Gospel Extravaganza, films among TTU’s free Black History Month events

February will be busy for Tennessee Tech University’s Office of Minority Affairs as it hosts various Black History Month celebrations.

Events will include a spoken word artist, film screenings, a banquet honoring Cookeville residents who have contributed to and improved life in town, and the annual Gospel Extravaganza.

“We’ve always got a lot going on this month,” said Robert Owens, TTU’s director of minority affairs. “I want to give some history but to make it interesting and entertaining.”

All events are free and open to the public. Each of the films will all begin at noon in the Black Cultural Center on the second floor of the Roaden University Center.

- “Wade in the Water, Children,” a documentary that tells the story of children growing up after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans’ violent Central City neighborhood, will be shown on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

- “Heaven’s Fall,” a film based on the true story of two women who accused nine young black men of rape in the segregated South, will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

- A soul food dinner featuring spoken word artist Black Ice will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the RUC multipurpose room. Black Ice has starred in five consecutive seasons of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam,” and was a leading cast member of the Tony-award winning “Def Poetry on Broadway.”

- “Banished: How Whites Drove Blacks out of Town in America,” which looks at three cities that forced African-Americans to leave through violence in post-reconstruction America, will be shown on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

- Gospel Extravaganza begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Trinity Baptist Church. Several groups from the church and the TTU United Voices of Praise will sing.

- A forum, “Racism in America: Does it still Exist,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the TTU Black Cultural Center on the second floor of the RUC. Panelists include TTU education professor Lisa Zagumny; TTU history professor and chair of the diversity council Wali Kharif; TTU students Camille Woods and Andrew Scott; Ryan Dalton, a Cookeville resident who served as a missionary in South Africa; and Robert Redhawk Eldridge, a Native American.

- “Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre of 1968” will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The film tells the true story of a shooting rampage at South Carolina State University that is often called “the Kent State of the South.”

- IMPACT, Innovative Men Progressing the African-American Community Together, will hold a banquet to honor Marc Burnett, TTU vice president for student affairs; Johnnie Wheeler, a former member of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners; and Morris Irby, one of the earliest TTU African-American alumni. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the RUC multipurpose room. To reserve a seat, email cjohnson@tntech.edu"> cjohnson@tntech.edu

- “The Help,” the award-winning film about white women and their black maids, will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

Tennessee Tech University Contact: Posted by Lori Shull - Thursday, February 09 2012 lshull@tntech.edu

Halifax Community College (HCC) "Saluting Our Local African-American Heroes" celebration

Seven to be honored at HCC African-American Heroes event, Feb. 16

WELDON, N.C. – For the fifth year, Halifax Community College (HCC) will hold its "Saluting Our Local African-American Heroes" celebration. Special honors will be bestowed on six community leaders and one HCC student during the Feb. 16 ceremony to be held at The Centre. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Allen Purser will be the guest speaker. The event is sponsored by The Daily Herald.

This year’s honorees include:
• George Branch (volunteer firefighter and founder of a local medical transportation company)
• Gary Grant (educator, author and community activist)
• Lester Greenwood Jr. (first African-American fire chief in Northampton County)
• Donte Johnson (HCC student)
• Rev. Dr. Charles McCollum (retired educator, current minister and community activist)
• Beatrice Strayhorn (retired educator and community volunteer)
• Ruby Vincent Ward (retired educator and community volunteer)

Heroes are chosen based on their commitment and contributions to the community, unselfish devotion to others, initiative, innovation and leadership, and willingness to share time and wisdom through community service. HCC student heroes are chosen based on their commitment and contributions to the HCC community, initiative, innovation and leadership, and demonstration of academic promise.

Halifax Community College’s Mission: Halifax Community College strives to meet the diverse needs of our community by providing high-quality, accessible and affordable education and services for a rapidly changing and globally competitive marketplace. Primary Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, templem@halifaxcc.edu, 252-538-4319

St. Cloud State's observance of Black History Month

St. Cloud State's observance of Black History Month includes films, food, entertainment, presentations, discussions, poetry and more.

February is the month students and employees honor nearly 500 years of contributions to American life by people of African ancestry.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, an estimated 645,000 African slaves were brought to the American colonies and later the United States. Descendants of those slaves -- and others -- helped build, defend, govern, feed, educate, entertain and inspire a nation.

Feb. 7

Singer, performer, filmmaker and photographer Byron Motley presents "The Negro Baseball Leagues: An American Legacy," an educational and entertaining look at the segregated baseball leagues and the roles they played in the early days of the civil rights movement. Included is a 10-minute preview of a documentary film Motley is producing on the subject. Be there: 12:30 p.m. in Atwood Theater.


"Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues" is a 50-minute film narrated by Hall of Famer and native Minnesotan Dave Winfield. The film, which includes rarely seen footage from the 1920s through 1950s, is a Major League Baseball production. Be there: 4:30 p.m. in Atwood Theater.

Feb. 11

Ebony Night is a celebration of Black America. This year's theme is "Illuminating our Path, Revealing Our Essence." Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for non-students. Be there: 6-9 p.m. Atwood Ballroom.

Daniel Bergin. documentarian and adjunct faculty member, screens his 2004 film "North Star: Minnesota's Black Pioneers" Feb. 15 in Stewart Hall.

Feb. 13 "Brown Sugar: A Night of Poetry" will feature spoken-word performances, music and conversation, by and about African Americans. Be there: 6 p.m. in The Quarry, Atwood Memorial Center. Feb. 13-17 Look for the "Black Love: A Week of Facts" kiosk in Atwood Memorial Center. Questions, facts and prizes about everything Black.

February 15

Daniel Bergin, award-winning film documentarian and adjunct faculty member, will screen "North Star: Minnesota’s Black Pioneers." The film discusses Minnesota’s African American citizens and their histories. Bergin will facilitate a discussion following the screening. Be there: 2 p.m. in Room 120, Stewart Hall.

Feb. 16

The film "Memphis Dreams: Searching for the Promised Land" reveals the tragic story of the African-American experience, documenting the brutal reality of slavery, the milestones in the struggle for fundamental rights, and the 1968 killing of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. Be there: 5 p.m. in Atwood Theater.

Feb. 18

Liberian Night will feature food, entertainment and fun. Be there: 6 p.m. in Atwood Ballroom.

Feb. 22

A student panel titled "Fulfilling the Dream" will discuss the ongoing struggle for racial, religious and cultural equality. Be there: 6 p.m., South Voyageurs, Atwood Memorial Center.

Programming is sponsored by these St. Cloud State entities: Council for African American Students, Liberian Student Association, Multicultural Student Services, Media Out of the Box, Cultural Diversity Committee and the Student Finance Committee. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Contact: University Communications St. Cloud State University (320) 308-2284 jcwood@stcloudstate.edu

Cornell University Library’s extensive new collection of African-American photographs

Completing the African-American Picture In Time for Black History Month, Library Acquires Thousands of Historical Photographs

ITHACA, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2012) – Cornell University Library’s extensive new collection of African-American photographs contains impressive images of iconic leaders of the civil rights movement and world-changing events — but the less momentous moments in black history make up an equally important part of the collection.

Among the nearly 2,000 items, recently donated by Beth and Stephan Loewentheil, are images of African Americans going about their regular lives in the 19th and 20th centuries.

“Certainly, African Americans were fighting for justice in this country, but at the same time, they were celebrating births and graduations and marriages, mourning deaths, holding family reunions, buying new homes and cars and clothes — the stuff of everyday life,” said Katherine Reagan, curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts. "Those things can be easily overshadowed, but this collection provides a window into the lives of men and women who are so frequently underrepresented in the historical record.”

Images in the collection depict the African-American experience from slavery in the agricultural antebellum South to celebrities of modern media-frenzied America.

“I'm thrilled about the collection for the possibilities it offers for research in African and African American Studies, especially as portraits like those in the new collection are hard to find today in both private and public collections,” said Cheryl Finley, associate professor of art at Cornell. “Images such as these reveal volumes about the social, material, cultural and political lives of the people pictured as well as those who may have lived similar lives or had similar experiences.”

Two children standing on a crescent moon with a starry backdrop.

Among the collection’s most memorable images are striking photographs of Martin Luther King Jr. in a jail cell, rare tintypes of freed slaves and personal family photo albums. The photographs also encompass a wide diversity of formats: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, carte-de-visite photographs, albumen prints, Polaroids and more. In honor of Black History Month, the Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections will display a sample of the collection in the gallery space between Olin and Kroch libraries on Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca, N.Y. The exhibition will open Wednesday, Feb. 1, and it is free and open to the public. The collection will soon be open to researchers from all over the world and, Reagan added, “it has a tremendously high research value. It’s a trove of material that will help scholars who are looking for a more comprehensive view of a period that saw enormous changes for people of color in the United States.”

The African-American photographs are the newest component of the Beth and Stephan JD '75 Loewentheil Family Photographic Collection, a magnificent set of 16,000 historic images that make up a candid cross-section of the early American experience.

Many of those photographs are also currently on display on level 2B of the Carl A. Kroch Library as part of the major exhibition, “Dawn’s Early Light: The First 50 Years of American Photography.”

FOR RELEASE: Contact: Gwen Glazer. Phone: (607) 254-8390. E-mail: gglazer[at]cornell.edu

Howard University's Women as Change Agents Peeling Back the Labels: Black Women in America'

WASHINGTON (February 1, 2012) –Howard University's Women as Change Agents (WACA) and The Washington Post will host a panel discussion related to the newspaper's recent series of articles on African-American women. The forum, titled 'Peeling Back the Labels: Black Women in America' takes place in Armour J. Blackburn University Center on the main campus on Wednesday, Feb. 29. at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Panelists will include Dr. Tricia Bent-Goodley, a Howard University professor of Social Work; Cara V. James, director of the Disparities Policy Project of the Kaiser Family Foundation; Rahiel Tesfamariam, founder and editorial director of UrbanCusp.com; and Krissah Thompson, a national staff writer for The Washington Post. The Washington Post's nationally syndicated personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary will moderate the forum.

The discussion will feature results from a new, national survey conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation that captured experiences and perspectives of black women. The topics include career success, raising families and romantic relationships.

All guests are requested to RSVP and submit questions for the panel to Jaye Linnen at (202) 334-4917 or email behindtheheadlines@washpost.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Rachel Mann Communications Specialist Office of University Communications rachel.mann@howard.edu 202.238.2631 www.howard.edu/newsroom/

ABOUT HOWARD

Photo Credit: Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Howard University is a private research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 24 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University's Web site at www.howard.edu.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON POST (www.washingtonpost.com)
The Washington Post provides award-winning news and understanding about the politics, policies, personalities and institutions that make Washington, D.C. the world's seat of power, and is a critical tool and information source for those who call Washington, D.C. home. In digital form, The Washington Post combines its world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools, and encourages participation and customization across all digital platforms so readers can engage with The Washington Post anytime, anywhere. The Washington Post is owned by The Washington Post Company, a diversified education and media company.

Southeastern Louisiana University will host a month-long slate of activities in February in celebration of Black History Month

HAMMOND – Student organizations and academic departments at Southeastern Louisiana University will host a month-long slate of activities in February in celebration of Black History Month.

The month’s activities will be outlined at the Black History Month Kick-off, scheduled Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre.

“The kick-off is a student-lead effort, which will feature a combination of skits, musical selections, and motivational address,” said Eric Summers, assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. “We think the event will help those who attend appreciate the contributions of African Americans and how those accomplishments impact our lives today.”

Throughout February, Southeastern’s Sims Memorial Library will highlight the contributions African Americans made in the American Civil War. A special exhibit will be on display throughout the month during regular business hours, and a film series is scheduled, as well. The exhibit highlights the efforts of African Americans as soldiers, caregivers, and workers during the Civil War. The film series begins on Feb. 8 and will highlight the role of the African American soldier throughout the Civil War.

“We’re delighted to tie our Black History Month celebration into the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and to show the important contribution that African Americans made in so many different roles,” said Library Director Eric Johnson. “Our exhibit and films are running concurrently with the grant-funded book discussion and lecture series on the Civil War that the library is presenting in conjunction with the Tangipahoa Parish Library.”

In conjunction with Black History Month, the Southeastern Department of History and Political Science will sponsor its annual Black History and Politics Lecture, which is dedicated to Albert Doucette Jr., Southeastern’s associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and special assistant to the provost for recruitment of minority faculty and staff, who died in 2004.

“Dr. Rob Alan Lawson will discuss his award-winning new book, ‘The Blues and Black Southerners 1890-1945’ at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Student Union Theatre,” said Bill Robison, History and Political Science department head. “Copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing afterward.”

Black History Month activities are free and open to the public. The Black History Month schedule includes:

▪ Feb. 1, 7 p.m., Student Union Theatre, Kick-off: The Past is the Key to the Future – a look at how past events define the future, sponsored by the NAACP and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs.
▪ Feb. 6-29, Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 11 p.m., Sims Memorial Library, “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: African American Efforts in the Civil War,” an exhibit highlighting African American contributions during the American Civil War, sponsored by Sims Memorial Library Diversity Committee. The library will be closed Feb. 18 – 21 for Mardi Gras.
▪ Feb. 6, 6 p.m., The African American Heritage Museum, a trip to visit Hammond’s African American Heritage Museum, sponsored by the Black Student Union.
▪ Feb. 8, 2 p.m., Sims Library, room 252, documentary – “Royal Federal Blues: The Story of the African American Civil War,” sponsored by Sims Memorial Library Diversity Committee.
▪ Feb. 9, 2 p.m., Sims Library, room 252, PBS Documentary “The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry,” a film series about the role of the African American soldier in the Civil War, sponsored by Sims Memorial Library Diversity Committee.
▪ Feb. 13, 6 p.m., Sims Library, room 252, feature film “Glory,” the 1998 film about the Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry, sponsored by Sims Memorial Library Diversity Committee.
▪ Feb. 16, 6 p.m., Student Union Theatre, Phenomenal Women – an empowerment program honoring women of all nationalities, sponsored by the Effervescent Women of Confidence, Praise in Motion, Southeastern Gospel Choir, and Delta Psi Epsilon Christian Sorority.
▪ Feb. 29, 7 p.m., Student Union Theatre, Culture Night – a celebration of a unique American culture, sponsored by the Black Student Union.

A complete list of Black History Month programs is available at www.southeastern.edu/misa. For more information, call the MISA office at (985) 549-3850. Contact: Tonya Lowentritt 1/31/12

The Citadel will celebrate Black History Month with community service, culture

The Citadel will celebrate Black History Month with several events highlighting the importance of public service as well as maintaining communities. The featured event will be the keynote address by state Rep. Bakari Sellers, the youngest black elected official in the country.

The annual Black History Month Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, in Buyer Auditorium on the second floor of Mark Clark Hall. The bazaar attracts visitors from all over the Lowcountry with music, exhibits and food.

During the bazaar, the Center for Heirs Property Preservation, which works to empower and support heirs’ property owners and their communities, will give a seminar and answer questions. For reservations, call the center at 843-745-7055.

The Citadel African American Society, a cadet club, will discuss Hollywood Director Spike Lee’s film “Do the Right Thing” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Greater Issues Room in Mark Clark Hall. Controversial at the time of its release in 1989, the film brought serious issues of the African American community to light and to the big screen. Cadets will have an open discussion about issues raised in the movie and lingering issues that still exist in the African American community 23 years after its release.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, Sellers will serve as the keynote speaker for the college’s celebration of Black History Month.

Elected in 2006 to the state House of Representatives at the age of 22, Sellers is the youngest black elected official in the country. Sellers, who is passionate about civil rights, equality, education and faith, will speak at 6:30 p.m. in Copeland Auditorium in Grimsley Hall.

Bakari Sellers

Finally, on Saturday, Feb. 25, members of the African American Society will demonstrate their servant leadership by volunteering at the First African Child Development Center at 1020 King St. The cadets will help make improvements to the development center. All Black History Month events at The Citadel are free and open to the public. For questions, please call Multicultural Student Services at 843-953-7382. For more information: Charlene Gunnells charlene.gunnells@citadel.edu (843) 953-2155

Ideas Have Consequences: The Radical Pedagogy of W.E.B. Du Bois

Amherst, MA – The UMass Amherst Libraries will host the 18th Annual Du Bois Lecture on February 23, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., in the Cape Cod Lounge, Student Union, at UMass Amherst. Derrick P. Alridge will give a talk, “Ideas Have Consequences: The Radical Pedagogy of W.E.B. Du Bois.” He will explore Du Bois’s many meanings of pedagogy and offer a genealogy of Du Bois’s ideas about a variety of issues faced by black Americans during the 20th century. Refreshments will be served. The event is open to the public.

Derrick P. Alridge, an educational and intellectual historian, is Professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Previously, he served as Professor of Education and African American Studies and Director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

Alridge has published The Educational Thought of W.E.B. Du Bois: An Intellectual History; Message in the Music: Hip Hop, History, and Pedagogy (an edited volume with James B. Stewart and V.P. Franklin); and numerous articles in the fields of history, education, and African American Studies.

Alridge also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of African American History and is a Distinguished Lecturer for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Currently, he is writing The Hip Hop Mind: An Intellectual History of the Social Consciousness of a Generation and conducting research on the role of education and schooling in the civil rights movement.

The event is sponsored by the W.E.B. Du Bois Center at the UMass Amherst Libraries. For more information, contact Rob Cox (rscox@library.umass.edu, 413-545-6842). -30- University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA 01003-9275 (413) 545-0150 18th Annual Du Bois Lecture Press Release January 30, 2012

Jackson Community College will present the Black History Month event, the Wilbur L. Dungy Film Festival

Jackson Community College will present the Black History Month event, the Wilbur L. Dungy Film Festival, for students and the community in February.

JCC’s Dr. Wilbur L. Dungy Endowed Chair in Life Science, Science & Health and Physical Fitness, Dr. Steven Albee-Scott, is coordinating the film series. Films focus on aspects of black history, and will include:

“The Help,” Thursday, Feb. 9, 6-9 p.m. in Federer Rooms B & C, Potter Center. An inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship about a secret writing project – one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk. Based on the New York Times No. 1 best-seller by Kathryn Stockett and with a powerful ensemble cast.

“Amistad” Thursday, Feb. 16, 6-9 p.m. in Federer Rooms B & C, Potter Center. In June 1839, the Amistad set sail from Havana with 53 Africans who had been abducted from West Africa and sold into slavery aboard. Three days into the voyage, the Africans, led by 25-year-old "Cinque," revolted, killing the captain and ordering the ship back to Africa. Later, the ship was seized, and the Africans were sent to a New Haven jail and charged with piracy and murder. Please attend to find out the rest of the story. Note that “Amistad” is rated R.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” Thursday, Feb. 23, 6-9 p.m. in Federer Rooms B & C, Potter Center. A 1967 film about old-line liberals Matt and Christina Dayton who have raised their daughter Joey to think for herself and not blindly conform to the conventional.

Still, they aren't prepared for the shock when she returns home from a vacation with a new fiancé: African-American doctor John Prentice. While they come to grips with whatever prejudices they might still harbor, the younger folks must also contend with John's parents who are dead-set against the union.

All films are free, and students and the community are welcome to attend.

Jackson Community College January 24, 2012, For immediate release, 517.787.0800, M-Th 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., F 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Media Contact: Marilynn Fryer, 517.796.8466, e-mail: FryerMarilynT@jccmi.edu

The Unique Contributions of African Americans in the 21st Century

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—“The Unique Contributions of African Americans in the 21st Century” is the theme for the 2012 celebration of Black History Month at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). The celebration is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA) and the Indiana–Purdue Student Government Association (IPSGA).

The following events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, February 7

CTE/STEM STEPS TO SUCCESS WORKSHOP: “African-Americans in STEM Related Career Fields,” Walb Union, Rooms 114–116, Noon to 1:15 p.m.

Friday, February 10

Students with Families: “Gardening for Busy, Stressed-Out, Space-Challenged People,” presented by Ricky Kemery, Allen County Extension Office and “Stories From the African-American Tradition,” presented by storyteller Chief Condra Ridley, Walb Union Ballroom and Walb Union, Room 114–116, 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, February 14

“Ain’t I a Woman,” featuring The Core Ensemble (Chamber Music Theatre),Rhinehart Recital Hall in the Rhinehart Music Center. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. This event is cosponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Malcolm X

Friday, February 17 Multicultural Campus Visit Day, Walb Student Union Ballroom, from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. For more information, please contact Admissions at 260-481-6855. Saturday, February 18 Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin; panel discussion will follow the showing of the film, Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, 2 to 5 p.m. This event is cosponsored by The Society of Friends. Monday, February 20 98th Omnibus Lecture featuring journalist and author Michele Norris and her presentation “The Grace of Silence and the Power of Words,” 7:30 p.m. in the Auer Performance Hall of the Rhinehart Music Center.

Free tickets are required; please note that the box office location has changed. Pick up tickets at the Marilyn and Jim Larson ticket office at the Gates Sports Center, Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available starting January 30. The Rhinehart Music Center will be open one hour before each lecture.

Tuesday, February 21
Rhyme and Reason Reunion, a talent expo, on the 47th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. The featured poet is Brandon “Xplicit Poet” Thornton; Walb Union Ballroom, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 25
“Redefined 2012: African-American Male Summit,” Walb Union Ballroom, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for non-IPFW college students is $25; $15 for high school students; and free for IPFW students. For more information, contact ODMA at 260-481-6604.

Sunday, February 26
8th Annual Gospel Fest, Walb Union Ballroom, 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, February 28

“Voices from the Motherland: Personal Narratives of Refuge and Migration,” Walb Union, Room 114–116, noon to 1:15 p.m.

Tuesday, February 28
Maafa 21: Black Genocide in 21st Century America; this free movie will be shown at the Allen County Public Library, meeting room A, 900 Library Plaza, at 6 p.m. For more information on this event, contact Sally Williams, Urban Life Matters, at 317-748-6269 or urbanlifematters@ymail.com.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at 260-481-6608 or dmaservices@ipfw.edu, or go to ipfw.edu/odma. Downloadable photos are available.

Black women and their contributions to American history and culture

Athens, Ga. - Black women and their contributions to American history and culture will be highlighted on the University of Georgia campus in February as the university celebrates Black History Month.

From civil rights pioneers Rosa Parks and Mahalia Jackson to modern icons like professional boxer Laila Ali and First Lady Michelle Obama, black women will take center stage during a month-long series of lectures, performances, movies and discussions at UGA.

"Almost all of our programs will tie into the theme, which is a national theme" of highlighting contributions African-American women have made to American history and culture, said LaRetha Spain-Shuler, associate director of intercultural affairs at UGA. "We wanted to reflect the contributions of African-American women in history and in the present day. For example, our keynote speaker is Mary Evelyn Dickson, who can talk of her own background, how she was homeless at one point and now she's the mayor of Riverdale."

Events are as follows:

Feb. 1 ¬- "The Meeting," 6 p.m., the Chapel. This tense play is a dramatization of a conversation between civil rights icons Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Admission is free.

Feb. 8 - APERO Brown Bag Discussion: "How the Accusation of Acting White Influences Leisure Preferences," 12:15 p.m., 407 Memorial Hall. The discussion is co-sponsored by the Institute for African American Studies and the Institute for African Studies.

Feb. 9 - "The Death of the African-American Family?" 12:30 p.m., 407 Memorial Hall. Tera Hurt of the Institute for Behavioral Research will explore the structure of African-American family dynamics past and present.

Feb. 16 - "Where are the Black Ballet Dancers in America?" 4 p.m., 407 Memorial Hall. Joselli Deans and Anjali Austin, artists and scholars formerly with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, will discuss how they fought their way into the exclusive world of dance.

Feb. 17 - Dinner, Movie and Discussion: "The Help," 6 p.m., Tate Student Center Theater and Reception Hall. This screening of the 2011 box office success, based on an influential novel, will be followed by dinner and a discussion. The event is sponsored by the Committee for Black Cultural Programs, a division of the University Union Student Programming Board.

Feb. 19 - "Black Roses," presented by the Black Theatrical Ensemble, 7 p.m., Tate Student Center Grand Hall. This play will feature poetry, songs and notable scenes from African-American romantic comedies. Tickets are $2 for fees-paid students with valid UGACards on the Athens campus and $3 for non-students. Tickets may be purchased at the Tate Student Center cashier window or by calling 706/542-8074.

Feb. 22 - APERO Brown Bag Discussion: "A Mediator's Work," 12:15 p.m., 407 Memorial Hall
The discussion is co-sponsored by the Institute for African American Studies and the Institute for African Studies.

Feb. 22 - Keynote Address: Mayor Evelyn Dixon of Riverdale, Ga., 4 p.m., the Chapel
Dixon will share her path to elected office and discuss the obstacles faced by women in politics.

Feb. 23 - "The Emerging Black Church," 6 p.m., 171 Miller Learning Center
Community members, pastors and students will discuss the role of the black church in the community. The event is co-sponsored by the Institute for African American Studies.

Feb. 28 - "We Have Issues: Representations of African-American Women in Contemporary Media," 7 p.m., 407 Memorial Hall. This panel discussion will explore contemporary images of African diaspora women in entertainment, including music videos, reality television and film. Topics will include skin color, image, materialism and stereotypes.

Feb. 29 - "Confessions of a Big Girl: Reflections on Fat, Faith and Femininity," 4 p.m., South Psychology-Journalism Auditorium. Author Naima Johnston Bush will discuss cultural definitions of beauty, faith, eating disorders, sexual assault and discovering the power of your own voice.

All events are student Blue Card events. For questions and ticket information, call 706/542-8468 or see http://aacc.uga.edu. The African American Cultural Center is a unit within the UGA Division of Student Affairs.

Writer: Matt Weeks || Don Reagin || Contact: LaRetha Spain-Shuler

News Service: University of Georgia Office of Public Affairs UGA Public Affairs Hodgson Oil Building, Suite 200N 286 Oconee Street Athens, GA 30602-1999 Phone 706 / 542-8083 · Fax 706 / 542-3939.

The Fannie Lou Hamer Story, sick and tired of being sick and tired

Fannie Lou Hamer, an activist during the civil rights movement who fought for African-American voting rights, will come to life in the play "The Fannie Lou Hamer Story" on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Branigin Room of the Napolitan Student Center as part of Franklin College's 2011-12 Convocation Lecture Series.

Hamer was known as the lady who was "sick and tired of being sick and tired." The play depicts a woman who defined the phrase "freedom fighter" during the civil rights movement. She was born into Mississippi sharecropping poverty, and in the 1960's, she became an inspiration to those fighting for the right to vote.

Singer and actress Mzuri plays the role of Fannie Lou Hamer.

The play is free and open to the public.

Contact the Office of Public Relations for more information at (317) 738-8185.

Founded in 1834, Franklin College is a residential four-year undergraduate liberal arts institution with a scenic, wooded campus located 20 minutes south of downtown Indianapolis. The college prepares men and women for significant careers through the liberal arts, offering its approximately 1,000 students 30 majors, 35 minors and nine pre-professional programs. In 1842, the college began admitting women, becoming the first coeducational institution in Indiana and the seventh in the nation. Franklin College maintains a voluntary association with the American Baptist Churches USA.

TEXT CREDIT: Franklin College ⋅ 101 Branigin Blvd. ⋅ Franklin, IN 46131 (800) 852-0232 Release date: January 19, 2012.

Black worker unemployment much higher than national average

Berkeley — A new report by the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Labor Research and Education finds that throughout 2011, Black worker unemployment remained in the 15 to 16 percent range, while unemployment for the rest of the workforce dropped below 9 percent.

“Annual Report: Black Employment and Unemployment in 2011”, is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey.

“The jobs gap between black and white workers is a story that we’ve seen for more than 50 years, but this report shows that unemployment rates for Black workers have not fallen as much as they have for their white and Latino counterparts,” said Steven Pitts, a labor policy specialist at the center and author of the report.

Pitts also noted that “current unemployment rates for Black workers are still higher than in June 2009, when the recession officially ended, and well above December 2007, when the downturn began.”
(see charts, right)

The report’s main findings include:

There was virtually no change in the official Black unemployment rate from January to December 2011. When Black women and Black men are examined separately, however, Black female unemployment rates rose, while Black male unemployment rates fell. This differs from the situation of white workers, where the unemployment rates for both men and women fell.

Since the Great Recession ended in June 2009, Black female unemployment rates have risen and Black male unemployment rates have fallen only slightly. In contrast, unemployment rates for white men and white women fell over the same time period. Source: Steven Pitts, Ph.D. 510-643-6815 Spitts1@berkeley.edu CONTACT: Rebecca Graham, 510‐642-9187, rebecca.graham@berkeley.edu The U.S. added 1.6 million jobs this year, but unemployment rates for Black workers remain higher than they were during the Great Recession. Source: Steven Pitts, UC Berkeley Labor Center

Tuskegee Airmen Red Tails use Archive at the University of California, Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – “Red Tails,” a feature film scheduled for release on Jan. 20, depicts the heroism and skill of the African-American pilots and crew members who battled segregation on the ground as they challenged Germany’s aces in the air during World War II. Those aviators, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, went on to become judges, university presidents, teachers, architects, engineers, physicians, actors, scientists, and musicians. Documents and artifacts illuminating the careers of many of those pilots and crews are preserved in the Tuskegee Airmen Archive at the University of California, Riverside.

Before shooting on the Lucasfilm Ltd. production started in Europe, several actors auditioning for parts in the film visited the UCR archive to learn more about the original Tuskegee Airmen they hoped to portray, according to University Librarian Ruth Jackson. Photographs from the archive were used in preparing for the production’s release activities, and the archive responded to requests for contact information for the filming of the DVD documentary film about the Tuskegee Airmen that will be released simultaneously.

“The emphasis of our archive is to collect not only the military history but the history of their personal lives as well,” Jackson said of the archive that was established in 2005. The university also hosts an annual celebration to honor the airmen and women who were a part of the famed Tuskegee Experience. The graduates of the program, which trained the first African-American pilots between 1943 and 1945, established an enviable record during World War II.

“Red Tails” was written by John Ridley (“U Turn,” “Three Kings,” “Undercover Brother”), produced by George Lucas (“Star Wars”), and stars Cuba Gooding Jr. (“Jerry Maguire,” “Radio”) , Terrence Howard (“Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “Ray”), and Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad,” “Malcolm in the Middle”). It tells the story of a crew of African-American pilots in the experimental Tuskegee training program who are given a chance in 1944 to demonstrate their skill, and their courage, as the war in Europe takes its toll on Allied forces. Jackson said the archive receives inquiries from around the world for information about the Tuskegee Airmen. For example, a salvage team retrieving a plane that was shot down off the coast of Corsica in World War II contacted the UCR archive for a photo of the Tuskegee pilot. The university was able to provide a group photo that included the pilot.

To date more than 80 donors have contributed papers, artifacts and historical records documenting the military careers and personal lives of dozens of Tuskegee Airmen, including Buford Johnson, who lives in Inland Southern California. Johnson was the chief mechanic for the three Tuskegee Airmen pilots who won the first “Top Gun” competition in 1949 made famous by the hit movie “Top Guns” starring Tom Cruise in 1986 and recently honored by the UCR archive at its annual celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The UCR archive chronicles personal papers, photographs, oral histories, newspaper clippings, books by and about the airmen, military records, and memorabilia. It is the largest archive in a U.S. public university chronicling the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women.

For more information about the Tuskegee Airmen Archive at UC Riverside contact University Librarian Ruth Jackson at (951) 827-3221, ruth.jackson@ucr.edu; or Assistant Archivist Eric Milenkiewicz at (951) 827-3233, Eric.Milenkiewicz@UCR.edu.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Name: Bettye Miller Tel: (951) 827-7847 E-mail: bettye.miller@ucr.edu

The story of Zora Neale Hurston African American writer of the Harlem Renaissance

To kick off Black History Month events at the College of Lake County, the American Place Theatre’s Literature to Life® Stage Presentation of “Zora” by Lawrence Holder will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts.

Performed by Cheryl Howard and adapted and directed by Wynn Handman, this dramatic biography tells the story of Zora Neale Hurston, an African American writer of the 1930s who was a celebrated figure from the Harlem Renaissance. The audience will experience Hurston’s life through intimate portraits of her contemporaries and excerpts from her significant body of literary work.

This theatrical biography was adapted into a solo performance from the original play by Laurence Holder in 2000. The show features 50 minutes of performance by this seasoned actress who captures the extraordinary spirit of the Queen of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston. Incorporating music from the era and some of Hurston’s southern folklore, the story focuses on her battle to preserve her people’s culture and to live an authentic life against all odds. The presentation features a pre- and post-show interactive discussion.

Hurston’s most famous book is “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” According to the National Endowment for the Arts’ The Big Read website, to call the book “an ‘African American feminist classic’ may be an accurate statement -- it is certainly a frequent statement -- but it is a misleadingly narrow and rather dull way to introduce a vibrant and achingly human novel. The syncopated beauty of Hurston’s prose, her remarkable gift for comedy, the sheer visceral terror of the book’s climax, all transcend any label that critics have tried to put on this remarkable work.

Cheryl Howard stars in “Zora” on Feb. 1 at CLC.

First published amid controversy in 1937, then rescued from obscurity four decades later, the novel narrates Janie Crawford’s ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny.” The role of Zora is played by Cheryl Howard, who has toured and performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

Regionally, she has starred as the witch in “Into the Woods,” Mazeppa in “Gypsy,” Pattie Mae in “Home, the Musical,” LaLa in “The Colored Museum,” Josephine Baker in “Lucky in the Rain,” Miss Monisha in “Tin Pan Alley Rag” and Muzzie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” She was seen on Broadway as Bebe in “Dance a little Closer.” She played Deena Jones in “Dreamgirls” in Germany and Josephine Baker in “Josephine: The Musical,” which toured throughout Europe. Howard holds a B.A. in theatre arts from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in drama from Washington University in St. Louis.

General admission tickets are $26, with discounts for seniors, staff and Alumni Association members; tickets for CLC students and teens 12-17 are $16; and children’s tickets are $13 (prices include a $1 JLC facility fee). Tickets are available at the Box Office in the James Lumber Center on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St. For more information, call the Box Office at (847) 543-2300. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. Discounts are also available for groups of six or more. For group sales information, call (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu.

College of Lake County, 19351 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030-1198 (847) 543-2000 +sookie tex

Jeannette Brown first African American to receive degree from University of Minnesota chemistry graduate program

Jeannette Brown was the first African American to receive a degree from the University’s chemistry graduate program.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/13/2012) —University of Minnesota chemistry alumna Jeannette Brown will present a brief lecture and sign her book “African American Women Chemists” at a special book signing event from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the University Bookstore, Coffman Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.

Two meet-and-greet events are also planned with Brown: 2:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17 in Kolthoff Hall, Room 568A, 225 Pleasant St. S.E., Minneapolis and 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Black Student Union, on the second floor of Coffman Union.

In 1958, Brown was the first African American to receive a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry’s graduate program.

In her book, Brown profiles the lives and accomplishments of 25 chemists, from the earliest pioneers to the late 1960s—a time when an explosion of career opportunities opened up to African Americans due to the passage of the Civil Rights Acts. Each mini-biography is a thorough account of the chemist’s passion for the field, what inspired her, and what she accomplished in her career. Brown rounds out this study with a narrative of her own life and achievements and a look at what’s in store for the future of African American female chemists.

For 25 years, Brown worked as a research chemist at Merck & Co. Inc. She is an advocate for science education, and is passionate about serving as a mentor to and role model for underrepresented students. She was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.

Media Note: To schedule an interview with Jeannette Brown, contact Rhonda Zurn at rzurn@umn.edu or (612) 626-7959.

Contacts: Rhonda Zurn, College of Science and Engineering, , rzurn@umn.edu, (612) 626-7959 Kristin Anderson, University News Service, kma@umn.edu, (612) 624-1690

Carnegie Mellon Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

PITTSBURGH—Bernard Franklin, a friend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s family and a distinguished educator, community leader and advocate, headlines Carnegie Mellon University's annual celebration of the civil rights leader on Monday, Jan. 16.

Franklin's friendship with King's family began when his brother was Martin Luther King III's roommate at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

He will deliver a keynote address titled "The Courage to Lead" and host a roundtable discussion on the influence of male role models on African-American children.

As an undergraduate, Franklin became the first black student elected president of Kansas State University's Student Government Association. He also made history as the youngest person ever appointed to the Kansas State Board of Regents at age 24 and the youngest chair of the board at age 28.

Franklin has held senior positions in higher education, nonprofit, telecommunications and banking organizations. He currently serves as president of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity; a consultant to his church, Redeemer Fellowship; assistant to the vice president at Kansas State University; chairman of the board for the Satchel Paige Foundation; and a member of Kansas City's Google Fiber Innovation Team.

Carnegie Mellon's Office of the President and Division of Student Affairs are sponsoring the celebration, which is free and open to the public. Classes scheduled after 12:30 p.m. will be canceled to encourage student, faculty and staff participation.

Bernard Franklin

Highlights include: 12:30-1:30 p.m. — School of Drama Tribute and President Jared L. Cohon's State of Diversity Address Rangos Hall, University Center, second floor 1:30-2:30 p.m. — Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Awards Presentation and Readings Rangos Hall III, University Center, second floor High school and CMU students will read personal narratives about their experiences with racial difference and discrimination. The English Department, Division of Student Affairs and Office of the President sponsor the annual awards. 2:30-3 p.m. "MLK" Hip-Hop Music Video and Live Performances University Center, first floor

Teens from CMU's Arts Greenhouse program will screen "Dreams of Kings," a music video they created to explore the relevance of Martin Luther King Jr. to Pittsburgh youth. A monologue by Darrell Lumpkins and a short hip-hop performance will accompany the screening.

3-4 p.m. Role Modeling and the Influence on Children Roundtable Discussion
Dowd Room, University Center, second floor
Facilitator: Bernard Franklin, consultant, educator, community leader and advocate

5 p.m. "The Courage to Lead"
Rangos Hall, University Center, second floor
Keynote address: Bernard Franklin
Student speaker: Heather Rae Martin, Tepper School of Business MBA student

A full schedule is available at www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/first-year/mlk/.

Contact: Abby Simmons / 412-268-4290 / abbysimmons@cmu.edu

Princeton University will commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Princeton University will commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual King Day celebration Monday, Jan. 16, in Richardson Auditorium of Alexander Hall. Doors open at 1 p.m. The keynote address will be delivered by civil rights leader and educator Bob Moses, a visiting fellow in Princeton's Center for African American Studies.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 1:15 p.m. with musical selections from A New Perspective Jazz Band, a youth quintet from Ewing, N.J.

The ceremony will include the presentation of awards to student winners in grades 4 through 12 from area schools who entered an annual Martin Luther King Day-themed contest in literary arts, visual arts and video categories. Marking the 55th anniversary of the landmark desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., by youngsters known as the Little Rock Nine, this year's King Day contests focus on the importance of education as a foundation for success. Students were asked to propose viable options for addressing disparity in educational access and encouraging academic excellence.

During the program, the University also will present the MLK Day Journey Award, which recognizes a member of the Princeton faculty, staff or student body who best represents King's continued journey.

Moses, the keynote speaker, is the 2011-12 distinguished visiting fellow in Princeton's Center for African American Studies. Moses was a leader in the 1960s civil rights movement, serving as a key figure in the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964 to register black voters and protest racial discrimination. He is the founder and president of the Algebra Project, a national nonprofit organization that has helped thousands of students in urban and rural school districts develop essential mathematical skills.

Bob Moses. Photo by Michael Lisnet, Math for America

Moses, who was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Princeton in 2004, will co-teach a course this spring focusing on education and labor policies through the lens of race. He is the co-author of "Radical Equations: Math Literacy and Civil Rights" (2001) and co-editor of "Quality Education as a Constitutional Right: Creating a Grassroots Movement to Transform Public Schools" (2010). The King Day event will be webcast live. It is convened and coordinated by the institutional equity and diversity team in the offices of the provost and human resources. For immediate release: January 9, 2012 Media contact: Martin Mbugua, mmbugua@princeton.edu, (609) 258-5733.

News from PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Office of Communications 22 Chambers St. Princeton, New Jersey 08542 Telephone (609) 258-3601; Fax (609) 258-1301.

A link between air pollution and the risks of diabetes and hypertension is of particular importance to African American women

STUDY FINDS AIR POLLUTION LINKED TO INCREASED INCIDENCE OF DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

(Boston) - The incidence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension increases with cumulative levels of exposure to nitrogen oxides, according to a new study led by researchers from the Slone Epidemiology Center (SEC) at Boston University. The study, which appears online in the journal Circulation, was led by Patricia Coogan, D.Sc., associate professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health and the SEC.

While it is well established that air pollution increases the risks of acute cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction, it is not known whether exposure increases the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. However, emerging findings from laboratory and clinical studies suggest that air pollution may predispose to both conditions.

Researchers assessed the risks of incident hypertension and diabetes associated with exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM2.5) in a cohort of approximately 4,000 African American women living in Los Angeles. NOx are indicators of traffic-related air pollution. From 1995-2005, 531 incident cases of hypertension and 183 incident cases of diabetes occurred among the participants in the Los Angeles area. The risk of diabetes increased by a significant 24 percent, and the risk of hypertension by 11 percent, for each 12 ppb increase in exposure to NOx. There also were suggestive increases in risks of both diseases associated with exposure to (PM2.5), but the evidence for this was weaker than for NOx.

Patricia Coogan, MPH, D ScT

According to the researchers, two previous follow-up studies have suggested that traffic-related pollution increased the incidence of diabetes, but no African Americans were included. “A link between air pollution and the risks of diabetes and hypertension is of particular importance to African American women, because the incidence of both conditions is almost twice as high in African American women as in white women and African Americans live in more highly polluted areas than white Americans,” said Patricia Coogan, D.Sc., the study’s lead author. “In addition, even a modest effect of air pollutants on the risks of hypertension and diabetes will have significant public health impact due to the high incidence of these conditions and the ubiquity of exposure to air pollution,” she added.tr>

Funding for this study was provided by the National Cancer Institute.

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Boston University For Release Upon Receipt - January 5, 2012 Contact: Gina M. Digravio, 617-638-8491, gina.digravio@bmc.org || +sookie tex

Educating King: Civil Rights, the Liberal Arts and the education that changed the nation

Civil Rights and the Liberal Arts topic of MLK, Jr., Day lecture at Hastings College

Note to Media: For additional information, contact Alicia O’Donnell at 402-705-0120 or aodonnell@hastings.edu.

(Hastings, Neb.) – As part of its festivities for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Hastings College will host Dr. Charles W. McKinney, Jr., Associate Director of African American Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. He will speak on Monday, Jan. 16 at 10:45 a.m. in French Memorial Chapel (800 N. Turner Ave.) His lecture, entitled “Educating King: Civil Rights, the Liberal Arts and the education that changed the nation,” will be free and open to the public.

Among Dr. McKinney’s academic interests is how the civil rights movement unfolded in the Rural South. In his book Greater Freedom: The Evolution of the Civil Rights Struggle in Wilson, North Carolina, Dr. McKinney explores the roles of social engagement and protest outside of the South’s urban centers such as Atlanta, Ga., and Birmingham, Ala.

Bio for Dr. Charles W. McKinney, Jr.

Charles W. McKinney, Jr. is an Associate Professor of History and the Associate Director of African American Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He teaches courses in African American History and American social and political history.

Dr. McKinney’s particular areas of interest include the Civil Rights Movement, the relationship between history and memory in the creation of historical narratives, and the confluence of Black Power and Civil Rights ideology.

He is the author of Greater Freedom: The Evolution of the Civil Rights Struggle in Wilson, North Carolina, a book that sheds light on the dynamic interplay between black agency and white repression, the viability of building a movement in the Rural South, and the evolving nature of social change in the middle of the twentieth century.

His article “Multiple Fronts: The Struggle for Black Educational and Political Equality in Wilson, North Carolina, 1941-1953” won the R.D.W. Connor Award for Outstanding Article in The North Carolina Historical Review for 2011. Another article, entitled “Finding Fannie Corbett: Black Women and the Transformation of Civil Rights Narratives in Wilson, North Carolina”, appears in the volume Local Studies, A National Movement: Toward a New Synthesis of the Black Freedom Struggle, edited by Emilye Crosby.

Dr. McKinney earned his B.A. degree in history from Morehouse College, and his doctorate in American History from Duke University. He is married to Natalie McKinney, and is the proud father of Charles, Mathias and Vanessa Marie, who is currently a senior at Hastings (Neb.) College.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,150 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

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TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: Hastings College, 710 N. Turner, Hastings, NE 68901 • (800) 532-7642 January 5, 2012 For Immediate Release

'Contemporary Voices' 'here and now' Indiana University Dance Theatre

WHAT: "Contemporary Voices," featuring works by guest artists Laurie Eisenhower, Larry Keigwin, Nicole Wolcott and Ben Munisteri, with new dances by Indiana University faculty members. The Annual Faculty and Guest Artist Concert is presented by the IU Dance Theatre and produced by the IU Departments of Kinesiology and Theatre and Drama.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and 14. "Contemporary Voices Family Matinee," 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14.

WHERE: Ruth N. Halls Theater, 275 N. Jordan Ave., Bloomington

TICKETS: Advance: $20 for adults, $10 for children, seniors and IU students with ID. Tickets at the door: $25 for adults, $15 for children, seniors and IU students with ID. The family matinee features a shorter program. Advance tickets: $5 for adults and IU students, $2 for children and seniors. Tickets at the door: $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Call IU Box Office at 812-855-1103.

PRE-CONCERT TALK: "Dance NOW: Creative and Scholarly Perspectives," 6:30 p.m. both evenings, in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The emphasis of "Contemporary Voices," the upcoming annual faculty/guest artist concert presented by the Indiana University Dance Theatre, is in no uncertain terms on "contemporary."

A couple in their tighty whities dancing with nothing but a mattress. Six college students in their PJs performing on and around a couch. An inflatable sky dancer (yes, like the ones flapping at car dealerships). Original works by IU faculty members, one of whom uses intricate, high-tech embellishments, and another who hopes to see audience members calling the shots in her improvisational piece. Turning from its traditional nod to pioneers and masters of contemporary dance, the concert features only works created in the past decade.

IU dancers Lalah Hazelwood and Joe Musial in "Straight Duet," choreographed by Larry Keigwin and Nicole Wolcott, guest artists of the IU Contemporary Dance Program. Photo by Roberta Wong "Courtesy of Indiana University."

"The historical works are absolutely important so our genre doesn't disappear. It's a really young artistic field, and we will continue to perform those works," said Elizabeth Shea, director of the Contemporary Dance Program at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "It's also critical for our students and audiences to see what's happening now -- right now. The trends. We wanted to bring a 'here and now' approach to this concert, and all the works reflect this." "Straight Duet" is part of a suite of dances choreographed by Larry Keigwin and Nicole Wolcott, of the New York-based Keigwin and Company dance company. Keigwin successfully bridges post-modern art and popular entertainment dance forms, said Selene Carter, lecturer and dance historian in the School of HPER.

"'Straight Duet' is funny, poignant, sexy, sad (and not in the family matinee)," Carter said. "It has a lot of dimensions."

Detroit-based Laurie Eisenhower, an example of the growing regional influence in modern dance, set her dance "Night Music" on the IU dancers, who make good use of a couch in their performance. Ben Munisteri, no stranger to IU, created "Muse of Fire." Influenced by hip-hop clubs in New York, he brings a techno edge to his works.

Shea will premiere "Between the Sun and the Moon," a solo piece involving the combination of video and motion-capture technology beautifully abstracted and brought to the screen by visual artist Xiaoyuan Zhu, an IU fine arts graduate student.

The work is Shea's capstone to her fellowship with the IU Institute for Digital Arts and Humanities and is also funded by an IU Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Award from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The performance requires three projectors to display images on the Cyclorama, which is the traditional backdrop for theater and dance lighting, and also on a front scrim, a somewhat invisible screen that will feature the motion-capture material. Shea said the scrim will be between the dancer and the audience, with the dancer behind the screen and the projections, giving her performance an enhanced 3-D quality.

"I wanted to use technology to expand the performance and experience, not to overload the audience's senses," she said. She also will premiere "Lucy's Bones," a meditation on community that was inspired by the 3.2 million-year-old skeletal remains and involves "a bit of creative storytelling that binds the past and the present."

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and 14 in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre, 275 N. Jordan Ave., Bloomington. A family matinee, which features a shortened performance, will take place at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14. Pre-concert talks will be held at 6:30 p.m. both evenings in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.

The family matinee will feature the guest artists' work, with the exception of "Straight Duet." Shea also will show her technology piece, which includes video footage of local children.

The annual concert also includes new works by Iris Rosa, director of the African American Dance Company, and George Pinney, professor and head of musical theatre in the Department of Theatre and Drama. Pinney's "Stop" focuses on bullying. Ben Wegman, a guest artist-in-residence at the School of HPER, will present a work involving the inflatable sky dancer.

Wegman, who performed with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and in "Ferocious Beauty: Genome," the company's multimedia modern dance performance seen at IU Auditorium in 2009, continues to perform professionally as he works with IU's dance majors.

"It's great to have him," Shea said. "I can already see the effect of his knowledge and his 'here and now' contemporary experience on the students. He takes a multidisciplinary approach to his work. We placed his work before intermission because it will encourage conversations."

Dancers in Carter's work, "Take the Call," will improvise throughout, creating something new at each performance. Communicating through the use of verbal calls, the ensemble might even be directed by audience members, who will be encouraged to take up some of the calls.

"I really want to break the barrier between audience and dancers with this piece, allowing the audience perceptions to merge with the dancers' perceptions," she said.

The atmosphere at the annual concerts is rarely staid, with Carter describing it as "celebratory, kinesthetic and vibrant."

About Contemporary Dance at Indiana University

The IU Contemporary Dance Program offers a collection of dance experiences that are accessible to students who seek serious study in the art of dance. The program's core offerings consist of curricula that, through the highest quality of training and instruction, strengthen and refine contemporary dance technique as well as provide scholarly inquiry into the history, science and aesthetics of dance. The faculty of the IU Contemporary Dance Program strives to not only teach, but mentor and provide a strong theoretical base from which each dancer can grow and work as an individual artist. Students are encouraged to seek their own venue for expression, such as performance, choreography, teaching, production or scholarship, and prepare for a successful career in the professional and academic field of dance.

Carter can be reached at 812-856-2819 or sbcarter@indiana.edu. Shea can be reached at 812-855-7020 or eshea@indiana.edu.

Kick off Black History Month Four Days Early! 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration

Kick off Black History Month Four Days Early! 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration.

When the Westover High School percussion section marches into the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Saturday, Jan. 28, it will be a rousing start to the museum’s 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration. This large festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. features more than 75 presenters — well-known musicians, award-winning authors, storytellers, dancers, playwrights, re-enactors and others — who will highlight the contributions of African Americans to North Carolina.

Incredibly, this event and weekend parking are absolutely free. From performances of African rhythms of Djembe Talk (drum talk) by Eugene Taylor to the uplifting a capella harmonies of the men’s quartet the Mighty Gospel Inspirations, the celebration offers a lively mix of entertainment. Engaging presenters range from children’s author Kelly Starling Lyons to basketmaker Neal Thomas. And there’s plenty for kids: a scavenger hunt, hands-on crafts, and more.

In honor of the festival’s 11th year, the African American Cultural Celebration salutes the contributions of North Carolina’s 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) — the largest number of any state in the nation.* All 11 HBCUs will be represented. This includes a presentation by Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, President of St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh.

The African American Cultural Celebration is presented in six categories that encompass culture and history. Several event highlights follow. For a complete schedule of all performances and presentations, go to ncmuseumofhistory.org.

Celebrate Music and Movement

Catch performances by these musicians and a dance group:

● to songs from gospel’s “Golden Era” (1940s-1950s) by the men’s quartet the Mighty Gospel Inspirations, a capella.
Shana Tucker, an award-winning jazz cellist, singer and songwriter whose music is described as “a sultry pastiche of acoustic pop and soulful, jazz-influenced contemporary folk;”
● Ironing Board Sam, known as a master showman, the blues and R&B singer, songwriter and piano player was wildly popular on the New Orleans music scene for decades;
● world-renowned jazz pianist Elmer Gibson;
● Winston-Salem State University Burke Singers, a nationally known female a cappella group that has performed internationally;
● Raleigh’s Leviticus, a hip-hop group that has performed to sold-out audiences at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.
● KidZNotes, 30 children from a Durham program that is a partnership with the N.C. Symphony, will share classical music; and
● Zumba® with the Zeiglers, a couple inviting you to move to this Afro-Cuban dance-fitness phenomenon.

Celebrate History, Drama and Film

Learn about African American life from these individuals and groups:

● the performance group Voices in Concert, dramatizing a scene from “Sojourner and Her Children,” about the family life of 19th-century abolitionist and women’s right activist Sojourner Truth;
● Betty Jamerson Reed, discussing her new book School Segregation in Western North Carolina: 1860s-1970s; and
● re-enactors presenting a Civil War re-enactment focusing on Fort Fisher; Battery B, 2nd U.S. Colored Light Artillery, 18th Army Corps; and the 37th U.S. Colored Troops.

Celebrate Literature and the Spoken Word

Hear from authors and storytellers who will share the expertise:

● a panel discussion led by poet and author Lenard Moore, with four members of the African American Writers’ Collective;
● a presentation by Linda Beatrice Brown, author of Black Angels and a professor at Bennett College for Women; and
● Kelly Starling Lyons, reading from her new children’s book Ellen’s Broom, about the tradition of “jumping the broom.”

Celebrate Craft and Arts Traditions

Watch these artisans and others at work:

● furniture maker Jerome Bias, doll maker Marilyn Griffin; and wire artist Jonathan Daniel;
● the Ebony Raleigh Area Group Stitchers and the African American Quilt Circle; and a
● a robotics demonstration presented by N.C. A&T State University.

Celebrate Food, Health and Beauty

Learn about beauty products, cooking and healthy living:

● a presentation about Dudley’s Hair Care and Cosmetics, one of the most successful African American-owned hair care and cosmetics companies in the world, that was featured in Chris Rock’s film “Good Hair;”
● Rhonda Muhammad, featuring cooking demonstrations of traditional foods; and
● the Green Space Initiative, focusing on organic gardening and leading the workshop How to Eat for $10 a Week.

Celebrate Education and Heritage

Get information about historic sites, museums and organizations across North Carolina:

● representatives from the Montfort Point Marines Museum, the Rosenwald School Project, the N.C. Freedom Monument Project, the TeenFest Foundation, and many more.

Mark your calendar for Jan. 28 for this fun-filled festival at the N.C. Museum of History. The African American Cultural Celebration is supported by the Wells Fargo, North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, with funds from the United Arts campaign as well as the North Carolina Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art.

For more information about the N.C. Museum of History, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org or Facebook.

* Barber-Scotia College, Concord; Bennett College, Greensboro; Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte; Livingstone College, Salisbury; North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro; North Carolina Central University, Durham; St. Augustine’s College, Raleigh; Shaw University, Raleigh; and Winston-Salem State University.

About the N.C. Museum of History

The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton Street, across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

About the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation’s first state-supported symphony orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council, and the State Archives. Cultural Resources champions North Carolina’s creative industry, which employs nearly 300,000 North Carolinians and contributes more than $41 billion to the state’s economy. To learn more, visit www.ncculture.com.

Fayetteville State University News and Information Media Contacts: For Immediate Release Susan Friday Lamb, 919-807-7943 Emily Grant, 919-807-7979

African American History Is American History

Found this release kicking around DoD since February 1999 Great stuff!

General Says African American History Is American History. By Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- African Americans' contributions to the nation are not just black history, but an integral part of American history, said Army Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard.

Thousands of black Americans' contributions are absent from American history books because historians ignored them, Ballard told attendees at DoD's Feb. 8 kick off observance of National African American History Month. For years, he said, African American history was "told through whispered tales passed down from one generation to the next.

"Remnants left behind by our ancestors also tell the stories -- worn shackles from a slave ship; records left from a Southern plantation; quilts, painstakingly stitched and hung out to air to point the way to the next stop on the Underground Railroad; and tattered boots of an unknown black soldier who died at Bunker Hill," Ballard told the packed crowd in the Pentagon auditorium.

"This is black history -- this is American history," said Ballard, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"Today, we Americans are proud of our diversity," he said. "We celebrate and honor our unique traditions, our special heritage -- whatever that may be. But regardless of our roots, we remain -- first, last and always -- Americans."

Ballard said much of American history has been shaped by the military, from Bunker Hill to the Civil War, two world wars, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. "All American service men and women have left their mark on American history and American society," he said. African Americans fought at the Battle of Concord in April 1775, crossed the Delaware River with Gen. George Washington on Christmas Day 1776, and served by the thousands in the Continental Army, Ballard said. "Unfortunately," the general said, "the contributions of black Americans to the birth of our nation were, for the most part, unrecorded and were soon forgotten by society." He pointed out that after the Revolutionary War, the military eliminated blacks from their rolls. And in 1792, Congress passed legislation that limited military service only to "free, able-bodied, white male citizens."

But, despite this law, African Americans were called to serve during the War of 1812. When New Orleans was threatened in 1815, a battalion of free men of color held their portion of the
American front line and then counterattacked, Ballard said. "You surpassed my hopes. The nation shall applaud your valor," Gen. Andrew Jackson told his black troops after the battle.

Jackson was wrong. Despite their heroism, African Americans were again barred from military service until the Civil War, Ballard noted. President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863
declared that former slaves could join Union forces. That was the beginning of a national policy of recruiting and organizing African American regiments, the general said.

During America's expansion westward, black soldiers, known as "Buffalo Soldiers," protected American interests, he told the audience. Ballard said Buffalo Soldiers served long, isolated
tours of duty in the Southwest, protecting settlers, building roads, and guarding the mail and engineers and laborers who built the railroads.

"Buffalo Soldiers fought in more than 100 battles with Indians," Ballard said. "Their presence was key to the growth of America in the West."

In World War I, more than 400,000 black Americans served in the armed forces in segregated units. However, because of the color of their skin, they were considered mentally and morally unfit to serve on the front lines, Ballard said.

That myth was shattered by the all-black 369th Infantry Regiment. Spurned by American commanders, the 369th was assigned to the French and fought under their command. Ballard added, they supported the French army for 191 days on the front lines and received French awards for bravery in combat.

African American nurses also served with distinction in World War II. Working side by side with their white colleagues they treated all patients, regardless of race, he pointed out.

Perhaps the best-known African Americans of World War II are the Tuskegee Airmen, who trained to be aviators in the experimental Tuskegee (Ala.) Training Program.

"Skeptics of the program believed that blacks were incapable of mastering the complex skills of aviation," Ballard said. "But their skepticism was proven wrong, and many German combat planes fell from the skies at the hands of the Tuskegee pilots."

Although African Americans fought with distinction in World War II, they returned home to a segregated America, Ballard said. "Black Americans who had served their country alongside their white counterparts were not permitted to drink from the same water fountains or sit at the same lunch counters," he noted.

"Unfortunately, this is also black history -- this is also American history," Ballard said.

In 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which called for equal opportunity for all members of the armed forces. That, Ballard said, made the segregated Army a thing of the past. "Soon, the segregation of society as a whole would begin to crumble," he noted.

Since that time, African Americans have fought and died for this country alongside men and women of all races, he said. In Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Bosnia, the U.S. armed forces couldn't accomplish their goals without the skills and dedication of all their members, he said.

Today, the general said, African Americans make up about 25 percent of the armed forces, and they serve at every level of military leadership. "For example," one-third of the sergeants
major in the Army are black," Ballard said. "These are the folks who are directly responsible for making sure our troops are trained and ready to defend American interests."

He said America's future leaders, sergeant major of the Army, Navy captain, chief of staff of the Air Force, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are today in a boot camp, ROTC or a military academy.

"We don't know the names of these leaders or what they look like, but that's no longer important," Ballard said. "The men and women of today's armed forces have the opportunity to go as far as their dreams will take them. They will not be hindered by the color of their skin.

"This is the legacy of black history -- this is the legacy of American history."

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: osd.dtic.mil