Bryant celebrates Black History Month
Events throughout February teach the Bryant community about African American history and culture.
It is clear that Christina Lee ’11 (Baltimore City, Maryland) is very proud of her heritage. She welcomed the opportunity to share this pride and raise awareness and appreciation of her African American traditions and customs with members of the Bryant community.
“I want to show everyone why I love my culture so much,” says Lee, who is chair of the University’s Black History Month (BHM) Committee. “I want a chance to try to show people where we have come from and where we can go as a community.”
Lee’s committee has planned a series of events throughout February to commemorate Black History Month. “Our goal is to raise interest by providing entertaining, enlightening, and unique cultural and learning experiences.”
The backdrop of the inauguration of Barack Obama as president is ideal for this month’s celebration, says Lee. “I believe that we have an African American president because it is time that the nation rises to the challenge of accepting the beautifully diverse culture that we are a part of.”
Travel to a distant land
The next event at Bryant will be a Global Community Hour sponsored by the Intercultural Center (ICC) on Wednesday, February 18, at noon. The program will feature Joshua Grolman ’12 (Johannesburg, South Africa) and ICC Director Shontay Delalue King, who will talk about South Africa and Botswana.
Grolman says he hopes to provide the Bryant community with an inside look at South Africa beyond the stereotypes that people commonly have. “I want people to see that South Africa has its own quirks that make it both an exciting place to visit and an amazing place to live.”
He was attracted to Bryant by the close-knit community, which he has quickly become a part of. “Bryant has succeeded in becoming my new home,” he says.
Bringing Black history to life
Also, on Wednesday, February 18, a group of Bryant students will give historic speeches given by such notable figures as Frederick Douglass, John Lewis, James Baldwin, Ida B. Wells, and Angela Davis. The excerpts are from The Radical Reader: A Documentary History of the American Radical Tradition, an anthology of important political speeches in our nation's history.
The anthology was edited by Harvard professors Tim McCarthy and John McMillan, who have been working with the Bryant students on their presentations. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Janikies Theater.
Experiencing the culture
The improv group “In House Freestyle” will headline a Soul Food Dinner on Friday, February 20, at 6 p.m. in South Dining Hall. RSVP to the Intercultural Center at 232-6946.
On Wednesday, February 25, Papitto in the Bryant Center will be transformed into a 1920s Jazz Club as part of the Cultural Coffee House program.
Art will be on display, students will showcase their talents through poetry and music, and raffles will be held. The event begins at 9 p.m.
The finale of the month-long celebration is the Multicultural Student Union’s Extravaganza Night on Friday, February 27. The annual multimedia event showcases African-American history with an emphasis on cultural contributions in the performing arts, fashion, and literature. Bryant students will participate in the production, which will be held in the MAC. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning February 17 in the Koffler Rotunda at the discounted rate of $5 for students and $7 for all others. At the door, tickets will be $7 for students and $10 for all others.
Black History Month festivities began on January 27 with a celebration of the life of Martin Luther King J. titled “Living the Legacy.” Performances were given by Steven Branch ’09 (Montclair, NJ), Sherika Nicholas ’11 (East Patchogue, NY), and ICC director Shontay Delalue King. Spoken word artist Inphynit dazzled the crowd and Jamele Adams, associate dean of student life at Brandeis University, gave the keynote address.
The 20th Annual African American Read-In took place on February 2, and earlier this week E. Patrick Johnson dramatically retold stories from his book “Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell their Tales.”
Appreciating Diversity
Cristine Cox ’11 (Suitland, MD), secretary of the Multicultural Student Union and BHM committee member, hopes students learn more about the impact prominent African American figures have made on the history of the United States.
“Often it is perceived that Black history is in addition to American history, when in fact it is very much a part of our nation’s coming of age,” says Cox. “African Americans have contributed so much to our society and how we know life today.”
The ICC’s Shontay Delalue King says programs like Black History Month are essential in educating the world’s future leaders. “As an institution of higher learning, our jobs are not only to promote academic success but also to provide an inclusive environment that prepares its graduates to enter into a global workforce.”
Black History Month Committee
Christlie Calixte ’12 (Dorchester, MA)
Cristine Cox ’11 (Suitland, MD)
Nadia Downer ’12 (Bay Shore, NY)
Sherri Lowe ’12 (Boston, MA)
Adekime Oyalabu ’12 (Springfield Gardens, NY)
Marissa Powell ’12 (Newark, NJ)
Jenee Walker ’12 (New London, CT)
“I want to show everyone why I love my culture so much,” says Lee, who is chair of the University’s Black History Month (BHM) Committee. “I want a chance to try to show people where we have come from and where we can go as a community.”
Lee’s committee has planned a series of events throughout February to commemorate Black History Month. “Our goal is to raise interest by providing entertaining, enlightening, and unique cultural and learning experiences.”
The backdrop of the inauguration of Barack Obama as president is ideal for this month’s celebration, says Lee. “I believe that we have an African American president because it is time that the nation rises to the challenge of accepting the beautifully diverse culture that we are a part of.”
Travel to a distant land
The next event at Bryant will be a Global Community Hour sponsored by the Intercultural Center (ICC) on Wednesday, February 18, at noon. The program will feature Joshua Grolman ’12 (Johannesburg, South Africa) and ICC Director Shontay Delalue King, who will talk about South Africa and Botswana.
Grolman says he hopes to provide the Bryant community with an inside look at South Africa beyond the stereotypes that people commonly have. “I want people to see that South Africa has its own quirks that make it both an exciting place to visit and an amazing place to live.”
He was attracted to Bryant by the close-knit community, which he has quickly become a part of. “Bryant has succeeded in becoming my new home,” he says.
Bringing Black history to life
Also, on Wednesday, February 18, a group of Bryant students will give historic speeches given by such notable figures as Frederick Douglass, John Lewis, James Baldwin, Ida B. Wells, and Angela Davis. The excerpts are from The Radical Reader: A Documentary History of the American Radical Tradition, an anthology of important political speeches in our nation's history.
The anthology was edited by Harvard professors Tim McCarthy and John McMillan, who have been working with the Bryant students on their presentations. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Janikies Theater.
Experiencing the culture
The improv group “In House Freestyle” will headline a Soul Food Dinner on Friday, February 20, at 6 p.m. in South Dining Hall. RSVP to the Intercultural Center at 232-6946.
On Wednesday, February 25, Papitto in the Bryant Center will be transformed into a 1920s Jazz Club as part of the Cultural Coffee House program.
Art will be on display, students will showcase their talents through poetry and music, and raffles will be held. The event begins at 9 p.m.
The finale of the month-long celebration is the Multicultural Student Union’s Extravaganza Night on Friday, February 27. The annual multimedia event showcases African-American history with an emphasis on cultural contributions in the performing arts, fashion, and literature. Bryant students will participate in the production, which will be held in the MAC. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning February 17 in the Koffler Rotunda at the discounted rate of $5 for students and $7 for all others. At the door, tickets will be $7 for students and $10 for all others.
Black History Month festivities began on January 27 with a celebration of the life of Martin Luther King J. titled “Living the Legacy.” Performances were given by Steven Branch ’09 (Montclair, NJ), Sherika Nicholas ’11 (East Patchogue, NY), and ICC director Shontay Delalue King. Spoken word artist Inphynit dazzled the crowd and Jamele Adams, associate dean of student life at Brandeis University, gave the keynote address.
The 20th Annual African American Read-In took place on February 2, and earlier this week E. Patrick Johnson dramatically retold stories from his book “Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell their Tales.”
Appreciating Diversity
Cristine Cox ’11 (Suitland, MD), secretary of the Multicultural Student Union and BHM committee member, hopes students learn more about the impact prominent African American figures have made on the history of the United States.
“Often it is perceived that Black history is in addition to American history, when in fact it is very much a part of our nation’s coming of age,” says Cox. “African Americans have contributed so much to our society and how we know life today.”
The ICC’s Shontay Delalue King says programs like Black History Month are essential in educating the world’s future leaders. “As an institution of higher learning, our jobs are not only to promote academic success but also to provide an inclusive environment that prepares its graduates to enter into a global workforce.”
Black History Month Committee
Christlie Calixte ’12 (Dorchester, MA)
Cristine Cox ’11 (Suitland, MD)
Nadia Downer ’12 (Bay Shore, NY)
Sherri Lowe ’12 (Boston, MA)
Adekime Oyalabu ’12 (Springfield Gardens, NY)
Marissa Powell ’12 (Newark, NJ)
Jenee Walker ’12 (New London, CT)
