Events planned for black history month

By: Virginia Ivey

Posted: 1/27/10

In honor of Black History Month, Robert Morris University will be hosting a plethora of events and activities on campus throughout the month of February, including a lecture from Pittsburgh's own, Bill Strickland, and other projects revolving around the theme of "Black Empowerment" that are still being composed.

"There are still between five and ten ideas which have not been flushed out yet," explained Assistant Director of Student Life for Multicultural Affairs, Paul Spradley.

RMU Residence Life Area Coordinator, Erik Stein, and the Residence Life staff are also coordinating with Spradley to design programs such as a video blogging project, an open forum discussion, and a Campus Stories segment related to Black History Month and/or the theme of "Black Empowerment," which is similar to last year's "RMU 28 Stories" compilation.

"[We'll do] a video blogging project in which RAs (Resident Assistants) will ask students, staff and faculty questions surrounding the theme of "Black Empowerment" and turn the video into a YouTube video. The video will be unveiled by February 10," explained Stein.

Other projects being arranged involve focusing the last week of February on Black Women Empowerment and having weekly screenings of documentaries surrounding the local African American community, including the critically acclaimed, RMU original documentary, "What Does Trouble Mean?" on the life of Nate Smith.

As of right now, the events will begin Tuesday, Feb. 2. The first event will be a visit and lecture from, the founder and CEO of the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Bill Strickland. The program begins at 4 p.m. at Massey Theater and the first 300 people in attendance will receive a copy of Bill Strickland's book, "Making the Impossible Possible: One Man's Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary."

On Feb. 15, the Office of Student Life will sponsor Diversity 102, which is the second session of the Ambassador of Equality program, under the Multicultural Affairs division of Student Life. This session starts at noon.

The Center of Student Success will also sponsor an interactive workshop on Monday about social inclusiveness that will take place at 5:15 p.m. in Hopwood Hall.

The following day, Tuesday, Feb. 16, the Office of Student Life will sponsor an Open Mic Night that will take place at 9 p.m. in RoMo's Cafe.

Monday, Feb. 22, the Office of Student Life along with Residence Life will sponsor a free festival called S.O.U.L Jam that will last from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in RoMo's Café. The festival will include listening and/or participating in an open poetry/spoken word session, African arts and crafts, a movie, and also a live musical performance by RMU student and saxophonist, Jamar Cromwell.

A Black History Month Luncheon and Awards Program, sponsored by RMU's Black Student Union and the Office of Student Life, will take place at the Charles L. Sewall Center on Tuesday, Feb. 23, starting at 11 a.m.

There is a $15 fee for faculty and guests, but there is no charge for RMU students. Those who are interested in attending this function must make reservations by Feb. 20, by contacting the Office of Student Life at (412)-397-4352.

Some of the ongoing projects due to compliment the month include a display of African-American literature in the RMU Library, timelines that will be displayed in various locations on campus to commend prominent dates in Black history, and a weekly "Soul-Food" menu catered by RMU Dining Services in the Nicholson Center Food Court.

Black History Month is a national annual observance for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora.

The remembrance originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week." Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans, former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.