaliers Legend and BHC committee member.
Throughout the Black Heritage Celebration, the Cavs game presentation will showcase inspiring moments in African American history, interviews with notable Cavs players and legends, and special halftime performances. There will also be several community outreach initiatives throughout January and February as Cavs players and front office team members volunteer their time and service to projects in Northeast Ohio.
Signature Black Heritage Celebration theme nights at Cavs games in January and February include:
January 18th vs Golden State Warriors at 8:00 p.m.
The team will remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the pastor, activist and humanitarian who led the African American civil rights movements, with a halftime performance featuring a powerful interpretation of a speech he gave at Cleveland’s Glenville High School in 1967. With an assist from some of the city’s most notable black influencers, the halftime will creatively unite Dr. King’s impactful message with an incredible 3D court-projected montage.
February 5th vs Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m.
The team will honor the legacy of Olympian Jesse Owens, a Cleveland native and track and field trailblazer, with a memorable halftime presentation celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games where he won four gold medals. Owens, nicknamed “The Buckeye Bullet,” is considered one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time.
February 22nd vs Detroit Pistons at 7:00 p.m.
The team will recognize Carl and Louis Stokes – brothers and Cleveland leaders who laid the foundation for African American’s across the country – during a special halftime presentation. Carl Stokes was appointed the first-ever African American mayor of a major U.S. city when he took office in Cleveland in 1967. Louis Stokes served 15 terms in the United States House of Representatives and was the first black congressman elected in the state of Ohio.
February 29 vs Indiana Pacers at 7:00 p.m.
To conclude the month-long program, the game presentation will feature a special culmination highlighting the season’s Black Heritage Celebration and will focus on the question of how our community can together continue to progress. Throughout the night, the Cavs will ask fans to share how they’re personally going to inspire and empower the next generation by using #CavsInspire on social media.
Cavs BHC Celebration Extends to the Classroom
In addition to the celebration on the court, the Cavs, in partnership with Hennessy, have teamed up with the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) to host the 2nd annual Sports Marketing Workshop for diverse students and professionals. The workshop will take place February 26th through February 29th at Quicken Loans Arena. The Marcus Graham Project is a network of diverse professionals formed with the purpose of developing the next generation of leadership by mentoring and training ethnically diverse men and women in all aspects of the advertising, media and marketing industry.
Workshop participants will receive first-hand knowledge from some of today’s top executives in the Sports Marketing industry. One standout participant from the workshop will earn the opportunity to be sponsored by the Cavs and Hennessy to attend MGP's iCR8 Summer Boot Camp in Dallas, Texas.
To learn more about the Cavs’ 12th annual Black Heritage Celebration and to register for the MGP workshop, visit Cavs.com/BHC.
Tickets are always available at Cavs.com/Tickets, all season long to catch the action! Fans can keep up with all the #CavsBHC action by visiting Cavs.com/BHC and following the team on Twitter (@cavs), Instagram (@cavs), Facebook (Facebook.com/Cavs) and Snapchat (cavs).