On Students: Black History Month Focus--"One Thing We Did Right" Leslie Rice ------------------------------------ Homewood News and Information This February, the Black Student Union on the Homewood campus has organized a Black History Month program that examines and honors the people and groups that created the legacy of the civil rights movement. Entitled "The One Thing We Did Right Was Not Give Up the Fight: Historical Movements of Black America," the monthlong program features a lecture by Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party; the spell-binding oratory of Patricia Russell McCloud, whose speech "If Not You--Who, If Not Now-- When?" is recorded in the Congressional Record; and a host of dramas, musicals, dances, discussion groups and fairs organized by Hopkins students. It is more than pride that attracted the BSU to highlight the civil rights groups of the '60s. This generation of students knows it is their turn to take on the reins of civil rights. And on the Hopkins campus, like many across the nation, there is a growing spirit of political activism among African American students as they begin to feel the weight of being passed the torch. "A lot of people here on campus were very affected by the Rodney King beating, the OJ Simpson trial and the Million Man March," said Black History Month events chair Patrique Campbell, a sophomore majoring in international relations. "And they were also affected by local events, like the sit-in over at Loyola by students demanding a black studies department, our efforts to get a black studies department here and for the university to increase the number of African American professors. "We're hoping that by looking at the groups of the civil rights movement we'll realize that our generation has the power to affect change," she added. "Certainly we've come a long way since the beginnings of the civil rights movement but we're still not there. There's more to do." The BSU hopes a look at the movement for social justice will appeal to everyone in the Hopkins community regardless of race. "We definitely want these events to draw a broad spectrum of people," Campbell said. "The Sweetheart's Ball, for example, is going to be a really nice event, and the entire Hopkins community is invited. We'd really like everyone--staff, students, faculty-- to come." For BSU president Charles Sydnor III, the most exciting event, however, will be the Feb. 7 Bobby Seale lecture in Shriver Hall. Seale's talk, which is free, will be about the roles different organizations played during the civil rights movement. "There are a lot of people who don't know what the Black Panther Party was all about," Sydnor said. "They worked inside communities doing voter registration drives, taught nutrition, a lot of things. Their goal was to instill self-pride and self-reliance. They did a lot of positive things." Seale and Huey P. Newton founded the Black Panther Party in 1965, advocating armed revolution against the existing power structure in America. While Newton was in prison for manslaughter after a violent confrontation with Oakland, Calif., police, Seale became chairman of the Panther Party and built it from a local to a national organization. While in prison on conspiracy charges, for which he was later acquitted, he wrote Seize the Time. ----------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS Friday, Feb. 2, noon Glass Pavilion, Levering Hall Opening ceremonies A presentation of cultural dancing, poetry, music and a celebration of the triumphs Black America has achieved. Refreshments. Free. (410) 516-5435. Sunday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. AMR1 (freshman dorm), Multi-Purpose Room Lecture Eyes on the Prize, video series, part 1, and discussion with Sister Nzingha, a veteran Maryland Black Panther. A talk about Marshall Edward Conway, one of the first Panthers in Maryland who has been jailed for the past 25 years. (410) 516-5435. Tuesday, Feb. 6, noon Glass Pavilion, Levering Hall Vendor fair "Ujamaa--Cooperative Economics." Vendors from the Maryland Business Directory will be selling items including books, paintings, hair supplies, oils, food and sorority/fraternity paraphernalia. Free. (410) 516-5435. Wednesday, Feb. 7, noon Clipper Room, Shriver Hall Lecture "Frederick Douglass, Baltimore and the Democratic Tradition," a talk by John B. Wiseman, professor of American history, Frostburg State University. Sponsored by the Office of Special Events. Free. (410) 516-7157. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m. Shriver Hall Auditorium Bobby Seale lecture Bobby Seale, co-founder and former chairman of the Black Panther Party, will speak on the civil rights movement and the multiple roles other groups played during this time period. Free. (410) 516-5435. Friday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Arellano Theater Play The Barnstormers and the JHU African American Theater Troupe present Blues for Mr. Charlie, James Baldwin's play about a town's ignorance and a murderer no one will bring to justice. Based on the murder of Emmitt Till. $3 for Hopkins students, $5 general admission. (410) 516-5435. Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. Arellano Theater Play Blues for Mr. Charlie. $3 for Hopkins students, $5 general admission. (410) 516-5435. Sunday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. Arellano Theater Play Blues for Mr. Charlie. $3 for Hopkins students, $5 general admission. (410) 516-5435. Monday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m. Shriver Hall Auditorium Convocation Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation and NAACP Founders' Day program. The program's keynote speaker, professional orator Patricia Russell McCloud, will highlight historical movements in Black America, specifically the role of the NAACP. A reception will follow in the Clipper Room. Free. (410) 516-5435. Saturday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m. Glass Pavilion, Levering Hall Sweetheart's Ball The Black Student Union and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity present an evening of elegance and charm. Live music, food and refreshments. Black tie optional. $15 per person, $25 per couple. (410) 516-5435. Sunday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. AMR I Multi-Purpose Room Video and discussion Viewing of part 2 of Eyes on the Prize, followed by a discussion of the film. Free. (410) 516-5435. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m. AMR1 Multi-Purpose room Lecture and discussion Brackette Williams, visiting professor of anthropology from the University of Arizona, will speak on "The Pain of Ethnic Growth." The talk is part of the Frederick I. Scott Jr. Discussion Series, named after JHU's first black graduate. Free. (410) 516-5435. Thursday Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Arellano Theater Play We're Gonna Have a Good Time. An encore performance of Johns Hopkins University's African American Theater Troupe's sold-out December production. Will feature scenes from African American dramas and musicals that played on Broadway. Includes the last scene of A Raisin in the Sun, the infidelity scene of Fences and musical numbers from Porgy and Bess, Dreamgirls and Your Arms Are Too Short to Box with God. $5 for Hopkins students, $10 general admission. (410) 516-5435. Friday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. Arellano Theater Play We're Gonna Have a Good Time. $5 for Hopkins students, $10 general admission. (410) 516-5435. Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. Shriver Hall Auditorium Dance Sankofa Dance Theater. Experience an evening of traditional African dance, music and folklore of high energy and stunning artistry. $10. Hopkins students with ID free. (410) 448-2345. Saturday, March 2, 7 p.m. Garrett Room, MSE Library Dinner African Heritage Dinner. $5. (410) 516-5435. -----------------------------------------------------------------