Syracuse University to kick off full slate of Black History Month activities Feb. 1

Syracuse University to kick off full slate of Black History Month activities Feb. 1January 31, 2008Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

Syracuse University will kick off Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 1, with a celebration in the atrium of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The month-long schedule of activities includes many diverse performances, lectures and educational opportunities, and will be highlighted by the Commemorative Lecture, given by award-winning author, journalist and culture critic Joan Morgan on Feb. 7.

The month’s events are organized by SU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, a principal unit within the Division of Student Affairs, in partnership with the Department of African American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Community Folk Art Center, among other sponsors. The full schedule of events is available at http://suevents.syr.edu.

Morgan will deliver the Commemorative Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. in Maxwell Auditorium. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program. Morgan, a pioneering hip-hop journalist, coined the term “hip-hop feminism” in 2000 when she published her groundbreaking book, “When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down” (Simon and Schuster). She is regarded internationally as an expert on the topics of hip-hop and gender.

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Parking is available in the University’s visitor pay lots. The events include:

• Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m.: “Pan-Africanism: Marching Into the Future,” a discussion introducing the significance of Pan-Africanism and how it applies to individuals and the community at large. Beauchamp Branch Library, 2111 S. Salina St.

• Feb. 2, 3 p.m.: AfriCOBRA: Liberated Images. An artist panel discussion. Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesee St.

• Feb. 2, 7 p.m.: Community Folk Art Center Celebrates 35 Years. Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesee St.

• Feb. 7, noon: “Cold Cases: Seeking Justice for Unsolved Civil Rights Murders.” Weiskotten Hall, ninth floor auditorium, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Ave.

• Feb. 13, 7 p.m.: “Black Is, Black Ain’t”: A Personal Journey Through Black Identity. Kittredge Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall.

• Feb. 16, 1:30 p.m.: “Education: Turning Hope Into Reality.” A discussion of the issues at hand and an offering of realistic solutions. Beauchamp Branch Library, 2111 S. Salina St.

• Feb. 17, 4 p.m. The 4th Annual Black History Month Jazz Cabaret, featuring Barbara Morrison. The Underground, Schine Student Center. Morrison will perform with the CNY Jazz Quartet, Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, Windjammer and other vocal talent from SU. Tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for students with I.D., and are available at the Schine Box Office.

• Feb. 19, 7 p.m.: “Expanding Wing … Stretching Space: Creating Room ‘tween a Rock and a Hard Place.” Theatrical readings of inspirational poetry and stories written by women survivors of domestic violence. The Underground, Schine Student Center.

• Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m.: Documentary filmmaker Spike Lee will speak about “Six Degrees of Separation” at the OnCenter. Ticket information to be announced. Lee’s documentary on Hurricane Katrina, “When the Levees Broke,” will be screened at SU Feb. 18 and 19. Parts one and two will be shown Feb. 18 from 7-9 p.m. in Watson Theater and parts three and four will be shown Feb. 19 from 7-9 p.m. in Kittredge Auditorium in HBC. A panel discussion on the documentary will be held Feb. 20 from 7-9 p.m. in the Kilian Room, Room 500 in the Hall of Languages.

• Feb. 22, 7 p.m. Black Film Festival: “Something New,” exploring interracial relationships and the future of the African American family. Watson Auditorium.

• Feb. 24, 4 p.m. Third Annual Cora Thomas Gospel Extravaganza. Hendricks Chapel.

• Feb. 27 and 28, 10 a.m.: “Voter Registration!” Tables in the Schine atrium.

• Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Black Men’s and Women’s Think Tank. Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center.

• Feb. 28, 8 p.m. Ailey II dance troupe. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the dance troupe’s parent company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Pulse has commissioned “The External Knot” by choreographer Troy Powell with music by Philip Glass and Robert Schumann. $5 for SU students with SU I.D.; $15 for SU faculty, staff, alumni and staff members of local Pulse partners; and $20 for the general public. Ann and Alfred R. Goldstein Auditorium, Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center.

“Through the events listed above, we celebrate the rich and diverse traditions of Black people all over the world and their struggle for freedom and equality,” says James Duah-Agyeman, the University’s chief diversity officer and director of OMA. “I encourage the University community to attend as many of these events as possible, particularly the Commemorative Lecture by Joan Morgan on Feb. 7. Since she is a hip-hop journalist, it is my hope that her words would cause us to gain insights to incite change in our everyday lives as students, faculty and staff, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.”

For more information on SU’s celebration of Black History Month, call OMA at (315) 443-9676.