Black History Month events serious, joyful

BGSU will celebrate Black History Month with arts, academic, and personal growth events that stretch across time and continents.

The 17th annual Africana Studies Student Research Conference, "Emerging Perspectives in Africana Studies," on Feb. 13 in 101 Olscamp Hall is an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to present original research in a professional setting. Morning and afternoon panel discussions will be punctuated by a noon luncheon with keynote presentation by Dele Jegede, a prominent Nigerian art historian, critic, curator and artist known for his political commentary. Jegede will speak on "Frictions and Fusions: Issues in 21st Century African Diaspora Studies." To make lunch reservations, call 419-372-7814 by Wednesday (Feb. 4). Admission to the conference and keynote address without lunch is free.

On Feb. 18, Wes Moore, author of "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates," BGSU's 2014-15 Common Read, will speak. Moore, a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow and business leader, wrote about his counterpart of the same name, from the same neighborhood and similar background, but who is serving a life sentence for felony murder. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 presentation in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Moore will sign books after the question-and-answer portion of the program. The event is sponsored by University Libraries and will be streamed live to BGSU Firelands' Cedar Point Center Auditorium.

"The Declaration," BGSU's 12th annual Gospel Fest, takes place on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22. Friday brings the youthful praise of the BGSU Gospel Choir along with nine other collegiate and youth choirs. Saturday's program features BET's Sunday's Best winner Geoffrey Golden along with Yaves Ellis and other special guests in a Night of Worship. The event begins at 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets for BGSU students are $7 for one night or $11 for both; for the general public they are $10 for one night or $15 for both.

"Gibbeted," an original play by Imelda Hunt, will be presented at 4 p.m. Feb. 24 in 206 Union. The Readers Theatre production is adapted from transcripts of the trial of two slaves who murdered their "owner" at Charlestown, Mass.

The 2015 Black Issues Conference takes as its theme "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: The Power of Us." The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Union ballroom and will feature keynote speaker Wes Hall, an author and Los Angeles radio personality. Admission is free for BGSU students, $20 for all other students and $30 for nonstudents.

The conference is sponsored by Not in Our Town, the Black Graduate Student Organization, Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Career Center and Access Inclusion Diversity Programs. For more information, contact Sheila Brown, multicultural affairs, at 372-6858 orstbrown@bgsu.edu. 

The month also includes diversity education opportunities such as "Breaking Stereotypes: Who I Am and Who You Think I Am," from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 24 in 101 Olscamp Hall, and National Coalition Building Institute workshops.