Purdue’s Black Cultural Center kicks off ‘50 Years of Unlocking Excellence’

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —Purdue University’s Black Cultural Center will host and sponsor numerous events to celebrate “50 Years of Unlocking Excellence.”

The center has unveiled “A Journey Through Black Excellence: The Black Cultural Center, A 50-Year Retrospective,” which is a timeline exhibition that tells the 50-year history of the center through visuals and text.

Other upcoming events throughout the spring semester include:

* Feb. 9. 7 p.m. in Purdue Memorial Union’s North Ballroom. “The Colored Museum.” This play is a dramatic and satirical exploration of African-American culture through time.

* Feb. 13. 4:30 p.m. in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall. Political scientist Virginia Eubanks will discuss how systems use data analytics to profile, police and punish the poor.

* Feb. 13. 7:30 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center. Black Excellence in Scholarship panel discussion to celebrate Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of the field of black studies. This panel will feature three Purdue African-American alumni who work in the field of black studies in a variety of ways.

* Feb. 20. 6 p.m. at Marriott Hall. World-renowned chef and author Bryant Terry will cook in Marriott Hall’s demonstration kitchen, providing exciting conversation and a demonstration of healthy and soulful eating.

* Feb. 22-23. 7 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center. The BCC Performing Arts Ensembles present their Coffee House.

* Feb. 26. 10-11:30 a.m. in Neil A. Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Alumnus and former Purdue trustee Mamon Powers Jr. will discuss the significance of David Robert Lewis, Purdue’s first black graduate. 

* Feb. 28. 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. Black Violin will perform classically trained hip-hop strings mixed with contemporary beats.

* March 4-30. At the Black Cultural Center. “African Prints in Conversation: Reflections from A Global Synergy Grant” will be on exhibit. The exhibit foregrounds the work of Purdue doctoral candidate Kadari Taylor-Watson and features African prints and textiles.

* March 9-15. The BCC will travel to New York for a spring break research tour. The tour will focus on black excellence at Harlem sites. Pre-registration is required.

* March 30. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Black Culutral Center. Inaugural Women of Color Design Summit. This summit will explore design as justice.

* April 4. 4 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center. Howard Mandel, author and jazz critic, will kick off April with a J.A.M. session.

* April 5-20. “Intimate Apparel,” by Lynn Nottage, directed by Bill Caise, BCC assistant director, will be in production at the Monon Depot Theatre, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette.

* April 13. 7 p.m. at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. The Spring Cultural Arts Festival will explore black excellence and commemorate the history of hip-hop music. 

* April 16. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center. Gordon Parks Fine Arts Ensemble‘s exhibition, “Black Migration,” will spotlight images captured during both domestic and international trips made by the BCC.

* June 29. 6 p.m. at the Purdue Memorial Union’s North and South Ballrooms, Purdue Memorial Union. The June Jubilee: 50th anniversary celebration experience.

For more detailed information about any of the events, visit https://www.purdue.edu/bcc/ and look for the spring 2019 cultural arts series calendar. 

Writer: Matthew Oates, 765-496-2571, oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates 

Source: Renee Thomas, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu