The Quinnipiac community is celebrating Black History Month by putting on these events all throughout Feburary.
Monday, February 1 – Afrikan Drum and Dance Troupe & Lunch, Café, 12:00 pm
Sounds of Afrika will be performing at 12:00 pm. They are an Afrikan Drum and Dance troupe that promotes Afrikan and Afrikan-American culture in the communities and schools. Chartwells will also be offering cultural food in the Café for Black History Month.
Wednesday, February 3 – Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Eugene Robinson, Alumni Hall, 7:00 pm
Eugene Robinson, who earned the industry’s most prestigious award for his Washington Post commentary on the 2009 presidential race, will deliver the address, “We’re Someplace We’ve Never Been: Race, Diversity and the New America,” to the University community.
Monday, February 8 – Frank Meeink, Alumni Hall, 7:00 pm
Frank Meeink became a skinhead leader and neo-nazi recruiter, with gangs that would beat people indiscriminately, and video tape their torture. He was arrested and sent to prison for three years.
In prison he befriended men he used to think he hated, men of different races. Out of prison Meeink tried to rejoin his old skinhead pals, but couldn’t bring himself to hate those he knew to be his friends. A Jewish doctor offered to get rid of his neo-nazi tattoos covering much of his body.
The Oklahoma bombing made Meeink realize he had to do something to stop hate groups. Meeink has worked with the FBI and educates people who could fall prey to skinhead doctrine and their insidious way of recruitment. He is often threatened, but is committed to speaking out against all hate groups. Meeink is the founder of the Harmony through Hockey Foundation, which encourages youth of all races to play hockey. It is not so much about sports as about working and living in harmony.
He has been featured on various news and TV programs including: MTV, BET, Court-TV, Good Morning America, VH-1, The Today Show, Frontline, and CNN. He will be seen in the film “The Experiment” with Forest Whittacker and Adrian Brody. In April 2010 his autobiography will hit bookshelves. Now Mr. Meeink works for the American Hockey League.
Tuesday, February 9 – Jason Ramsey, Café, 12:00 pm
Jason Ramsey will be performing jazz acoustic in the café during lunchtime hours.
Friday, February 12 – Movie: Precious, Buckman Theater, 8:00 pm
Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want.
Saturday, February 13 – Apollo Night, Alumni Hall, 8:00 pm
Apollo Night is a mimic of the “Showtime at the Apollo” hosted at the Apollo theatre in Harlem. This event will give anyone with a talent a chance to showcase their talent for a well deserved prize. The audience is the judge, so they have the power to choose how long the act stays on stage (if they are pleased, they can applaud, if not, they are allowed to “boo”) and who will place first, second or third. In addition to the performers, professional entertainers will both host and perform during intermission. The night will be filled with music, prizes for the audience, food, and excitement!
Sponsored by Black Student Union
Sunday, February 14 – Movie: Precious, Buckman Theater, 1:00 pm
Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want.
Monday, February 15 – Suzie Q, Café, 12:00 pm
Spoken word poet, Suzie Q will be performing in the café during lunchtime hours.
Wednesday, February 17 – Movie: The Great Debaters, Buckman Theater, 8:00 pm
Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University’s national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.
Friday, February 19 – Sunday, February 21 – Black Solidarity Conference, Yale University
If you are interested in joining Black Student Union in attending this conference, please contact Shana Bennett.
Monday, February 22 – Race & Religion – BC129, 6:00 pm
Religion and Race are they separate or do they conflict with each other? Come have a healthy discussion about this topic. Rabbi Reena (University Rabbi) and Jane Hendrickson (Protestant Chaplain) will provide dinner
Monday, February 22 – Movie: Sarafina, Buckman Theater, 8:00 pm
Catch this inspirational story about a girl battling the oppression of apartheid in South America.
Wednesday, February 24 – Table Talks with Alumni, BC129, 7:00 pm
Come have a discussion with alumni regarding diversity in the workforce.
Facts & Information about Black History Month will be available all month:
- Table tents will be in both Mount Carmel and North Haven Cafes.
- Bulletin boards will reflect information throughout the Mount Carmel and North Haven Campuses.
- The Arnold Bernhard Library will be commemorating Black History Month with a display of resources in the reference area. Collections of resources will include printed material and information about electronic sources. Of particular interest is The African American Experience database which is a wide-ranging research tool for African American history and culture. It includes more than 300 titles of reference books, primary source materials, WPA slave narratives, and thousands of photographs, maps and other images. It is available from the Library’s homepage by linking to the “Alphabetical list of All Databases” found at the bottom of the “Articles in Journals, Newspapers, Magazines” box.
Sponsored by: Multicultural Affairs, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Black Student Union, Student Programming Board, Campus Ministry, Chartwells, Arnold Bernhard Library, Carl Hansen Student Center, Residential Life and Public Relations.
