Purdue's Black Cultural Center to celebrate Black History Month
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Black Cultural Center at Purdue University is arranging a number of February events to celebrate Black History Month.
"Black History Month is a time to reflect on the contributions of African-Americans," said Renee Thomas, director of Purdue's Black Cultural Center. "Throughout February, you can enjoy a series of special events that honor the past, address the present and celebrate the human spirit. Our center will host performances, lectures, art exhibitions and programs featuring a multitude of talented individuals."
Events include:
* The Black Cultural Center's Haraka Writers will read and recite original poetry and spoken word at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 2) at the Civic Theatre located in downtown Lafayette.
The Haraka Writers consist of Purdue students and community members committed to expressing the African-American experience through short stories, essays and poetry. The event is free and open to the public.
* A Health and Wellness Fair will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 4) at the Black Cultural Center. The fair, which is open to the public, will include free screenings and culturally relevant information on physical activity, nutrition, sexual health, mental health, academic success and relationship enhancement. Participants at the fair will be eligible to win a "Wii Fit" and a copy of Dr. Ian Smith's book "The Fat Smash Diet."
Smith is the creator and founder of The 50 Million Pound Challenge, and is the host of his nationally syndicated radio show "Health Watch." Smith also is the medical/diet expert on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club." He was a former medical correspondent on NBC News Network and has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek and the New York Daily News.
* Smith is giving a talk on "Culturally Competent Healthcare" at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 4) at Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
* The Haraka Writers and the Black Cultural Center's Jahari Dance Troupe will be the featured performers at the Tippecanoe Public Library Family Read Aloud 2010 program at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Tippecanoe County Public Library on 627 South Street in Lafayette. The event is free and open to the public.
The Jahari Dance Troupe is one of the Black Cultural Center's performing arts ensembles. The troupe's repertoire includes traditional and contemporary Black dance, ballet, folk, tap and modern dance.
* The Black Cultural Center and the American Studies program in the Purdue College of Liberal Arts are co-hosting a series of discussions called "Difficult Dialogues - Race & Social Movements" at the cultural center. The discussion will focus on "Brown and Red Power" -- social movements during the 1960s and 1970s -- from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 10 in Room MP-1 at the center.
* The Purdue Black Voices and Bach Choral Singers of Lafayette will present a concert titled "Rock-A-My-Soul" at 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at the First Baptist Church, 411 N. 7th St., in Lafayette.
The first half of the concert will include the work "Changed My Name," a cantata written by Linda Twine, the composer, musical director and conductor of "The Color Purple" on Broadway. The second half of the event will include a presentation of contemporary spirituals and gospel music.
Tickets to the performance cost $25 for the general public and $16 for students and children. Tickets can be purchased at the Bach Chorale office at 829 Main Street, Ste. 540 in Lafayette, or at the door.
* Bryonn Bain, hip hop artist and poet, will bring his multimedia solo performance called "Lyrics from Lockdown" to Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 24.
Bain's performance is inspired by his life experiences such as his erroneous imprisonment in New York while he was studying law at Harvard University. He also addresses America's contradictions with his sense of humor and lyricism. The event is free and open to the public.
* Black Purdue, a feature length documentary, will be shown at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Stewart Center, Room 214. The documentary explores the history of African-American students and faculty at Purdue since 1894. Immediately after the movie, the audience will be able to participate in an interactive trivia-based game show called "ThinkFast." The screening is free and open to the public.
* The Black Cultural Center also is arranging an African-American heritage tour of Chicago on March 5 and 6. Participants need to register by Feb. 12 at the center.
The trip includes a visit to the DuSable Museum of African-American history, and Bronzeville, one of the nation's most significant landmarks of African-American urban history.
Participants also will receive a guided city tour with information on the Great Migration and African-Americans who contributed to Chicago's development.
The trip costs $110 for the general public and $35 for Purdue students and includes transportation, hotel and admission fees.
Writer: Soumitro Sen, 765-496-9711, ssen@purdue.edu
Source: Renee Thomas, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu