February 01, 2010
SIUC celebrates Black History Month
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- He’s been a guest on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” and on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” his opinion is sought by CNN, and by such major newspapers as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. And this month, he will deliver the keynote address for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s annual observance of Black History Month.
Michael Eric Dyson, University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, author of 16 books and the host of the radio show bearing his name, will deliver the keynote address beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Shryock Auditorium.
Dyson’s books range from the political, such as the collection “Debating Race,” to biography, as in “Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye,” to pop culture apologetics, with “Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur,” to the personal, with “Why I l Love Black Women.” His most recent book is “April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America.”
Dyson’s address is one of many activities, cultural and educational events planned for this year’s Black History Month at SIUC. All programs are free, unless otherwise noted. Here is the rest of the lineup:
Feb. 1
• Black History Month Kick-off Reception, 5-7 p.m., Old Main Lounge, Student Center.
Feb. 2
• Mock-tini “Chat & Chew,” 6-8 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level.
Feb. 3
• Brown Bag Lecture: “Social Implications of ‘Stop and Frisk’ Police Practices in Urban Areas,” Rod Brunson, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, noon-1:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, Student Center.
Feb. 8
• Brown Bag Lecture: “African Continuities Study Abroad Program,” Leonard Gadzekpo, Black American Studies program, noon-1:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, Student Center.
• Lecture: “Before There Was Oprah, There Was Madame C. J. Walker,” Matthew Simpson, SIUC student, 7-9 p.m., Kaskaskia-Missouri Room, Student Center.
Feb. 9
• Lecture: “Gladys V. East: The Trials and Triumphs of an African American Baptist Missionary,” Pamela Smoot, Black American Studies program, 7-9 p.m., African American Museum, University Mall, Carbondale.
Feb. 10
• Check Your Swag, Part 2, JoAnna Rutledge, 7-9 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
Feb. 11
• Brown Bag Lecture: “Reminisces: The Struggles of Life in the Bronx and Straight and Narrow,” Phil Howze, Library Affairs, noon-1:30 p.m., Mackinaw Room, Student Center.
Feb. 13
• Gwen Walker Middle School Knowledge Bowl -- Carbondale, Meridian, and Career Preparation Program, 1-3 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
Feb. 16
• Brown Bag Lecture: “Academic Hustle,” Randy Burnside, assistant professor, Department of Political Science, noon-1:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, Student Center.
• Lecture: “Financial Literacy: Let’s Get the Money,” Alfred Jackson, University Housing and Teresa Walls, Enrollment Management, 7-9 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level.
Feb. 17
• Concert: “A Celebration of African American Operatic Divas,” featuring Wilfred Delphin and Valerie Francis, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall.
Feb. 18
• Brown Bag Lecture: “A History of Black Economic Empowerment: From Booker T. to Jay-Z,” Pamela Smoot, Black American Studies program, noon-1:30 p.m., Illinois Room, Student Center.
• Panel: “Student Athletes and the Realities of Going Pro: Different Perspectives,” Lynne Gray and Sharon Creer, 7-9 p.m., John C. Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library.
• Music and Poetry: Mwatabu Okantah and the Cavani Quartet, noon, Morris Library Rotunda.
• Music and Poetry: Mwatabu Okantah and the Cavani Quartet, 8 p.m., Altgeld Hall, Room 112.
Feb. 20
• James E. Walker Black History High School Knowledge Bowl: Carbondale, Cairo and Murphysboro high schools, 1-3 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
• Red Extravaganza, 6-9 p.m. Student Center Ballroom D, $20. Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Contact Debra Johnson-Jones, 618/203-6335 for more information.
Feb. 22-25
• Tunnel of Oppression, 5-9 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level.
Feb. 23
• Brown Bag Lecture: “Instruments for Change: Which Are You?” Cynthia Sims, Department of Workforce Education and Development, noon-1:30 p.m., Kaskaskia Room, Student Center.
• Keynote Address: Michael Eric Dyson, 7-9 p.m., Shryock Auditorium.
Feb. 24
• One-Man Show: “Brothers Gonna Work It Out,” Jeff McGoy, 7-9 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
Feb. 25
• Brown Bag Lecture: “Popular Culture and the Nightmare on Black Feminist Street,” Rachel Griffin, Department of Speech Communication, and Novotny Lawrence, Department of Radio-Television, noon-1:30 p.m., Mackinaw Room, Student Center.
• Finer Womanhood Banquet, 6 p.m., Student Center Ballroom D, $20 single, $50 per couple, sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., contact Lolita Mack, 618/559-3669 for more information.
Sponsors for these events include: Student Development, Black History Month Committee, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Black American Studies Program, Black Affairs Council, Blacks Interested in Business, American Association of University Women-Carbondale Chapter, Library Affairs, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Black Togetherness Organization, SIUC School of Music, National Association of Black Accountants, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., University Housing, Megiste Arete Christian Fraternity, Undergraduate Student Government, Graduate Student and Professional Organization, Student Programming Council, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Oops! Enterainment, Department of Radio and Television, Department of Speech Communication, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.