Ripon College celebrates Black History Month

Led by members of the Black Student Union, Ripon College is celebrating Black History Month during February with a number of events following the theme “When Silence Becomes Betrayal.”

• Starting today: The month kicks off with a monthlong poster display across campus. Featured posters include historically prominent black Americans with inspirational quotes.
• Today: Garry Moise, program director for the TRiO/Student Support Services and Upward Bound Math and Science programs at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, will be the featured speaker at a Straight Talk event discussing the “When Silence Becomes Betrayal” theme at 5:15 p.m. in the Pickard Dining Room, S.N. Pickard Commons.
• Feb. 2 and Feb. 16: There will be two open mic night events. The Feb. 2 event will begin at 7 p.m. at 314: Ripon College Project Space. The Feb. 16 event second will begin at 7 p.m. in The Pub of Harwood Memorial Union.
• Feb. 7: Black Student Union volleyball tournament, 8-9:30 p.m., gym in the athletic, health and wellness center. All are welcome to watch or participate.
• Feb. 23: The movie “Birth of a Nation” will be shown at 7 p.m. at 314: Ripon College Project Space. This 2016 remake of the classic American period drama is based on the story of Nat Turner, an enslaved man who led a slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1831. The film is co-written, co-produced, directed and acted by Nate Parker as Turner. Also stars Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Penelope Ann Miller and Gabrielle Union in supporting roles.
• Feb. 28: Black History Month keynote speaker, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Heritage Room, Pickard Commons. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of more than 25 books including national bestsellers Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males, Solutions for Black America, Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education, Raising Black Boys and his most recent, 200 Plus Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color. He will speak on the theme for the month, “When Silence Becomes Betrayal,” and touch on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of Negro History Week, the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

For more information, contact Kyonna Henry, director of multicultural affairs, at 920-748-8190.

Posted February 1, 2017 in Diversity, Special Event.

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