Several campus organizations at the University of New Orleans are hosting events, starting Thursday, in recognition and celebration of Black History Month.
Educator and historian Carter G. Woodson created “Black History Week” in 1926 as a way to explore and record the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans whose achievements were often neglected or misappropriated because of racism.
Woodson chose February, which corresponds with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and president Abraham Lincoln.
In 1976, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the historical association created by Woodson, expanded the celebratory week into the full month of February.
The on-campus events include:
Thursday, Jan. 30: Division of International Education presents #StudyAbroadSoBlack at 12:15 p.m. in the Privateer Pride Room, located on the first floor of the Earl K. Long Library. Meet and talk with students of color who have attended one of UNO's study abroad programs to learn more about the programs and scholarships.
Feb. 6: Women's Center presents "If I Was Your Girlfriend: Prince, Androgyny, and Female Collaborators” at 12:30 p.m. in Liberal Arts Room 234. Christine Capetola analyzes how Prince, in collaboration with female artists, used falsetto, a female persona and synthesizers on the song to propose an alternative gender possibility to that of Ronald Reagan's tough masculinity.
Feb. 6: The Progressive Black Student Union presents the 19th Annual Heritage Ball at 7:30 p.m. in the UC ballroom. A formal event to honor minority faculty and staff for their hard work and contributions in the UNO community. (RSVP by Jan. 27 to pbsu@uno.edu)
Feb. 11: Alpha Epsilon Delta presents “Healthy Reminder” at 3 p.m. in Innsbruck Suite 211A. Join AED and guest speaker Dr. Russell Ledet for an engaging conversation on his journey from homeless to earning a Ph.D. and now medical school.
Feb. 12: The Diversity Engagement Center presents “My Black Is Beautiful: The Impact of Colorism on the African Diaspora” at noon in University Center 201C. #LetsUnpackThat. Join the Diversity Engagement Center as we discuss the ways that colorism impacts our own beauty standards.
Feb. 17: Career Services presents “Entrepreneurship with Alumni” at noon in the UC Gallery Lounge. African American alumni talk about entrepreneurship and their experiences. Gain knowledge on how to be a self-starter and follow your dreams.
Feb. 20: The Friends of the UNO Library and the Midlo Center host a presentation by V.P. Franklin, the former editor of The Journal of African American History, the quarterly journal of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Franklin will present, “The Teen-Agers Have Taken Over the Civil Rights Campaign in Plaquemine: Youth Activism in Louisiana in the Civil Rights Era," from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Dougie Hitt Conference Room, Earl K. Long Library, Room 407.
The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served.
For more information, contact Molly Mitchell at mnmitche@uno.edu.
