Goucher Celebrates Black History Month

Release date: February 05, 2009 |

Goucher College is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events, performances, and lectures designed to honor African American achievement.

The festivities start with the Martin Luther King Reception and Tribute on Thursday, February 5, at 7 p.m. in Rosenberg Gallery. This annual tribute is an opportunity for the Goucher community to reflect on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s keynote speaker will be Felicia Pride, founder of BackList, a Baltimore-based organization dedicated to community building and social change. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. RSVP to Georgann Nedwell at georgann.nedwell@goucher.edu by Monday, February 2.

A bus will depart from Dorsey Center at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 6, to take students to the Johns Hopkins University for “The Civil Rights Century: The NAACP at 100” a lecture featuring Kweisi Mfume, the former president of the NAACP. The event is free and open to Goucher community members. RSVP to Georgann Nedwell at georgann.nedwell@goucher.edu by Wednesday, February 4.

Local hip-hop/performance duo Axiom will host the Recognize ’09 Open Mic Night, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, in the Pearlstone Atrium. The event celebrates the African American legacy of spoken word and performance art. Interested performers should contact Melissa Smith at melissa.smith@goucher.edu.

The open mic night will be followed by the Recognize ’09 After-Party Dance Party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Gopher Hole. The party celebrates hip-hop music with one of its original elements, DJing, and features Goucher’s own Sam O’Brien, founder of Goucher’s hip-hop club Can’t Stop/Won’t Stop.

Dr. Wangari Maathai, Goucher’s winter Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Visiting Professor, will deliver a lecture titled “Environment, Democracy, and Peace: A Critical Link” at 8 p.m. on Monday, February 9, in Kraushaar Auditorium. Maathai, a Keyan activist for the environment, women’s rights, and peace, was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. To reserve a free ticket, call 410-337-6333 or e-mail boxoffice@goucher.edu.

From Tuesday, February 10, through Saturday, February 14, Goucher will host the African Film Festival. Part of the New York African Film Festival’s traveling film series, these films were chosen to promote and increase knowledge and understanding of African arts, literature, and culture. The featured films, show times, and viewing locations are available at www.goucher.edu/africanfilm.

The Office of International Studies will host Africa Abroad, a conversation about study-abroad programs focusing on African and African American studies, at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, in the Geen Community Center.

Dr. LaJerne Cornish, assistant professor of education, will lead a discussion titled “From the Classroom to the Pulpit–Teaching Is My Ministry,” at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16, in the Geen Community Center.

On Wednesday, February 18, join members of the Goucher community at 12 p.m. in the Geen Community Center for “Reflections in Black Poetry IV.” Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and share a favorite poem by an African American poet.

Step Afrika!, a professional dance company, will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, February 27, in Kraushaar Auditorium. Step Afrika is critically acclaimed for its efforts to promote an understanding of and appreciation for stepping and the dance tradition’s use as an educational tool for young people worldwide. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to Don Miller House, which proivdes transitional and permanent housing programs for individuals and families with HIV/AIDS in Baltimore.

A bus will depart from Dorsey Center at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, to take Goucher community members to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Bring money for lunch at the museum’s café. The bus will return to Goucher at 4 p.m. RSVP to Georgann Nedwell at georgann.nedwell@goucher.edu by Monday, February 23. This event will conclude Goucher’s celebration of Black History Month.

Goucher’s Black History Month programming is sponsored the offices of Community Living and Multicultural Affairs, International Studies, the President, Religious and Spiritual Life, Student Engagement, the Vice President and Dean of Students; and by the Alumnae and Alumni Association, Can’t Stop/ Won’t Stop, the Student Government Association, and Umoja: The Black Student Union.