Programs, Events at UA Highlight African-American Heritage Month

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Crossroads Community Center invites the campus and community to participate in a variety of events throughout February during African-American Heritage Month.

“African-American Heritage Month is a chance for us to get together and share our stories,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, Crossroads Center director.

According to Hawk, this year’s campus celebration will explore the ties between historic figures and the students of today.

“Our focus is on the sharing of our stories, learning what we have in common and what makes us different. Taken together I believe this month of programming will strengthen the bonds of community on our campus,” said Hawk.

In order to help facilitate this bond of community, the campus will be hosting two UA alumni during February, Dr. Geraldine Bell and Timothy A. Davis.

Bell, a 1977 UA graduate and director of the Learning Resources Center at Miles College in Birmingham, will be speaking about her Gee’s Bend quilt collection on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m. in 301 Ferguson Center. She will share pieces of quilt-making tradition as well as information on the stories this Alabama art form has to offer.

Davis, a 1996 graduate of the UA School of Social Work and the deputy director of programs at the Alabama Department of Youth Services, will be discussing his experience at youth services Friday, Feb. 18, at 12:15 p.m. in 223 Little Hall.

“These programs offer students and professors the opportunity to connect their course work to the personal experiences of those who have lived history. In addition, these engaging programs give us a chance to realize that we are each truly creating history every day during our years here at the Capstone,” Hawk said.

Following is a list of African-American Heritage Month events at UA:

Throughout the month: Alabama African-American History Quiz, available at Gorgas Library front desk, sponsored by University Libraries. Housing and Residential Communities will host heritage month activities across campus; for details see housing.ua.edu; also, African-American historical items will be on display. A.S. Williams Americana Collection, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, 301 Gorgas Library, sponsored by University Libraries.

Every Friday morning: Children’s activities; storytelling, motivational speakers, classroom activities and more, at Brewer-Porch Children’s Center. African- American Women Who Dared, poster campaign around campus, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center and Student Leadership Council.

Thursday, Feb. 10, ‘Foster’-ing Dialogue: Film and Discussion, “Eyes on the Prize, Part II,” 3:30 p.m., 125 ten Hoor Hall, sponsored by the department of gender and race studies and Capstone Alliance.

Monday, Feb. 14, ‘Foster’-ing Dialogue: African-American Heritage Campus Tour, twice, with Professor Jason Black at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., starts at rotunda of Reese Phifer Hall, sponsored by the department of communication studies.

Tuesday, Feb. 15, Study Abroad Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ferguson Center, sponsored by Capstone International Center; also, ‘Foster’-ing Dialogue: Counter-Memorial Workshop for Foster Auditorium, 4 p.m.-5 p.m., 223 Little Hall, sponsored by the department of communication studies and Capstone Alliance.

Wednesday, Feb. 16, “From My Hands: Quilt Creations,” by Gee’s Bend’s Polly Bennett; speaker: Dr. Geraldine Bell, 3 p.m., 301 Ferguson Center, sponsored by: Women’s Resource Center, library and information studies, and gender and race studies.

Thursday, Feb. 17, Global Café, noon- 1 p.m., Crossroads Lounge, 232 Ferguson Center, sponsored by Crossroads Community Center; also, ‘Foster’-ing Dialogue: Film and Discussion, “Eyes on the Prize, Part III,” 3:30 p.m., 125 ten Hoor Hall, sponsored by gender and race studies and Capstone Alliance; also, Community Conversations, 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Crossroads’ lounge, 232 Ferguson Center, sponsored by Crossroads Community Center; also, dinner and lecture: The Black American Muslim, 7 p.m., Heritage Room, Ferguson Center, sponsored by Muslim Students Association.

Friday, Feb. 18, speaker, Timothy A. Davis, deputy director of programs, Alabama Department of Youth Services, 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m., 223 Little Hall, sponsored by the School of Social Work.

Monday, Feb. 21, National African-American Read-In, 6 p.m., Crossroads Lounge, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center, Counseling Center, Crossroads Community Center, gender and race studies, school of library and information studies, and Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.

Wednesday, Feb. 23, What If … Documentary Series on Education Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment. Documenting the Integration of The University of Alabama, 7 p.m., Ferguson Center, sponsored by the Honors College Assembly.

Thursday, Feb. 24, Every Woman Book Club; book discussion, “Leaving Gee’s Bend,” by Irene Latham, noon, University Club, sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center; also, ‘Foster’-ing Dialogue: Film and discussion, “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin,” 3:30 p.m., 125 ten Hoor Hall, sponsored by gender and race studies and Capstone Alliance.

Friday, Feb. 25, reception and film: “Freedom Riders,” preview screening of PBS film with special guests Ray Arsenault, professor of history, University of South Florida, and Paul Taylor, senior editor, “American Experience,” 7 p.m., reception, 7:30 p.m., Bama Theatre, sponsored by the Summersell Center for the Study of the South and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Saturday, Feb. 26, “Celebrating Alabama Arts: Day Trip to Gee’s Bend,” space is limited. Call today to reserve your seat, 205/348-5040, sponsored by Ferguson Center, the School of Library and Information Studies and Women’s Resource Center.

Sunday, Feb. 27, “STFU: The Intervention,” 3 p.m., Ferguson Theater, sponsored by Black Student Union.

Monday, Feb. 28, Launch of Interfaith Week, performance and discussion: “The Laugh-in-Peace Tour,” non-political, interfaith comedy team featuring three comedians of different faiths-Baptist, Muslim and Jewish, 7 p.m., Ferguson Theater; free tickets are available at CrimsonArtsTickets.com; sponsored by Campus Ministry Association and University Programs.

Tuesday, March 1, Tim Wise, workshop: “Beyond Diversity: Challenging Racism in an Age of Backlash,” 2-4 p.m., 205 Gorgas Library, public lecture, “Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism, Privilege and Denial in the Age of Obama,” 7 p.m., Morgan Hall auditorium, sponsored by the department of gender and race studies, the Dean of Students and the University Union.

Sunday, April 17, U.W. Clemon, Shelby Hall,  Contact:  Black Faculty and Staff Association, Patricia Dotson or Dr. Joyce Stallworth.