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Department of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Mississippi

Center for Inclusion hosts Black History Month programs on campus

JANUARY 24, 2017 BY SHAWNBODA MEAD

In partnership with University departments and student organizations as well as the city of Oxford, the Center for Inclusion & Cross-Cultural Engagement is pleased to host several events in recognition of Black History Month! We invite UM faculty, staff & students to join us for the kickoff celebration on Wednesday, February 1st at 4:00 PM in Fulton Chapel and throughout the month. A few highlights include:

Black History Month Opening Celebration
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
The celebration will feature Dr. Judith Meredith as the keynote speaker along with selections from the UM Gospel Choir, remarks by Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community Engagement Dr. Katrina Caldwell, and the presentation of the Lift Every Voice Awards by Dr. Donald Cole.

Black Student Union 4th Annual Black History Month Gala
Friday, February 3, 2017
The Black Student Union will host their 4th Annual Black History Month Gala at the Inn at Ole Miss. Admission is free! Tickets will be available beginning January 23rd at the Ole Miss Box Office (located in Ford Center).

The Black National Anthem: Lift Every Voice & Sing
Monday, February 6, 2017
Lift Every Voice & Sing, an impactful work of art, has been a staple in the Black community and in America at large. Join us as Dr. Tim Askew, Associate Professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, discuss its historical and cultural significance.

Race Movie Screening
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him into the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy.

NPHC Greek Garden Dedication
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Celebrate the completion of the NPHC Garden and honor the contributions made by members of the NPHC community to the University of Mississippi

Black History Month Keynote Address featuring Eunique Jones
Monday, February 13, 2017
We are pleased to announce this year’s Black History Month keynote address will feature Eunique Jones. In 2013, Eunique launched the Because of Them, We Can™ campaign during Black History Month with a mission to empower the next generation to honor the legacy of their ancestors through their own individual pursuit of greatness. The campaign featured photographs of adorable children channeling leaders, activists, and celebrities, past and present. Because of Them, We Can™ quickly went viral and grew into something bigger than the twenty-eight day tribute she originally planned. It is now considered one of the most prolific and virally successful Black History campaigns of all time. Tickets will be available at the Ole Miss Box Office for students, faculty, and staff beginning January 30th and beginning February 6th for the general public. Seating is limited to 750 attendees.

Dr. Bill Bynum: Advancing Economic Opportunity for Disenfranchised Populations
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
This is an opportunity to engage with Mr. Bill Bynum. As chairman of the Treasury Department’s Community Development Advisory Board from 2002 to 2012, he advised Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama on community development matters.

From the Mountaintop: Dr. King’s Quiet Legacy of Resistance
Monday, February 27, 2017
When we discuss Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power Movement, and other flashpoints of black resistance, we typically use adjectives like “bold,” “courageous,” “powerful,”– maybe “violent” and “disruptive.” Borrowing from a growing tradition in cultural studies, Professor Brian Foster complicates conventional narratives about the ongoing movement for black freedom rights.

Camille A. Brown Performance
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Camille A. Brown (originally from Queens, New York) is a prolific choreographer who has achieved multiple accolades and awards for her daring works. She is a 2016 Guggenheim Fellow, four-time Princess Grace Award winner, 2016 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award recipient, 2015 USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow, 2015 TED Fellow, and 2015 Doris Duke Artist Award recipient. She creates choreography that utilizes musical composition as storytelling in order to investigate the silent space within the measure. Informed by her background as a clarinetist, she makes a claim on history through the lens of a modern Black female perspective and leads her dancers through excavations of ancestral stories, both timeless and traditional. She develops and teaches community-based dance and social justice activities that engage the Black community and Black allies. Tickets will be available at the Ole Miss Box Office.



Throughout the month, the UM Chapter of NAACP will host a “What is …?” series. Additionally, the More than a Month campaign, introduced last year, will continue during Black History Month 2017!

The full calendar of events can be found at https://inclusion.olemiss.edu/black-history-month-2017/. All members of the campus community are invited to participate! We will soon have printed copies of the poster available in the Center if you would like one for your office. A printable version of the full calendar will also be available on our website. We appreciate your support in promoting these events and sharing with students. For more information, feel free to contact the Center for Inclusion at 662-915-1689 or inclusion@olemiss.edu.