The multicultural student affairs office has compiled a schedule of events in recognition of Black History Month, celebrated in February. Four individuals, nominated by students, also will be featured by multicultural student affairs -- through its social media channels and newsletter -- in a weekly spotlight of black faculty and staff.
“Black History Month, the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson (and other prominent African Americans), is an annual celebration of the broad range of achievements made by Black Americans and is also a time to recognize the central role of African Americans in U.S. history," said Gralon Johnson, MSA coordinator for multicultural programming. "Like many colleges and universities across the country, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs here at ISU is thrilled to have collaborated with a robust list of campus partners to coordinate educational and engaging activities throughout this critically important heritage month."
Johnson said MSA's programming partners included the Black Faculty/Staff Association, Black Student Alliance, Black Graduate Student Association, Division of Student Affairs, Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, ISU Dining, Student Activities Center, ISU Lectures Program, Student Union Board, University Relations and the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion.
Black History Month schedule of events
Admission is free, unless indicated.
- Feb. 4, Soul food lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Seasons, Union Drive Marketplace and Conversations dining centers), $11
- Feb. 4, Black Achievement Series, interactive awareness display (noon-2 p.m., MU north stairwell)
- Feb. 5, NAACP Freedom Fund banquet, keynote by Iowa state Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (6 p.m., Scheman Building), $55
- Feb. 7, Super Bowl party (5:30 p.m., Multicultural Center, Memorial Union)
- Feb. 9, Volleyball at the Rec (7 p.m., Lied Center)
- Feb. 11, Lecture, "Social Justice, Public Service and the Search for Life that Matters," Wes Moore, combat veteran, Rhodes Scholar, White House fellow and author (8 p.m., MU Sun Room)
- Feb. 15, Veritas Forum, "Toleration and Justice in a Broken World," Alex Tuckness, ISU political science (6 p.m., MU Sun Room)
- Feb. 17, Performance, comedian Kenan Thompson (8 p.m., Stephens Auditorium), $20
- Feb. 17, Black Achievement Series, interactive awareness display (noon-2 p.m., MU north stairwell)
- Feb. 18, Panel, "Sister, Sister: Black Women as Activists in Civil Rights and Social Justice Movements Today," Natasha Croom, ISU School of Education; Lorraine Acker, Margaret Sloss Women's Center; and Audrey Kennis, ISU Design (7 p.m., 268 Carver)
- Feb. 19, Social Justice Summit (6-9 p.m., MU Sun Room)
- Feb. 20, Social Justice Summit (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunstream Retreat Center, 1130 Juneberry Rd., Ogden)
- Feb. 21, Soul Food Sunday (5 p.m., Legacy Tower, 119 Stanton Ave.)
- Feb. 22, Movie, Race, biopic about Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens (time to be announced, Cinemark Movies 12, 1317 Buckeye Ave.), $8.50
- Feb. 23, Lecture, "Mass Incarceration and the Masking of Inequality," Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches (6 p.m, 205 Carver)
- Feb. 24, Black Achievement Series, interactive awareness display (noon-2 p.m., MU north stairwell)
- Feb. 29, Book reading and discussion, The Meaning of Freedom: And Other Difficult Dialogues, (4:10 p.m., contact Jonathan Webb, 294-4046, jwebb@iastate.edu for location)
