Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern celebrates February as Black History Month

Contact: Elise Doster Stolzle

1/23/09

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

     “I believe that from this year forward, Black History Month celebrations will never be the same,” Darbonne said. “This year has ignited a renewed sense of pride and has demonstrated that we have the power and the ability to make black history each and ever day.”

     The Black History Month Kickoff event, sponsored by the NAACP, will take place Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. The festivities will include an informational session on the importance of Black History Month and lively performances by university song and dance groups.

     In conjunction with Black History Month, the Southeastern Department of History and Political Science will sponsor its annual Black History and Politics Lecture Series. The series 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.

     An African American history exhibit, “The Dream Unfolds,” will be on display on the second floor of Southeastern’s Sims Memorial Library throughout February. The exhibit will showcase black heritage milestones from “I Have a Dream” of Martin Luther King Jr. to the inauguration of President Obama.

     Also during the month, the Nu Omega Chapter of Southeastern’s Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity will sponsor tours of Hammond’s African American Heritage Museum. For more information contact James Matthews at James.Matthews@selu.edu.

     All Black History Month events are open to the public. Events include:

     ▪ Jan. 30, 10 a.m., Teacher Education Center, room 1022 -- The Department of History and Political Science will sponsor a lecture on General Colin Powell, presented by Jeffery J. Mathews.

     ▪ Feb. 2, 6 p.m., Student Union Theatre: “Greek Showcase,” sponsored by the Southeastern Pan-Hellenic Council, will include step and strut dance performances by university Greek organizations. The showcase will be followed by a mix-and-mingle event.

      ▪ Feb. 4, noon: The Southeastern Chapter of Amnesty International will sponsor an open forum on “Police Brutality and Race” in front of the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Fountain.

     ▪ Feb. 10, 7 p.m., Student Union Theatre: Zeta Phi Beta and the NAACP will sponsor the safe-sex awareness presentation “How Crowded is Your Bed?”

     ▪ Feb. 12, 7 p.m., Student Union Ballroom: The Southeastern gospel dance group Praise-n-Motion will sponsor “Culture Night,” featuring live music, singing, dancing and poetry.

     ▪ Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Student Union Ballroom: The “Soul Food Taste Fair” and entertaining “Quiz Bowl” will be sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma. Students are encouraged to test their knowledge of African American history and fun facts.

     ▪ Feb. 18, 1 p.m., Student Union, room 223: Sociologist Rebecca Hensley will present “The State of Black Affairs, 2009,” examining how the election of President Obama has changed race relations within the United States.

     ▪ Feb. 18, 7 p.m., Student Union Theatre: Praise-n-Motion will sponsor a “Night of Cultural Dance.”

     ▪ Feb. 19, 2 p.m., Student Union Theatre: Southeastern history professor Randy Sanders will present “The Song of Death: War and Racism in the Art of Horace Pippin” as part of the Black History and Politics Lecture Series.

     ▪ Feb. 27, 11 a.m., Pottle Auditorium: Episcopal High School history teacher Emmitt Glynn will present “The Influence of Public Education for African Americans on Reconstruction Policies in Louisiana 1863-1877” as part of the Black History and Politics Lecture Series.

     ▪ Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: The African American Heritage Museum will host the “Freedom Fund Banquet.” Tickets are $30. For more information, contact Pat Morris at (985) 747-9488.

     For more information on Southeastern’s Black History Month call the MISA office at (985) 549-3850.