A conversation with a producer of the movie “Precious” is the highlight of The Ohio State University’s 41^st Annual United Black World Month celebration in February.

Columbus OH -- A conversation with a producer of the movie “Precious” is the highlight of The Ohio State University’s 41^st Annual United Black World Month celebration in February.

Lisa Cortes, producer of the hit film “Precious,” based on the acclaimed novel “Push” by Sapphire, will appear at OSU’s Multicultural Center (1739 N. High St. in Columbus) on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Cortes will discuss the art of social justice in film.

Cortes has had a varied career in entertainment. In addition to film, she has been a driving force in the music industry as one of the handful of people who launched Def Jam Records during the golden age of hip hop.

Other United Black World Month events include:

A discussion of the term “ghetto” on Monday, Feb. 7, from 7-9 p.m. in the Ohio Union Great Hall Meeting Room. Presented by the ladies of Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc., the discussion will explore the stereotypes associated with the word, its prominence in society and how it all started.

A special viewing of the film “Hotel Rwanda” and a discussion with Norah Bagirinka, survivor of the Rwandan genocide, will be held on Friday, Feb. 11, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The conversation will be presented by Mwanafunzi, the African-American student organization within the College of Social Work.

“Evolution of the Black Woman,” a dialogue featuring a panel of OSU faculty and students, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in the MLK Lounge of the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. The discussion will focus on the original four archetypes of Black women: the Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire, and Tragic Mulatto, and how they have evolved in modern-day media.

For more information about these and other United Black World Month events, visit Mcc.osu.edu.