Bowling Green State University kicks off Black History Month with the Black Issues
Conference and other events to celebrate aspects of African-American life.
The 13th annual Black Issues Conference, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in the
Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will take as its theme "It’s Not Just a Black
Issue: Politics, Leadership, Civil Rights." The conference is co-sponsored
by the Black Student Union and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and will
include a keynote address by attorney Walter T. Madison, president of the Board
of Trustees of the Akron Law Alumni Association, Foundation Board member of the
Akron Bar Association, board member of the Akron Law Library Association and
District Counselor for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The conference will offer three concurrent sessions, ending with a closing panel
discussion.
A Visions of Legacy Dinner, sponsored by Honoring, Urging and Empowering: Queer
People of Color will be held Saturday in McFall Center Gallery to celebrate LGBT
African-Americans who serve as important contributors to the U.S. and the world.
The dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by the show at 7. Student tickets are $5
in advance and $10 at the door. Faculty tickets are $15. Tickets will be sold
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Feb. 3 at the Student Union tables.
The Office of Residence Life and the Students of Color Mentoring, Aiding, Retaining
and Teaching Program will sponsor a Taste of February: A Cultural Journey from 6
to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Union.
Sheila Brown, associate director of BGSU’s Office for Multicultural Affairs, has been
working with Bowling Green High School and Middle School to develop a number of
activities throughout the month.
These culminate with the third annual Bowling Green High School and Middle School
Black History Month Program, at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 21 in the high
school auditorium.
The show will include the anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a step
routine, performance of an original song called "Preparing for
Tomorrow," a short skit about Rosa Parks, a spiritual performed by The
Shades of Brown and a short tribute to black athletes who broke the color
barrier in professional sports.