St. Cloud State's observance of Black History Month includes
speakers, panel discussions, poetry, films, a leadership conference and
more.
February is the month students, staff and faculty 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 what is now the United States.
Descendants of those slaves -- and others -- helped build, defend, govern, feed, educate, entertain and inspire a nation.
All events are free and open to the public, unless noted.
Candelight Memoir
Commemorate African-American history in candelit silence.
6:30 p.m. Feb. 2, Atwood Memorial Center (AMC)
Leadership Conference
The Power in Diversity Leadership Conference features five speakers, social events, workshops and entertainment. Learn more.
Feb. 4-6, AMC and Centennial Hall.
Film: "Selma, Lord, Selma"
Two showings of the 1999 Disney film based on the Sheyann
Webb-Christburg book of the same name. The 88-minute film recounts the
"Bloody Sunday" events of March 7, 1965 in Selma, Ala., during one of
the emotional and political peaks of the Civil Rights Movement.
2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 7, AMC Theatre
Speech: "The Smallest Freedom Fighter"
Sheyann Webb-Christburg reminisces about her days in the Civil
Rights Movement, including her harrowing walk across the Edmund Pettus
Bridge in Selma, Ala., with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. As an
eight-year-old she was witness to one of the seminal events in the
campaign to improve voting, housing, employment and other rights for
blacks.
2 p.m. Feb. 8, AMC Ballroom
Black Poetry Night
An evening of spoken word geared toward Black history.
7 p.m. Feb. 9, AMC Quarry Room
Film: "Black is... Black Ain't"
This documentary about Black identity won a Sundance Film Festival award. The 87-minute film
was the final work by Marlon Riggs, American poet, educator, filmmaker
and gay-rights activist. Riggs died in 1994 from AIDs complications.
2 p.m. Feb. 15, AMC Theatre
Valentine's Day Dance
Join the Council of African American Students (CAAS) for "Night of
Hearts," an evening of dance music, fun and flowers for your sweetheart.
Entrance fee.
9:30 p.m. Feb. 17, AMC Quarry Room
CAAS College Day
CAAS members and friends will host area high school students for a day-long campus visit.
Feb. 18
Talent Show
CAAS hosts "Show Me What You Got," an open talent show.
7 p.m. Feb. 18, Ritsche Auditorium
Video: "Beyond the Dream III"
Taped discussion about Black history featuring the late Alex
Haley, author of "The Autobiography of Malcom X" and "Roots"; the late
Henry Hampton, creator/producer of the documentary "Eyes on the Prize";
Barbara Reynolds, newspaper journalist; Chuck Stone, Tuskegee Airman,
professor and journalist; and Maxine Waters, U.S. Representative (D-CA).
The 120-minute discussion is moderated by Renee Poussaint, Emmy-winning
television journalist.
1 p.m. Feb. 21, AMC Theatre
Discussion: "A Continental Affair"
A panel discussion about the similarities and differences among African
and African American cultures. Panelists are members of CAAS and the
African Student Association (ASA).
2 p.m. Feb. 22, AMC Theatre
Black History Month is sponsored by these St. Cloud State entities:
CAAS, ASA, Multicultural Student Services, Cultural Diversity Committee,
Student Finance Committee and University Program Board.
