February 04, 2008

Black History Month features variety of events

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A panel discussion asking, "Is the World Ready for an African American or Woman President?" comes to Grinnell Hall at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Tuesday, Feb. 5, as part of this year's observance of Black History Month.

This year's event schedule also includes a visit from Nobel Literature Laureate and playwright Wole Soyinka, this year's keynote speaker.

The month-long series of activities follows the theme, "The Origins of Multiculturalism," honoring the "Father of Black History," Carter G. Woodson.

Pamela A. Smoot, assistant professor of Black American studies, organized the kick-off reception, held Feb. 1. "There were about two and a half times as many people there as last year," she said, noting that the diversity of the crowd was especially encouraging.

All events are free and open to the public, except where noted. For more information, contact SIUC's Black American Studies program at 618/453-7147. The full schedule follows:

Monday, Feb. 4

Town Hall meeting, "What Has SIU Done for You Lately?" 7:30-10 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level, sponsored by the Black Affairs Council.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

Panel discussion, "Is the World Ready for an African American or Woman President?" 8-9:30 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level, sponsored by Phi Rho Eta Fraternity and Black Togetherness Fraternity.

Wednesday, Feb. 6

Father Joseph Brown, professor and director of Black American Studies, "Varieties of Blackness," 7-9 p.m., Student Center Auditorium, sponsored by the Black History Month Committee and Black Affairs Council.

Thursday, Feb. 7

Panel discussion, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, 7-8:30 p.m., Wham Auditorium 105, sponsored by Beta Phi Pi Fraternity, Inc., and Phi Rho Eta Fraternity, Inc.

Feb. 11

Lecture, Randy Burnside, assistant professor of political science, "Race and Hurricane Katrina," 7-9 p.m., Student Center, Illinois Room, sponsored by Black History Month Committee and Black Togetherness Organization.

Feb. 12

Lecture, Najjaar Abdul-Musawwir, assistant professor in the School of Art and Design, MFA Lecture, "Art and Science: George Washington Carver, the Artist," Brown Bag Lunch Series, noon-1:30 p.m., Student Center, Mississippi Room, sponsored by the Black History Month Committee and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Feb. 13

Poetry reading, Allison Joseph, director of the creative writing program, "An Evening with Allison Joseph," 6-8 p.m., Student Center, Missouri Room, sponsored by the American Association of University Women.

Feb. 14

Concert, "Nuttin' But Stringz," hip-hop meets violins, 7-9 p.m., Shryock Auditorium, sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, School of Music, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Residence Hall Association, Black Togetherness Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the University Bookstore.

Feb. 15

Black Faculty Appreciation Dinner, by invitation only, 6-9 p.m., Holiday Inn, Reed Station Road, sponsored by Black Affairs Council.

Feb. 19

Author presentation, Jason Miccolo Johnson, photographer, "Call and Response Gallery Talk," reception and book signing to follow, 7-9 p.m., Student Center, Illinois Room, sponsored by Cinema and Photography, School of Journalism and the Black History Month Committee.

Feb. 21

Lecture, Pamela A. Smoot, associate professor of Black American Studies, "Alvin Caldwell: Successes of African American Children in a Segregated One-Room Schoolhouse, Joppa, Ill., 1926 – 1954," 7-9 p.m., Student Center, Illinois Room, sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Little Egypt Genealogy Society.

Feb. 23

Dr. James E. Walker Black History High School Knowledge Bowl, 1-4:30 p.m., Student Center, Ballroom A, competing schools are Cairo High School, Carbondale Community High School and Murphysboro High School, sponsored by the Black History Month Committee and the Office of Enrollment Management.

Feb. 25

Panel discussion, "The ABCs of HBCUs," 7-9 p.m., moderator Linda McCabe-Smith, associate professor, Rehabilitation Institute, Student Center, Kaskaskia Room, sponsored by the SIUC chapter of the NAACP.

Feb. 27

Presentation, "Honoring your Heritage through Scholarship," 6-8 p.m., Student Center, Kaskaskia Room, sponsored by the University Honors Program.

Feb. 28–29 International Symposium, "Muse and Mimesis: Wole Soyinka, Africa and the World"

Feb. 28

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Student Center Auditorium

First symposium session, "Theater, Literature and Culture," 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Keynote address: Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, 5-7 p.m., Student Center, Ballroom D, sponsored by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

Feb. 29

Second symposium session, "The Climate of Fear: Human Rights, Law, Politics and the Media," keynote address by Gary Younge of the "London Guardian," 10-11 a.m., Student Center Auditorium.

Third symposium session, "Africa, the World and Darfur," keynote address by Randall Robinson, author and founder of TransAfrica, 2-2:45 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.

NOTE: Symposium events are free to SIUC faculty, staff and students with SIUC identification. For a fee schedule and registration, visit http://www.dce.siu.edu/pdfs/Registration_m.pdf or call 618/536-7751.

Feb. 29

Play, "Death and the King's Horsemen," 7:30 p.m., McLeod Theater, Communications Building, produced in cooperation with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theater. Tickets are $15 adults, $12 senior citizens, and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 618/453-3001. Box-office hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before each performance. This event is sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, Africana Theater Lab, Department of Theater, Continuing Education, Fine Arts Activities program, SIUC Provost's Office, Black American Studies Program, Global Media Research Center, University Honors Program, Carbondale Community Arts – Southern Arts Fund and the Department of Speech Communication.