UNK-The University of Nebraska at Kearney will be celebrating Black History Month in February with a variety of activities. Starting off the month will be a movie display from Feb.7-9. The movies Amistad, Rosewood, Beloved, The Color Purple and Malcolm X will be playing throughout the day outside the office of Multicultural Affairs in the Memorial Student Life Building.
During the week of Feb.12, Dr. Joseph White will be on campus speaking with various campus groups about diversity issues. White, originally from Lincoln, is a diversity consultant and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at University of California at Irvine. As a pioneer in the field of black psychology, Dr. White has spent most of his career as a teacher, supervising psychologist, mentor, and director of ethnic studies and cross-cultural programs. He has worked as a consultant with school districts, universities, private organizations, drug prevention programs, and government agencies.
On Feb.15 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall, Darryl Van Leer, an award-winning actor, will present, The Gallows to the Gavel, in which he portrays history’s most influential African Americans. Van Leer showcases Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; the courtroom drama of Thurgood Marshall; the fiery conviction of Malcolm X; the great slave revolt of Nat Turner; the revolutionary Marcus Garvey; the legendary Frederick Douglas; and blues greats, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.
“He portrays history’s most influential Africa Americans and his program is absolutely outstanding,” Sharon Pelc, director of the Nebraskan Student Center, said.
Admission to the program is free with a valid UNK I.D. The event is sponsored by the Student Activities Council, Black Student Association and Leadership Development Council.
The Voices of Victory choir of Omaha’s Salem Baptist Church will be in concert Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.
This dynamic choir has traveled throughout the United States sharing the gospel through praise, hymns, and spiritual songs. Since 1987, the choir has been under the direction of Salem Baptist Church’s Minister of Music, Jay Terrell, a gifted arranger, conductor, and songwriter. There are now 105 voices in the Voices of Victory choir which frequently performs with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, numerous local choirs, and many nationally-known gospel artists. The choir was the recipient of a Governor’s Arts Award in 2000.
The concert is being co-sponsored by the College of Fine Arts and Humanities and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
On Feb. 28 at noon, a Soul Food Lunch will be presented in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The lunch will feature such foods as rice and beans and other soul food. The lunch is being presented to allow to students to experience the tastes of soul food.
Black History Month was created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 and has been celebrated annually by Americans ever since. A black man himself, Woodson was astonished at the lack of written history about the contributions of blacks, created a month where national attention could be brought to the contributions of black people throughout history.
