PJC celebrates women's history month with 'Celia the Queen'

In celebration of March as Women’s History Month, the Pensacola Junior College Multicultural/Black History Committee and Cuban American Association Film & Discussion Series present “Celia, The Queen.”

Come enjoy the documentary film 7 p.m. Friday, March 19, at PJC’s Hagler Auditorium, Building 2, room 252, on the Pensacola campus.

Director Joe Cardona’s film is an extraordinary story about the life and legacy of Cuban-born Celia Cruz whose voice symbolized the soul of a nation and captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Erupting onto the Cuban music scene, Cruz broke down barriers of racism and sexism with the powerful weapon of her voice and the warm tolerance of her heart. The movie captures the diversity of the people whose lives she touched.

For more than half a century, Cruz, known as the “Queen of Salsa,” carried her title with class and distinction. She earned worldwide recognition, multiple platinum and gold records, three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Her boundless enthusiasm, warmth and deep-seated humanitarianism made Cruz the music industry’s most accomplished and revered performer and the world’s most notable ambassador of Hispanic culture.

National Women’s History Month’s roots go back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Congress established National Women’s History Week to be commemorated the second week of March. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women’s History Month, and the President has issued a proclamation.

The film “Celia, The Queen” is free, but seating is limited.