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Events will honor black history
By Ashwin Raman
This coming February will mark the annual celebration of Black History Month and like previous years, SCSU will be hosting a series of events to honor this historical month.
The events, co-sponsored by the Multicultural Student Services and the Council of African American Students, will be held on campus beginning Feb. 3 and will run through Feb. 27.
Admission will generally be free for students, faculty and the public. Everyone is encouraged to participate in as many events as they can.
"The purpose of Black History Month is to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of African Americans to the country and the rest of the world," said Julie Cartwright, office manager at the Multicultural Student Services. Cartwright added that each event will have its own merit.
"There will be something for everyone to see, as each event has its own theme," she said.
Black History Month traces its roots to 1926 when Americans decided to annually acknowledge black history. The event was then named "Negro History Week" and was launched by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
He initially chose the second week of February to celebrate black history because it marks the birth dates of two men, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, who greatly impacted black Americans. The month of February, however, also marks other significant events in black history, such as the passing of the 15th Amendment which granted blacks the right to vote.
The events at SCSU will kick off Feb. 3 with the "Spoken Word Poetry" recital by Christopher Longoria. On the following day, Martin Luther King III will share the vision and principles taught to him by his father to students and the public in the Atwood Ballroom. Then Sunday, Feb. 9, University Lutheran Church of the Epiphany will hold a night of Gospel music. The Atwood Theatre will present a show titled "Daughters of Africa" Feb. 18, which is about the rise of black women in America.
Besides these events, a series of films concerning the struggles of blacks and racism will air in the Atwood Theatre starting Feb. 5.
In recent months, media reports have suggested the existence of racist attitudes toward blacks and other cultures that may seem foreign in the city of St. Cloud. Some feel that events such as Black History Month may ease the tension, however.
"These events will help people become a lot more educated of other cultures," Cartwright said.
Some students share her sentiment. Chad Sivertson, a senior majoring in philosophy, feels that these events may help change things for the better.
"The general attitude of St. Cloud must change first," said Sivertson.
In addition to the events on campus, a range of community events will be held off campus throughout the duration of Black History Month. These events will be held at the Paramount Arts District in downtown St. Cloud with the theme of "Celebrating the Black Experience through Arts."
For more information on "Celebrating the Black Experience through Arts," call 259-LINE.
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