January 25, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - February’s Black History Month activities at Western Kentucky University will honor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the event’s founder.
“The overall theme for this year is ‘Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism,’ ” said Dr. Monica Burke, associate director of the Office of Diversity Programs. “His vision encouraged a new reflection on the American identity to include the contributions of all of our nation’s diverse individuals. As Dr. Woodson stated, ‘those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.’
“Celebrating Black History Month allows individuals to gain awareness and knowledge about who we are as a nation,” she said.
The activities begin Feb. 1 with a lecture on the importance of celebrating black history and continue throughout the month with lectures, forums, film series and other programming that focuses on the intellectual, cultural and social accomplishments of African Americans.
“The purpose of the Black History Month Calendar of events is to engage WKU’s faculty, staff, and students and the Bowling Green community in the rich history of the African American experience,” Dr. Burke said. “Events are planned with the intent of raise the consciousness of the contributions made by African Americans in shaping our American society.”
A listing of events is available online at http://www.wku.edu/news/blackhistorymonth.pdf; here are some of the highlights:
Feb. 1: “Why We Should Celebrate Black History Month,” a lecture by Mildred Bailey, director of the Minority College Awareness Program at the University of Kentucky; 6 p.m. at Downing University Center, room 340.
Feb. 4: African American Read-In, 1-4 p.m. at Java City in Helm Library.
Feb. 4: “Pride,” a movie based on Jim Ellis’ founding of an African American swim team in Philadelphia in the 1970s; 7 p.m. at Downing University Center’s fourth floor.
Feb. 5: Lecture by Jim Ellis, founder of the P.D.R. swim team and subject of the movie “Pride”; 7 p.m. at Downing University Center Theater.
Feb. 6: Minority Future on the Hill forum; 7 p.m. at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
Feb. 13: Black History Month Keynote by Dr. Lucius Outlaw of Vanderbilt University; 6 p.m. at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
Feb. 19: “Freedom to Freedom Pilgrimage: A Symbolic Journeying Back to Africa,” facilitated by Dr. Johnston Njoku; 7 p.m. at Downing University Center, room 340.
Feb. 20: Marathon book reading of Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” facilitated by Dr. Kristi Branham and Dr. Kelly Reames; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at Downing University Center lobby.
Feb. 25: Reading by poet Alison Joseph; 7 p.m. at Cherry Hall, room 125.
Feb. 28: Soul Food Dinner; 4:30-8 p.m. at Downing University Center’s Fresh Food Court.
Other activities include an African American Film Series on Thursdays and Fridays; a series of graduate student lectures; forums on the 2008 election; Black History Month Jeopardy; and special programming on WKYU-PBS.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Diversity Programs at (270) 745-5066.
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