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Look for the WIU Black History Month 2010 poster around WIU's Macomb campus.
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Black History Month Events

February 2, 2010


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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University will celebrate, discuss and commemorate Black History Month 2010 with a full slate of activities focused on African American history and culture. The month-long celebration will include discussion of current issues, speakers and workshops; entertainment; food; art exhibits and more. This year's theme is "Black Economic Empowerment: A Future You Can Bank On!"

All events are open free to the public, except where indicated (*). For more information about Black History Month events at WIU, contact Western's Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center (GBCC) at (309) 298-2220, or visit gbcc.wiu.edu.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Tuesday, Feb. 2
6-8 p.m. "Black History Through Fashion"
North Quad Dining Center; sponsored by Sodexo and Black Student Association.

7 p.m. (movie) "Eyes On The Prize, Episode 9: Power"
Morgan Hall 101B; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club and African American studies department.

Wednesday, Feb. 3
Noon (workshop) "Panther Power: 10-Point Program for Leadership Development"
Multicultural Center Room 115; sponsored by Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.

4:30 p.m. (discussion) "A Nation of Law?"
University Union Sandburg Theatre; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club.

6-7 p.m. "Liaisons--African American Studies Lecture Series: An Afro-centric Perspective for Understanding Black Adolescent Male Violence," with speaker Assistant Professor Barry McCrary, School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Multicultural Center Room 208; sponsored by African American studies department.

7 p.m. Heritage Comedy Club featuring Loni Love and Jessica Kirson
University Union Heritage Room; sponsored by University Union Board.

Thursday, Feb. 4
7 p.m.–midnight "Rolling Into History" Skating Party
Skateland (201 Shady Lane, Macomb); sponsored by African American Studies Department Club, Beta Phi Pi Fraternity Inc., African American studies department, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
*Admission $5; open to everyone.

Friday, Feb. 5
9 p.m. Cultural Expressions Open Mic
University Union Murray Street Café; sponsored by Cultural Expressions.

Monday, Feb. 8
7-10 p.m. Historical Study Party
Multicultural Center Room 208; sponsored by Black Student Association (BSA).

Tuesday, Feb. 9
4-6 p.m. (discussion and movie) "Breaking Barriers: Study Abroad and Diversity"
Multicultural Center Room 115; sponsored by Office of Study Abroad.

5 p.m. "African American Family Feud"
University Union Sandburg Lounge; sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), College Chapter.

7 p.m. (panel discussion) "Who Are You, What Do You Do, and Why Are You Here? A Critique of the Black Student Organizations at WIU"
University Union Sandburg Lounge; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club and the African American studies department.

Wednesday, Feb. 10
4:30 p.m. (discussion) "Why Black Student Organizations Still Matter"
University Union Sandburg Theatre; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club.

7:30 p.m. "Ladysmith Black Mambazo"
University Union Grand Ballroom; sponsored by Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA), College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) and the Performing Arts Society (PAS).
*Admission for public is $25; admission for seniors/WIU employees/youth is $20. Contact the box office at (309) 298-2900.

Thursday, Feb. 11
6:30 p.m. (discussion) "The Gift and the Curse of Diversity -- The Hijacking of Black History Month at Predominantly White Institutions"
University Union Lincoln Room; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club, Beta Phi Pi Fraternity Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Sunday, Feb. 14
7 p.m. Black History Film Series
Grote Hall Pit; sponsored by National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Monday, Feb. 15
4:30 p.m. (discussion) "Black Elite or Black Defeat?: The History and Fundamental Purpose of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)"
University Union Heritage Room; sponsored by Black Student Association.

7 p.m. (panel discussion) "'I Want the Money, Cars and Clothes -- I Just Want to Be Successful!' Has America Profited from the Lack of Financial Literacy of African Americans?"
Multicultural Center Room 109; sponsored by Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students.

7 p.m. (movie) "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"
Morgan Hall 101B; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club and the African American studies department.

Wednesday, Feb. 17
Noon (workshop) "Beyond the Bling: Rebuilding Communities Through Entrepreneurship"
Multicultural Center Room 115; sponsored by Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.

4:30 p.m. (discussion) "Radical Black Political Organizations in Chicago"
University Union Sandburg Theatre; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club.

7 p.m. "Black Reparations Movement," with speaker Bob Brown, Black Panther Party co-founder
Morgan Hall 109; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club and the African American studies department.

7 p.m. (movie) "The Blind Side"
University Union Sandburg Theatre; sponsored by University Union Board.

Thursday, Feb. 18
6-7 p.m. "Out of the Neighborhood, Onto the Campus: How Culture Affects Eating Disorders," with speaker Amy Buwick, University Counseling Center
University Union Algonquin Room; sponsored by University Counseling Center.

7 p.m. "In a Sentimental Mood...J-ass, Jass, and more Jazz!"
Bayliss/Henninger Underground; sponsored by Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students.

7 p.m.-midnight "Black Love" Skating Party
Skateland (201 Shady Lane, Macomb); sponsored by African American Studies Department Club, Beta Phi Pi Fraternity Inc., the African American studies department and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
*Admission is $5; open to everyone.

Saturday, Feb. 20
5:30 p.m. 24th Annual Soul Food Festival (doors open at 5:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m.)
University Union Lamoine Room; sponsored by Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.
*Admission for WIU students is $14; non-students $20.
Menu: barbecue beef short ribs, barbecue chicken, spaghetti, coleslaw, blackberry cobbler, vanilla ice cream, lemon meringue pie, punch, coffee and tea.

Monday, Feb. 22
4 p.m. (official opening) "Fade to Black: African American Art Student Exhibition"
Leslie F. Malpass Library Garden Lounge; sponsored by University Libraries and the art department.

7 p.m. (forum discussion) "Are We Hoodwinked?: Malcolm X's Perception of the African American Community Today"
Multicultural Center Room 109; sponsored by Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Mu Chapter.

Tuesday, Feb. 23
6 p.m. "Archaeological Investigations at Historic New Philadelphia, A Multi-Racial Community on the Illinois Frontier," with speaker Terrance Martin, curator of anthropology, Illinois State Museum
Morgan Hall 107; sponsored by the history department and the sociology and anthropology department.

7 p.m. (panel discussion) "What Is Black?: The African Diaspora in the Contemporary World"
University Union Lincoln Room; sponsored by Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students.

7 p.m. (movie) "Get On the Bus"
Morgan Hall 101B; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club and the African American studies department.

Wednesday, Feb. 24
3 p.m. "The Quest for 'Bling' and Other Recent Trends in African American Consumerism," with speaker Professor Robert Weems, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Leslie F. Malpass Library Garden Lounge; sponsored by University Libraries and the political science department.

4:30 p.m. (discussion) "Black Men"
University Union Sandburg Theatre; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club.

6 p.m. (discussion) "Black Men in Our Community: Why Don't They Show Up and Why Do They Show Up?"
Multicultural Center Room 109; sponsored by African American Studies Department Club.

Thursday, Feb. 25
2 p.m. "Black Opera: Operas by and/or about African Americans," with speaker Rod Sharpe, music librarian and associate professor, University Libraries
Sallee Hall 101; sponsored by University Libraries and Western's School of Music.

Sunday, Feb. 28
7 p.m. Black History Film Series
Grote Hall Pit; sponsored by National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Other Events and Activities
"Banking on Black Women's Economic Empowerment," daily postings on the Women's Center electronic bulletin board and at wc.wiu.edu

Showcase of Black History Month Events and Activities, University Union, first floor; sponsored by Black History Month Planning Committee.

African American Culture Exhibit, various artifacts, Multicultural Center Lobby; sponsored by Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.

The month of events is sponsored by the Black History Month Planning Committee, which includes: Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Black Student Association, WIU College Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Office of Student Activities, University Union Board, Student Government Association, University Housing and Dining Services, University Relations, Women's Center, University Libraries, Cultural Expressions, University Union and the African American studies department.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing