Black History Month Events Reflect Many Aspects of Black
Culture
By Robert White Homewood
Every year at Johns Hopkins, the month of February is
packed with performances, speakers and
parties celebrating black history, thanks to the Black
Student Union and the university's Office of
Multicultural Affairs, which sponsor the events.
The theme for Black History Month 2008, whose opening
ceremony was held on Friday, is
VISAGE: Visualizing Independence While Studying African
Greatness Everywhere. Sophomore
Rasheedat Yussuf, who co-chairs the event with sophomore
Justin Jones, explains the acronym: "The
theme was specifically chosen because we are trying to
diversify Black History Month," Yussuf said.
"Each event we chose reflects a different aspect of the
black culture. We hope that people
understand that black people are a diverse race, as diverse
as any other race."
The schedule is likewise diverse. For the arts
aficionado there will be a step show, choir
concert, talent show and a poetry slam. For the lecture
lover there will be discussions on black
identity, presentations on homophobia in hip-hop and a
speech by Baltimore City State's Attorney
Patricia Jessamy. There also will be film viewings and
seminars.
All events are free and on the Homewood campus unless
otherwise noted. For more information,
go to
www.jhu.edu/bsu/bhm2008.
Black History Month Events
Mon., Feb. 4, 4 to 6 p.m., Charles Commons
Multipurpose Room. National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
presentation by museum co-founder Joanne Martin, who will
discuss slave trade and its impact on
different countries.
Tues., Feb. 5, 6 to 8 p.m., Charles Commons
Multipurpose Room. Viewing of the first of four parts of
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Spike Lee's
documentary on Katrina and the
government's response to the disaster.
Wed., Feb. 6, noon to 1 p.m., Shriver Hall
Auditorium. The Baltimore City College Choir performs.
Wed., Feb. 6, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Sherwood Room,
Levering. Black Professional Day event involves a
discussion on what it means to be an African-American in
the business world.
Fri., Feb. 8, 8 to 10 p.m., Glass Pavilion,
Levering. "Block Party: Stepping Showcase" involves rhythm
dance performances by teams from 11 Greek organizations.
Sat., Feb. 9, 6 to 9 p.m., Interfaith Center
(tentative location). The JHU Gospel Choir presents
"Gospel Jubilee," a concert in which eight other choirs
from the region participate.
Tues., Feb. 12, 6 to 8 p.m., Charles Commons
Multipurpose Room. Viewing of the second part of When
the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (see Feb. 5).
Thurs. and Fri., Feb. 14 to 15, all day. Glass
Pavilion, Levering. A Red Cross blood drive for those
wishing to donate blood and register to be bone marrow
donors.
Fri., Feb. 15, 4 to 6 p.m., Room 302, Charles
Commons. "Faith in the Black Community," a panel
discussion.
Sat., Feb. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Glass Pavilion,
Levering. "The Afro-Aesthetic Talent Showcase," a
competition with cash prizes.
Mon., Feb. 18, 4:30 p.m., 110 Hodson Hall. "Black
Identity," an exploration of black cultural identity by
William E. Cross Jr. of CUNY, author of Shades of Black:
Diversity in African-American Identity and
one of America's leading theorists and researchers on black
identity development.
Tues., Feb. 19, 6 to 8 p.m., Charles Commons
Multipurpose Room. Viewing of the third part of When
the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (see Feb. 5).
Thurs., Feb. 21, 4 p.m., Shriver Hall Auditorium.
MLK Jr. Convocation with keynote speaker Patricia
Jessamy, Baltimore City state's attorney.
Fri., Feb. 22, 6 to 8 p.m., the Den, 3327 St. Paul
St. Poetry slam featuring aspiring poets.
Sun., Feb. 24, 10 a.m., Mount Zion Hill Baptist Church,
4800 Harford Rd. Special church service.
Mon., Feb. 25, 7 to 9 p.m., Great Hall, Levering.
"Homophobia in Hip-Hop," a multimedia presentation by
Tomas Bell exploring the images, lyrics and culture of
hip-hop.
Tues., Feb. 26, 6 to 8 p.m., Charles Commons
Multipurpose Room. Viewing of the fourth and final part
of When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (see Feb.
5).
Thurs., Feb. 28, 4 p.m. 110 Hodson Hall. "White
Identity," an exploration of white cultural identity by
Rita Hardiman, whose dissertation on the topic was the
earliest model to examine how racism affects
the psychological development of white people in the United
States.
Fri., Feb. 29, noon, Glass Pavilion, Levering.
Closing ceremony. Attendees are invited to bring lunch;
dessert will be provided.
Fri., Feb. 29, 7 p.m., 110 Hodson Hall. Ben Carson,
director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns
Hopkins Children's Center, gives the keynote address at the
10th annual Minority Pre-Health
Conference, titled Empowering Change: The Challenges of
Urban Health.
Fri., Feb. 29, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Glass Pavilion,
Levering. Black Student Union winter formal, open to all.
Tickets (price TBD) will be sold at the door, and a strict
dress code will be enforced.
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