BGSU celebrates Black History Month

BOWLING GREEN, O.— Bowling Green State University kicks off Black History Month with the Black Issues Conference and other events to celebrate aspects of African-American life.

The 13th annual Black Issues Conference, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will take as its theme “It’s Not Just a Black Issue: Politics, Leadership, Civil Rights.” The conference is co-sponsored by the Black Student Union and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and will include a keynote address by attorney Walter T. Madison, president of the Board of Trustees of the Akron Law Alumni Association, Foundation Board member of the Akron Bar Association, board member of the Akron Law Library Association and District Counselor for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

The conference will offer three concurrent sessions, ending with a closing panel discussion. For more information about the day’s events, call Chad Coates at 419-372-9645.

A Visions of Legacy Dinner, sponsored by HUE (Honoring, Urging and Empowering: Queer People of Color) will be held Saturday (Feb. 4) in McFall Center Gallery to celebrate LGBTQ+ African-Americans who serve as important contributors to the U.S. and the world. The dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by the show at 7. Student tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Faculty tickets are $15. Tickets will be sold from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Feb. 3 at the Student Union tables. For more information, contact Tiffany Smith at tifsmit@falcon.bgsu.edu.

The Office of Residence Life and the SMART (Students of Color Mentoring, Aiding, Retaining and Teaching) Program will sponsor a Taste of February: A Cultural Journey from 6-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Union. Contact Ana Brown for more information atacbrown@bgsu.edu.

Sheila Brown, associate director of BGSU’s Office for Multicultural Affairs, has been working with Bowling Green High School and Middle School to develop a number of activities throughout the month. These culminate with the third annual Bowling Green High School and Middle School Black History Month Program, at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 21 in the high school auditorium. The show will include the anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a step routine, performance of an original song called “Preparing for Tomorrow,” a short skit about Rosa Parks, a spiritual performed by The Shades of Brown and a short tribute to black athletes who broke the color barrier in professional sports.

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(Posted February 01, 2012 )