UA Celebrates 2015 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 events are held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“Multiple UA departments and collaborative campus partners are making possible creative and thought-provoking experiences for our students, faculty, staff and the broader Tuscaloosa community,” said Lane McLelland, director of UA Crossroads. “By engaging in exceptional opportunities such as these, more bridges will be crossed.”

African-American Heritage Month events at UA include:

Throughout the month – UA Press book display, Gorgas Library, sponsored by University of Alabama Press and University Libraries. The exhibit, which will be inside the Capstone Drive entrance of Gorgas Library, features a display of UA Press books about African-American history and the civil rights movement. Details: Courtney Blanchard, ceblanchard@uapress.ua.edu.

6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 – Opening reception for the Anthony Braxton “Falling River Music” exhibit, Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. The exhibit will showcase Braxton’s graphic music scores —large, colorful drawings that the musician interprets in sound — and will include new work by UA studio art students responding to Braxton’s work. The pieces will remain on exhibit daily through Friday, Feb. 27. Details: Dr. Andrew Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

Monday, Feb. 2 through Friday, Feb. 27 – Lincoln Normal School albums exhibit, McLure Education Library, sponsored by University Libraries. The exhibit, which features images from 1909 to 1924 that highlight African-American and women’s history, will include photos of notable Lincoln Normal School alumni such as sisters Coretta Scott King and Edythe Scott Bagley, former federal judge William Hastie and sociologist Andrew Billingsley. Details: Donna Adcock, dbadcock@ua.edu, 205/348-1416.

6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 — An Evening of African-American Films featuring “Finding Fela,” “Music is the Weapon” and short films from various African film makers, Bama Theatre, sponsored by College of Community Health Sciences, department of gender and race Studies, Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation and Aframsouth, Inc.

Monday, Feb. 9 – Friday, March 13 – “A North Alabama Clergyman’s Passion for History:  Preserving Black History through Words and Images,” Pearce Foyer, 2nd floor Gorgas Library, sponsored by University Libraries. The collection of African-American cookbooks, scrapbooks, letters, photographs and funeral programs collected by the Rev. Wylheme H. Ragland from Decatur, Ala., is comprised of artifacts from the Schaudies, Banks and Ragland families. Details: Martha Bace, mabace@ua.edu, 205/348-6388.

3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9 — 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 on the front steps of Reese Phifer Hall Details: Dr. Meredith Bagley, mbagley@ua.edu, 205/348-1926. Additional tour dates: Feb. 16 and Feb. 23

Noon Wednesday, Feb. 11 – “An Unmistakable Shade of Gray and the Obama Chronicles,” poetry reading by Dr. Mary E. Weems, Maxwell Hall, sponsored by the UA department of communication studies, Creative Campus, College of Communication and Information Sciences, department of gender and race studies, department of English and the Women and Gender Resource Center. The colloquium will feature Weems reading from several books of poetry, including “An Unmistakable Shade of Gray and the Obama Chronicles” and will include readings by several UA student poets. Details: Robin Boylorn, rboylorn@ua.edu, 205/348-8078.

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 – African-American Read-In, Ferguson Center Student Union lounge, sponsored by Women and Gender Resource Center and Triota Honor Society.

6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 — A Century of Black Life, History and Culture, 30 ten Hoor, sponsored by the Delta Sigma, Eta Xi Omega, and Theta Sigma Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 — Film screening of “Brother Outsider,” 119 Lloyd Hall, sponsored by Safe Zone.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 – “Black Notes: A One Woman Show” featuring Dr. Mary E. Weems, 205 Gorgas Library, sponsored by the department of communication studies, Creative Campus, College of Communication and Information Sciences, department of gender and race studies, department of English and Women and Gender Resource Center. Weems’ newest book, “Blackeyed: Monologues and Plays,” along with some of her other works, will be for sale before and after the performance. A book signing will follow. Details: Robin Boylorn, rboylorn@ua.edu, 205/348-8078.

3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16 — The A.L. Tour: Honoring the Legacy of Autherine Lucy, Reese Phifer front steps, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences.

5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb, 16 — Trivia: African-American History Month edition, 205 Gorgas Library, sponsored by Women and Gender Resource Center and Triota Honor Society.

5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 — African American History Month participatory collage and art exhibit reception, Ferguson Center Art Gallery, sponsored by UA Crossroads and Ferguson Center Student Union.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 — Anthony Braxton solo saxophone concert, Bama Theatre, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. Braxton will present the singular solo saxophone music he has been developing for more than 50 years. Details: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

5 p.m. Thursday, Feb.19 — Phenomenal Women of Color screening and dialogue, 205 Gorgas Library, sponsored by UA Crossroads and New College.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 – Film screening of “Paris is Burning,” 119 Lloyd Hall, sponsored by Safe Zone.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 — UA Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra play Anthony Braxton compositions, Moody Music Hall, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads.

Noon Friday, Feb. 20 — Dr. Ethel H. Hall African-American History Month celebration featuring speakers the Rev. Thomas Linton and Maxie Thomas, 233 Little Hall, sponsored by School of Social Work.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 – World premiere of Anthony Braxton Quartet and Falling River Music Septet, Moody Music Hall, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. 2014 NEA Jazz Master and MacArthur Fellow Anthony Braxton will premiere his Quartet and Falling River Septet as one event of a seven-part concert series showcasing his work. Details: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 — Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Music Quintet and Trillium Opera excerpts, Moody Music Hall, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. The performance features intuitive improvisation with interactive electronics and an opera complex of autonomous one-act settings interconnected through 12 recurring character archetypes. Details: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 — Common Ground, Ferguson Center Theatre, sponsored by *Leaving a Legacy Black Student Collaborative.

3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 — 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. 23 — State of the Black Union, 159 Russell Hall, sponsored by Black Student Union.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 — Anthony Braxton Falling River Music Trio, Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. Braxton’s Falling River Music is a new structural prototype class of musical notation that uses logical construct “paintings” as the scores’ notation, allowing each performer to interpret it in his or her own way. Details: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 — Lift Every Voice and Sing lecture by Dr. Tim Askew, 133 Lloyd Hall, sponsored by *Leaving a Legacy Black Student Collaborative and University Programs. Askew, associate professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, will share his 25 years of research on “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also referred to as the “Black National Anthem.” Details: University Programs, universityprograms@sa.ua.edu, 205/ 348-7525.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.25 — Anthony Braxton Pinetop Aerial Music, Morgan Hall auditorium, sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, New College and UA Crossroads. Details: Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, adewar@ua.edu, 205/348-9928.

Noon Thursday, Feb. 26 — Every Woman Book Club discussion of “Bailey’s Café” by Gloria Naylor, location TBD, $12 for lunch, open to UA faculty, staff and grad students only, sponsored by Women’s Resource Center.  RSVP to 205/348-5040.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 – Film screening of “Anthems and Affirmations,” 119 Lloyd Hall, sponsored by Safe Zone.

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 – Documentary screening of “Bama Girl,” 214 Farrah Hall, sponsored by *Leaving a Legacy Black Student Collaborative.

1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 — Hands on Tuscaloosa service day, Ferguson Center Plaza, sponsored by Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism. Details: http://volunteer.ua.edu/hands.cfm.

8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 – “Marching to Selma: A Night of Singing, Sharing, Listening and Learning,” Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, sponsored by College of Communication and Information Sciences, Housing & Residential Communities, School of Social Work, UA Crossroads and Capstone Association of Black Journalists. The event features guest speaker Sam Walker, a Selma march veteran and coordinator of the 50th Anniversary Jubilee, and will include dialogue circles with visiting students and faculty from the University of Washington, Bellevue College and the University of Utah. Details: Meredith Bagley, mbagley@ua.edu.

6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5 – “The Two Browns: Civil Rights in the Age of Ferguson and Obama,” Morgan Hall auditorium, sponsored by Frances S. Summersell Center for the Study of the South, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, department of gender and r ace studies, department of history, department of American studies, department of political science, department of criminal justice and New College.

7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 — Realizing the Dream Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Bryan A. Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Anderson Room, Ferguson Center Student Union, sponsored by the University of Alabama, Stillman College and Shelton State Community College. Details: 205/348-7111 or community.affairs@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.