JSU celebrates Black History, Culture, Civic Engagement

January 17, 2014 Add Comment
Campus aerial view

The Institute for Social Justice and Race Relations at the COFO Civil Rights Education Center, The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute @ COFO, the Department of History and Philosophy, and Political Science; the College of Liberal Arts; and the Division of Student Life at Jackson State University have teamed up to celebrate Black History, Culture, and Civic Engagement during a series of events through March.

Feb. 25, Tuesday: “We Are The Dream” March, Pedestrian Walkway,  noon – 2pm.  JSU students will march in celebration of Dr. King’s dream.  Senator Sollie B. Norwood will deliver a message in front of the Student Center following the march.

Feb. 26, Wednesday: Movie Night – Do The Right Thing –  Student Center, 6 – 9 p.m.Feb. 27 through March 2: The College of Liberal Arts will present Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, “In the Red and Brown Water.”  Performances will be Feb. 27 through March 1 in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium at 7:30 p.m, at 3 p.m. on March 2 and an additional performance  on Feb. 28 at 10 a.m.

March 1, Saturday:  The 14th Annual Celebration Life, which is open to the community, honors the legacies of African American people and the Jackson Heart Study Cohort.  Historically scheduled on the last Saturday in February, this year it is scheduled for Saturday March 1, due to scheduling conflict.   Health screenings are conducted and various vendors will be on sight offering information and services.  Everyone is welcome.

Past events:

Feb. 12, Wednesday:  Movie Night – Life – Student Center Theater,  6 – 8:30 p.m.;  Soul Food Cafe – We Proudly Serve (Starbucks), 9 – 11 p.m.
Feb. 18, Tuesday:  Panel Discussion – I’m Black and I’m Proud, Senate Chambers, 6 – 8 p.m.
Feb. 19, Wednesday:  Movie Night – Four Little Girls –  Student Center Theater, 6 – 9 p.m.
Feb. 20, Thursday: Walk Through History Museum, Plaza, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Dressed in character, members of the Student Government Association will portray various African Americans along the Pedestrian Walkway.  For a nominal fee, the characters will reveal historical aspects of his/her life.
Feb. 20, Thursday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: The Institute for Social Justice & Race Relations at the COFO Civil Rights Education Center, and the Department of History & Philosophy present the 2nd Annual “Black History Makers” Forum: Freedom Summer and the People That Made It Happen. This 2nd Annual Series is dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer.  The keynote address will be given by Mr. Charles E. Cobb, Jr., author of “On The Road To Freedom: A Guided Tour of The Civil Rights Trail” and distinguished journalist/Senior Writer and Diplomatic Correspondent for AllAfrica.com, the leading online provider of news from and about Africa.
Feb. 21, Friday, noon: Dr. Leon Chestang, associate dean of the College of Public Service, will speak on “The Evolution of the Black Intelligentsia” from noon – 1:00 p.m., Universities Center, Room 1-7.