UA Celebrates 2014 African-American Heritage Month With Tours, Events

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

This year’s campus celebration promotes recognition of the contributions of African-American culture to area communities and the nation. It will highlight moments in African-American history and the ongoing impact of the African-American experience.

African-American Heritage Month events at UA include:

1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3 — The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by the College of Communication and Information Sciences. Lucy (now Autherine Lucy Foster), UA’s first African-American student, showed courage in the face of administrative resistance, ill prepared law enforcement and, eventually, violent segregationist mobs. On Monday, Feb 6, 1956, the mob violence led the UA board of trustees to suspend Lucy from campus “for her own safety.” In her honor, Dr. Meredith M. Bagley will lead “The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy.” Tours begin at Reese Phifer and end at Malone-Hood Plaza. Details: Dr. Meredith Bagley, mbagley@ua.edu, 205/348-1926. Additional tour dates: Feb. 10, Feb. 17 and Feb. 24

10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 — African-American Heritage campus tour, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by the College of Communication and Information Sciences.  Visit key sites of the African-American experience at UA with Communication Studies professor Dr. Jason Black. Sites include the President’s Manson, Foster Auditorium, Nott Hall and the Slave Grave marker. Details: Dr. Jason Black, jason.black@ua.edu, 205/657-6755. Additional tour dates: Feb. 12, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26

Noon Thursday, Feb. 6 — Authors@Gorgas Free Speaker Series presents Lila Quintero Weaver, author and artist of “Darkroom,” 205 Gorgas, sponsored by the University Libraries and Alabama Center for the Book. Details: J.D. Wilson, The University of Alabama Press, jdwilson@uapress.ua.edu

2:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 — “Eyes to See from the Other” presentation by photojournalist Dr. Gabriel Tait, 338 Reese Phifer Hall, sponsored by the department of journalism and the Diversity Forum. Tait, veteran photojournalist and professor of multimedia journalism at Arkansas State University, examines how photographs taken by Liberians in Liberia are understood and communicated to others. Details:  Dr. Chris Roberts, 205/348-8619, croberts@ua.edu

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 – “Unchaining Alabama” exhibit opening at the Williams Americana Collection, Gorgas Library, sponsored by Benjamin Flax and the Summersell Center for the Study of the South. Exhibit will remain on display throughout February. Details: Benjamin Flax, bsflax@crimson.ua.edu, 205/739-9273

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 – “Covering and Breaking Barriers” presentation and question and answer session with journalists Frank Sikora and Nathan Turner Jr., 216 Reese Phifer Hall, sponsored by the departments of journalism and communication studies and the Diversity Forum. Details:  Dr. Chris Roberts, 205/348-8619, croberts@ua.edu

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 — “Red is the New Black: The Art & Politics of Scottsboro” lecture by Robin D. G. Kelley, part of the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art Lecture Series, 205 Gorgas, sponsored by the Blount Undergraduate Initiative, Center for Community Based Partnerships, Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, Crossroads Community Center, department of American studies, department of criminal justice, department of gender and race studies, New College, Summersell Center for the Study of the South and UA School of Law. Details: Benjamin Flax, bsflax@crimson.ua.edu, 205/739-9273

5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 — Paul R. Jones Gallery reception for “Scottsboro Boys: The Fred Hiroshige Photographs” exhibition, featuring “The ‘Scottsboro Case’: What We Remember and What We Forget” lecture by Dan T. Carter and special guest Shelia Washington, director of the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, Paul R. Jones Gallery, 2308 Sixth St.,  Tuscaloosa. Sponsored by the Blount Undergraduate Initiative, Center for Community Based Partnerships, Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, Crossroads Community Center, department of American studies, department of criminal justice, department of gender and race studies, New College, Summersell Center for the Study of the South, College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee and UA School of Law. Details:  Katie McAllister,  mcall007@as.ua.edu, 205/345-3038

1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 — The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 — “Crises Behind a Presidential Commitment” documentary viewing and question and answer session with Don Siegal, at Bloom Hillel Student Center, 380 Ninth St., Tuscaloosa. Details: Lisa Besnoy, lisa.bamahillel@gmail.com, 205/348-2183

10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 — African-American Heritage campus tour, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 — National African-American Read-in literacy event featuring works by African-American female authors, 312 Ferguson Center, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center. Details: Eric Patterson, wrcgrad3@sa.ua.edu, 205/348-8713

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 – Film screenings of “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders” and “Fullness of Time: A Story for the Living South” and talks by guest speakers Constance Slaughter-Harvey and Theresa Burroughs, 223 Little Hall, sponsored by School of Social Work. Details: Liz Dykes, eadykes@sw.ua.edu, 205/348-5384

Noon Monday, Feb. 17 — Dr. Ethel H. Hall African-American Heritage Month program “Sisters and the Movement:  The Role of Women in Civil Rights Then and Now,” 223 Little Hall, sponsored by School of Social Work. Details: Liz Dykes, eadykes@sw.ua.edu, 205/348-5384

1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 — The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

Noon Monday, Feb. 17 — “A Dialogue with Women of The Movement,” featuring guest speakers Constance Iona Slaughter-Harvey and Theresa Burroughs, 223 Little Hall, sponsored by School of Social Work. Details: Liz Dykes, eadykes@sw.ua.edu, 205/348-5384.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Discussion, “Black Masculinities: Nelson Mandela to Kanye West,” 205 Gorgas, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center and the department of gender and race studies. Details: Eric Patterson, wrcgrad3@sa.ua.edu, 205/348-8713

10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 — African-American Heritage campus tour, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 — DiscoverLaw.org diversity open house featuring a mock class, presentations and a facilities tour, Alabama Law Moot Court Room. Alabama Law will host an informational open house for those considering going to law school. Although this event is geared toward informing minority students in their first few years of college about the study and practice of law, all students interested in a legal career are welcome to attend. Details: Marcus A. Cotton, mcotton@law.ua.edu, 205/348-7684

5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 — Second Tuscaloosa African Film Festival and arts and crafts sale, Bama Theatre, sponsored by Afram South Inc., EAUMF, Tuscaloosa Sister Cities, 100 Black Men of West Alabama and the College of Community Health Sciences. The program features two shorts and three feature films. Details: Dr. Thad Ulzen, tulzen@yahoo.com, 205/552-6078

1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 — The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

Noon Tuesday, Feb. 25 – “Addressing the African-American Health Disparities” panel presentation and discussion, 1008 Capstone College of Nursing, brown bag lunch session with drinks and desserts provided. Capstone College of Nursing is presenting. Details: Tabby Brown, 205/348-7429, thbrown4@ua.edu

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Defining Myself for Myself: Perceptions of Black Femininities, typecasting discussion, 205 Gorgas, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center and the department of gender and race studies. Details: Eric Patterson, wrcgrad3@sa.ua.edu, 205/348-5040

10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 — African American Heritage campus tour, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 — “Stormy Weather: The Influence of Campus Climate on Building Inclusive Communities” lecture featuring Dr. Sue Rankin, 222 Lloyd Hall, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences. This presentation will focus on the influence of climate on “invisible” identities including queer-spectrum and trans-spectrum people. Details:  Dr. Meredith Bagley, mbagley@ua.edu, 205/348-1926

Noon Thursday, Feb. 27 — Every Woman Book Club discussion of “We Need New Names” by NoViolet Bulawayo, University Club, $12 for lunch, open to UA faculty, staff and grad students only, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center.  RSVP to cpmiller1@sa.ua.edu.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 — “A Radio Hero’s Perspective,” program on Birmingham’s Black Radio History, 222 Reese Phifer, sponsored by the School of Library and Information Studies and the Communication and Information Sciences Diversity Forum. This program on Birmingham’s black radio history (1942-1963) spotlights the early life and times of WENN radio announcer Paul  “Tall Paul” White. The program is presented by Bob Friedman, project director and founder of the Birmingham Black Radio Museum Project. Details: Dr. George Daniels, 205/348-8618, gdaniels@ua.edu

8 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 – “Discerning Diverse Voices” daylong symposium featuring a series of panels and presentations with lunch provided, 205 Gorgas, sponsored by the College of Communication and Information Sciences. To register, go to http://cis.ua.edu. Details: Dr. George Daniels, 205/348-8618, gdaniels@ua.edu.

For more information on Crossroads Community Center visit www.crossroads.ua.edu, call the office at 205/348-6930, or stop by 232 Ferguson Center. The Crossroads Community Center is an initiative of the Office of Community Affairs under the direction of Dr. Samory Pruitt, UA vice president for community affairs.