BGSU to celebrate Black History Month

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Aspects of African-American life, past and present, will be spotlighted during February as Bowling Green State University’s Bowling Green and Firelands campuses celebrate Black History Month.

The 12th annual Black Issues Conference, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will take as its theme “The Content of Our Character: Overcoming Oppression and Moving Forward.” Hosted by the Black Student Union and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the conference will include a keynote address by the Rev. Jamie Washington, founder and president of the Washington Consulting Group in Baltimore and former longtime higher education administrator. Among the day’s panelists is BGSU Trustee Col. John Moore Jr. (U.S. Air Force Ret.) For more information, call Chad Coates at 419-372-9645.

The month’s events begin on Feb. 3 with a new history of the civil rights movement presented by Dr. Danielle McGuire of Wayne State University. In “At the Dark End of the Street: Sexual Violence and the Civil Rights Movement,” McGuire will trace the roots of the movement to the systematic rape of black women by white men in the South, along with economic intimidation, and Rosa Parks’ role in the freedom movement as an NAACP investigator. The free talk will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. in 308 Union.

Civil rights activist Cheryl Brown Henderson will explore the legacy of Brown vs. Board of Education, from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Cedar Point Center auditorium at BGSU Firelands.

In a look at a popular culture phenomenon, Dr. Angela Nelson will discuss “It's a Mad, Mad, Madea World!': Tyler Perry, Urban Theater, and Black Popular Culture” from 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 17 in 207 Union. An expert on black popular culture and media, Nelson will examine the success of Perry’s gospel music stage plays as part of black religious culture in the U.S. Nelson is past chair of the popular culture department and acting chair of ethnic studies. Her talk is also part of the Popular Culture Colloquium Series.

On Feb. 26, the College of Musical Arts Festival Series presents “Selections from ‘Porgy and Bess,’” at 8 p.m. in Kobacker Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center. Featuring the Bowling Green Philharmonia and soloists from the College of Musical Arts, the famous musical by George Gershwin combines classical music and popular song, jazz, blues and spirituals. Tickets range from $12-$30; call the box office at 419-372-8171 to order. For more information, visit http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music/events/festival.html.

Current concerns will be covered in presentations on the dilemma of infant mortality in the African-American community, at noon Feb. 9 in the Women’s Center, 107 Hanna Hall; and the impact of war on girls and women in Sudan, at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Gish Film Theater in Hanna Hall.

For a full listing of the month’s activities, visit http://www.bgsu.edu/blackhistorymonth/page75931.html.

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(Posted January 26, 2011 )