Black History Month 2005 to focus on "African Diaspora"
"The African Diaspora" is the theme of the 2005 Black History Month observances at Virginia Tech, which will feature talks by noted scholars, films, theatrical performances, discussions, a formal dinner, and a beauty pageant. Programs, most of which are free and open to the public, actually begin with Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations and continue until the end of February.
Black History Month at Virginia Tech is organized by Multicultural Programs in the office of Student Life and Advocacy at Virginia Tech. For more information about the following events, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at (540) 231-6023.
Thursday, Jan. 20 Film and discussion on "Daughters of the Dust," 6:30 p.m., Career Services Building. Chosen by the Newark Black Film Festival as "Film of the Century," the film follows a Gullah family on the eve of their northward migration away from the southern Sea Islands. Director Julie Dash was the first African-American woman to have a full-length, general theatrical release with the debut of this film. Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter. For information, contact Nicole James at njames@vt.edu.
Monday, Jan. 24 Film and discussion on "Fundi, The Story of Ella Baker," 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. "Fundi" reveals the instrumental role that Ella Baker, friend and adviser to Martin Luther King, played in shaping the American civil rights movement. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 Film and discussion on "The Edge of Each Other's Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde," 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. This powerful documentary is a moving tribute to legendary black lesbian feminist poet Audre Lorde (1934-1992). One of the most celebrated icons of feminism's second wave, Lorde inspired several generations of activists with her riveting poetry, serving as a catalyst for change and uniting the communities of which she was a part: black arts and black liberation, women's liberation, and lesbian and gay liberation. Sponsored by Multicultural Programs and the Virginia Tech Women's Center. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Friday, Jan. 28 Presentations and discussions on "Behind Bars: The Expansion of the American Prison Sell," 6:30 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. With more than 2 million Americans serving prison sentences, and millions more under the supervision of the Justice Department, the prison system is an important component of control in our society. Yet even as prisons receive almost no attention in the mainstream media, politicians from both parties are nearly unanimous in supporting the proliferation of prisons, along with the expansion of the police force and a stricter penal system. Sponsored by the Direct Resistance of Privilege Alliance. For information, contact Emenike La at lmoore3@vt.edu.
Monday, Jan. 31 Film and discussion on "Beah: A Black Woman Speaks" 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. This directorial debut of actress LisaGay Hamilton celebrates the life of legendary African-American actress, poet and political activist Beah Richards, best known for her Oscar nominated role in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" Sponsored by Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 "Miss Egyptian Goddess Pageant," 6 p.m., Haymarket Theatre, Squires Student Center. $2 per person. This pageant showcases and recognizes the achievements and talents of black women on Virginia Tech and Radford University campuses. Sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. For information, contact John Carter at jcarter@vt.edu.
Wednesday, Feb. 2 "African-American or Black?" 6:30 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. A program exploring the challenges, complexities and implications of the concepts of "race" and "ethnicity." Sponsored by the Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the Direct Resistance of Privilege Alliance. For information, contact Averia J. Hilliard at averia@vt.edu, Anthony Jenkins at rjenkins@vt.edu, or Emenike La at lmoore3@vt.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 3Black History Month Keynote Speaker, Dr. Na'im Akbar, 7 p.m., Haymarket Theatre, Squires Student Center. The noted African-American psychologist, lecturer, and scholar-activist, Na'im Akbar has worked to awaken the consciousness of people of African descent worldwide. Author of many works including "Know Thyself" and "Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery," Akbar is a professor at Florida State University and president of Mind Productions, his private consulting company. Sponsored by Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Monday, Feb. 7 Richard Shingles presents "Parallels in Reform and Retrenchment during the Late 19th and 20th Centuries: The Evisceration of Brown vs. the Board of Education," 4 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. An associate professor of political science at Virginia Tech, Shingles will assemble in chronological order the major reforms that constitute the most recent shifts in federal policy on race. Shingles was a MacArthur Fellow during 1989-1990 at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the recipient of a National Science Foundation Grant for research on the origins and nature of civil unrest, and a recipient of a National Elections Surveys grant to develop measures of subject political efficacy for the federally funded, bi-annual National Elections Surveys. Sponsored by Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Tuesday, Feb. 8 Film and discussion on "City of God," 8 p.m., Colonial Hall, Squires Student Center. Film about the turbulent communities in Rio de Janeiro explores the intersection of race and poverty. Sponsored by the Black Student Alliance. For information, contact Michael Robinson at mirobin3@vt.edu.
Wednesday, Feb. 9 "My Soul is a Witness," Haymarket Theatre, Squires Student Center, doors open at 6:45 p.m. Play begins at 7:30 p.m. A play that examines the people and events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. Sponsored by The Black Student Alliance. For information, contact Dana Johnson at dajohnso@vt.edu.
Friday, Feb. 11 "Look at the Mess You Made: Constructions of Race and Ethnicity in the New Millennium," 3 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. This presentation will discuss the ways in which social construction of race has been impacted by government policy in the last several years. Of special concern will be the manner in which official policies on racial designation have altered the procedures for enumerating populations and the implications of such changes for the interpretation of official data. Sponsored by the Race and Social Policy Research Center and Student Life Office, Multicultural Programs Area. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Monday, Feb. 14 "The Global African Presence," 6 p.m., Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center. Lecture and slide presentation by Runoko Rashidi on the impact and presence of people of African descent all over the world. Sponsored by The Black Student Alliance. For information, contact Dana Johnson at dajohnso@vt.edu.
Tuesday, Feb. 15 "The Progress of Black America," 7:30 p.m., Yorktown Room, Squires Student Center. An intellectual panel discussion about the social advancements and retreats of people of color in America in addition to examining attitudes towards Black leadership during the 20th and 21st centuries. Sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. For information, contact Tarvaris McCoy at tammcoy1@vt.edu or Victor Delaire at vdelaire@vt.edu
Wednesday, Feb. 16 "The Grey Area between Blacks and Hispanics," 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. This program will examine the similarities between the cultures, backgrounds, and history of "Black" and "Hispanic" peoples. Sponsored by the Latin Link and Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity Inc. For information, contact Jerome Villanueva at jvillanu@vt.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 17 Film and discussion on "Sankofa," 6 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. Written, directed, and produced by Ethiopian-born filmmaker Haile Gerima, this is a powerful film about Maafa, the African holocaust. The film seeks to show the consciousness and resistance of people of African descent during enslavement. Sponsored by the Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc. For information, contact Averia J. Hilliard at averia@vt.edu.
Friday, Feb. 18 "Race and the New Genetics," 12:20 p.m., Fralin Auditorium. Seminar on the impact of African-Americans on genetic research. Presentation by Georgia Dunston, chair and professor, Department of Microbiology and the founding director of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University. She also is the driving force behind Howard's partnership with the Chicago-based First Genetic Trust to establish GRAD (Genomic Research in the African Diaspora)-- a biobank to trace genetic factors behind diseases such as diabetes and prostate cancer that disproportionately affect African Americans. Sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. For information, contact Ed Smith at esmith@vt.edu.
Monday, Feb. 21 "Servants of Allah: African Muslims in the Americas," 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. Presentation by author Sylviane Diouf on the lives of African Muslims in the Western Hemisphere. Diouf, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Paris, has worked in journalism, diplomacy, and academia, teaching at the University of Libreville and New York University. The author of numerous books, including several for children, she is a researcher at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Sponsored by the Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc. For information, contact Averia J. Hilliard at averia@vt.edu.
Wednesday, Feb. 23 SisterCircle Faculty/Student Mixer, 4 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. An opportunity for Black students and faculty members to enjoy fellowship and develop informal mentoring relationships. Refreshments provided. Multicultural Programs and the Virginia Tech Women's Center. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
Wednesday, Feb. 23 Annual Brotherhood Banquet, 7:30 p.m., 342 Squires Student Center. A time for men to come together to enjoy fellowship and engage a topic connected to brotherhood. Guests will bring a covered dish to share. Sponsored by the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. For information, contact Bennie Kingwood at bkingwoo@vt.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 24 Film and discussion on "Panther," 5 p.m., Multicultural Center, Squires Student Center. Explore the political and cultural significance of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Presentation by Hayward Farrar, associate professor, Department of History, Virginia Tech. Sponsored by Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Hayward Farrar at hfarrar@vt.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 24 Renaissance Program, 7:30 p.m., Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center. This event will highlight the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and its contributions to the community. Sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. For information, contact Tarvaris McCoy at tammcoy1@vt.edu.
Friday, Feb. 25 Black Sexualities, 3:30 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. Program will examine heterosexism, homophobia, concepts of racialized sexuality, hyper masculinity, and the performativity of race and gender in the Black community. Sponsored by the Direct Resistance of Privilege Alliance. For information, contact Emenike La at lmoore3@vt.edu.
Saturday, Feb. 26 "The Ebony Affair - Reflections of our Community Culture," 7 p.m., Owens Banquet Hall, $20 per person. This formal event will feature a complete dinner and entertainment and will acknowledge individuals who have contributed to diversity and cultural enhancement in the New River Valley. Varied entertainment will reflect several cultures. A vegetarian menu option is available but must be requested prior to the evening of the event. Sponsored by the Black Graduate Student Organization. For information, contact Chanel Thomas at chthoma6@vt.edu.
Monday, Feb. 28 Film and discussion on "The Real Eve," 7 p.m., Black Cultural Center, Squires Student Center. Discovery Channel documentary traces the migration of modern humans from Africa and pieces together genetic evidence leading all people back to a common genetic mother, an African woman who lived nearly 150,000 years ago. Sponsored by Multicultural Programs. For information, contact Takiyah Nur Amin at tamin@vt.edu.
