News release
Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061
publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive

Contact: Christina Chapple
Date: 1/25/05

Black History Month web site 

SOUTHEASTERN CELEBRATES FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
      HAMMOND – A comedy hour featuring comedian Rickey Smiley, an outdoor big screen showing of the hit movie “Ray,” and a series of lectures on African-American history and culture are highlights of Southeastern Louisiana University’s celebration of February as Black History Month.
      The month's activities will be outlined at the Black History Month Kick-off at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Student Union Theatre, said Eric Summers, director of Multicultural and International Affairs.  The kick-off program will showcase an array of Southeastern student talent.
      Unless otherwise indicated, Black History Month activities are free and open to the public. The Black History Month schedule includes:
      Feb. 1: Bradford Kenney, Distinguished Scholar of Cultural Studies with Ringing Rocks Foundation, will speak on “Ropes to God: Healing Practices of the Kalahari Bushmen,” at 3 p.m. in the Cate Teacher Education Center auditorium. Kenney’s talk is the first in the Department of History and Political Science’s annual Black History Month lecture series.
      Feb. 10:  Recitals will spotlight pianist Kevin Hampton, director of keyboard studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University, at 2 p.m., and baritone Brandon Richardson, who will perform music by African-American composers at 7:30 p.m. Both recitals are in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
      Feb. 14: Two events in the War Memorial Student Union will spotlight HIV/AIDS. “What You Don’t Know Might Kill You,” an informational display, will be set up in the War Memorial Student Union mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The Importance of Loving Self and Others: Living with HIV/AIDS” is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre.
      Also on Feb. 14, the history and political science lecture series continues with Randy Sanders, a Southeastern assistant professor of history who specializes in the role of African-Americans in American politics and society. Sanders will speak on “Blackball: Negro League Baseball” at 2 p.m. in the student union, room 223.
      Feb. 15: Southern University faculty member Johnita Obadele will present a lecture, “Reparations -- The Untold Story,” at 3 p.m. in the student union, room 229. The lecture is designed to generate discussion and understanding on the issues of whether black Americans should receive reparation payments because of slavery.
      Feb. 16: The presentation “How Crowded is my Bed: STD Awareness” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in room 223 of the student union.
      The Campus Activities Board will sponsor a showing of “Ray,” the recent hit film about music legend Ray Charles that was partially filmed in Hammond. The movie will be shown at 8 p.m. on a large screen located in the student union parking lot.
      Feb. 17: The university’s Southeast Louisiana Business Center, 1514 Martens Drive, will host a seminar on “Government Contracting: Doing Business with the Government as a Small Business” from 9-11 a.m. Participants will learn about topics such as how the government buys goods and services, required registrations and certifications, new online registrations, and subcontracting opportunities.
      Feb. 18: The Southeastern Gospel Music Ensemble, directed by Kenya Lawrence, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
      Feb. 21: In another history and political science lecture, criminal justice professor Kenneth Bolton will speak on “Black in Blue: African American Police Officers and Racism” at 2 p.m. in the student union, room 223.
      Feb. 22: Hammond resident and civic leader Dr. J. L. Garrett and Southeastern graduate student Melvin Sanders, a teacher in the East Baton Rouge school system, will enact a debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois on “The Problem of Negro Leadership” at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. 
      Feb. 23: Comedian Rickey Smiley will be the headliner at 8 p.m. in Cefalu Colisum. Tickets for students are $5 and will be on sale Jan. 31-Feb. 4. Tickets for the general public, $10, will go on sale Feb. 9. Tickets will be available in the Campus Activities Board office in room 110 of the student union.
      Feb. 24: The history and political science series continues with Celina Echols of the Department of Educational Leadership and Technology speaking on “Does Color Matter?  Issues of Racial Conflict in the Black American Culture” at 6:30 p.m. in the student union, room 223.
      Feb. 26: The Freedom Fund Banquet, cosponsored by the Southeastern chapter of the NAACP, will be held at 6 p.m. at Twelve Oaks. For information and tickets, contact Brandon Parker, 985-340-6224.
      Feb. 27: “A Summer Tragedy,” a short story by Arna Wendell Bontemps, an important writer in the Harlem Renaissance, will be the subject of a group discussion. Those interested in participating in the discussion can obtain a copy of the short story in the Multicultural and International Student Affairs office, 985-549-3850. The discussion is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the location will be announced at a later date.
      Feb. 28: In the final history and political science lecture Southeastern alumnus Reginald Span, now a doctoral candidate in history at Tulane University, will speak on “In Black and White: The Role of Newspapers in Race Relations in the Florida Parishes, 1920 –1940.” His lecture is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the student union, room 223.
     Also on Feb. 28, a presentation titled “HIV/AIDS -- The Naked Truth” is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. 
      For information on Black History Month events, call the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs, 985-549-3850.