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Musical performances, drama, poetry, art, lectures, and other events will be part of Lafayette’s celebration of Black History Month in February.
A highlight will be performances of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange Feb. 16-17 under the direction of Simmone Chadden, a sophomore English major from Springfield, Mass. Chadden also will act in the play along with with Nana Ama Bentsi-Enchill, a senior government and law major from Falls Church, Va.; Alandra Vandross, a senior Africana Studies major from Elmont, N.Y.; Maya Freelon, a first-year student from Durham, N.C.; Fayola Bostic, a first-year student from St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; and Kristen Gibbons, a sophomore biochemistry major from Abington, Pa.
Curlee Raven Holton, associate professor of art and director of Lafayette’s Experimental Printmaking Institute, is mounting an exhibition of works called “African American Art: A Vision/A Legacy” at the David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center.
Events will kick off with be a brown bag lunch discussion on “Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month?” Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Interfaith Chapel, Hogg Hall. Speakers will include John McCartney, associate professor and head of government and law; Bentsi-Enchill; Nkechi Mbadugha, a junior psychology major from New Brunswick, N.J.; and Emefa Woananu, a junior government and law major from Trenton, N.J.
Also on Jan. 30, Turtle Island String Quartet will perform its pioneering jazz for hard-driving string quartet with Grammy Award-winning clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera 8 p.m. at the Williams Center for the Arts. Turtle Island is comprised of Evan Price, violin; David Balakrishnan, violin and baritone violin; Danny Seidenberg, viola; and Mark Summer, cello.
Kandia Kouyate of Mali, one of West Africa’s most acclaimed singers, will perform the epic story-songs of Mandinka history 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the Williams Center for the Arts. Kouyate’s ensemble includes indigenous African instruments, the kora (21-string harp-lute), the balofon (wooden xylophone), the bolon (bass harp), as well as guitar and back-up singer. She is praised by the New York Times as having “the charisma and vocal power of the most commanding American soul singers.”
Rutgers professor Howard McGary and University of North Carolina professor Bernard Boxill will speak on “Race and Reparation: Do White People Owe African-Americans Reparations for Slavery?” 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in Kirby Hall of Civil Rights. The even is sponsored by Lafayette’s Ethics Project.
The full schedule of events follows:
Opening Monday, January 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Art and Transformation, exhibition by Curlee Raven Holton, associate professor of art and director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute, David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center.
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 12:10-1:10 p.m.: “Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month?” discussion sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development, Hogg Hall.
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m.: Turtle Island String Quartet and Paquito D’Rivera, Williams Center for the Arts. Call 610-330-5009 for tickets.
Saturday, Feb. 2, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Fundraising Kickoff for monument to Aaron O. Hoff, first African American student to enroll at Lafayette, Hogg Hall, Interfaith Chapel. Sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development.
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: African Market I, presented by Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association, Farinon Center atrium. Sponsored by Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association and the Office of Intercultural Development.
Friday, Feb. 8, noon: Gospel Festival Weekend brown bag, Hogg Hall. Sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office.
Friday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m.: Singer Kandia Kouyate, Williams Center for the Arts. Call 610-330-5009 for tickets.
Saturday, Feb. 9, 7-9 p.m.: Gospel festival concert, Williams Center for the Arts. Sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development.
Saturday, Feb. 9, 10 p.m.-midnight: Slam poet Flowmentalz, Gilbert’s, sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
Monday, Feb. 11, 12:10-1:10 p.m.: Preview of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange, Landis Atrium, Farinon Center.
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 12:10-1:10 p.m.: “Communicating Across Cultures: What Happens in an Interview,” talk by Alana Albus, assistant director of Career Services, Farinon Center Marlo Room.
Friday, Feb. 15, 12:10-1:10 p.m.: “African American Art: A Vision/A Legacy,” brown bag discussion with Curlee Raven Holton, associate professor of art, Williams Center for the Arts room 108.
Friday, Feb. 15, 9-11 p.m.: Comedian Brad Lowery, Farinon Center snack bar. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
Saturday, Feb. 16-Monday, Feb. 18: Prologue Weekend: “The Lafayette Experience,” for prospective students of color and their families. Sponsored by the Office of Admissions.
Feb. 16-17, 8 p.m.: Performance: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange, directed by Simmone Chadden ’04, Williams Center for the Arts Black Box. Sponsored by Minority Scientists and Engineers, NIA, Office of Intercultural Development, Office of Dean of Studies, and Office of Dean of Students.
Thursday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.: “Lafayette Archives Oral History Project,” talk by Gerald Gill ’70, associate professor at Tufts University, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights auditorium. Sponsored by Skillman Library.
Friday, Feb. 22, 5-7 p.m.: Art and Transformation, artist’s reception for Curlee Raven Holton, associate professor of art and director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute, David A. Portlock Cultural Black Center.
Feb. 22-26, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.: The Color Purple, film at Farinon Center Limburg Theater. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: African Market II, Farinon Center atrium, sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development and Office of the Assistant Dean of Students.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: “Race and Reparation: Do White People Owe African-Americans Reparations for Slavery?” talk by Rutgers professor Howard McGary and University of North Carolina professor Bernard Boxill, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights auditorium. Sponsored by Lafayette’s Ethics Project.