Black History Month Will Include Concerts, Hip-Hop Performances, Lectures, Workshops, and More

Lafayette’s annual celebration of Black History Month will include a full calendar of concerts, lectures, interactive workshops, cultural presentations, and other events, as notable artists and scholars join the campus community in honoring the diversity, unity, and history that is the African American experience.

This year’s events will kick off 12:15 p.m. Friday with “Traditions of Hip-Hop in the Making of Facing Mekka,” a brown bag lecture by Philadelphia dancer/choreographer Rennie Harris. Acclaimed for Rome & Jewels, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Broadway’s West Side Story, Harris will discuss hip-hop and cultural dance theory in Williams Center for the Arts room 108. He will return to Lafayette March 25-26 to premiere Facing Mekka, his new full-evening dance work, which includes hip-hop performance, photomontage, videography, original music, and text.

Legendary jazz musician Charlie Haden and his ensemble will present music from their Grammy-award winning album, Nocturne, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Williams Center for the Arts. Tickets cost $20 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 610-330-5009.

Contemporary African-American artist Peter Bradley will discuss black history in a brown bag lecture 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center. Lunch may be brought or purchased for $3. Bradley’s talk will include discussion of his role in a United States-South African art exchange program. He is an abstract artist whose work is showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and a number of other venues. Also an art critic, he is former curator of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

In addition to speakers and musical presentations, Black History Month will include an array of student performances, including a poetry jam and Battle of the Beats. Also, the Farinon College Center atrium will be transformed into an African market 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. The market will feature ethnic foods; African music and dance; and an assortment of jewelry, books, and artifacts available for purchase.

All Black History Month events are open to the public, and many are free of charge. For more information, contact the Office of Intercultural Development at 610-330-5819.

The full schedule of events:

• Friday, Jan. 31, noon — brown bag lecture, “Traditions of Hip-Hop in the Making of Facing Mecca,” Rennie Harris, hip-hop choreographer, Williams Center for the Arts room 108. Sponsored by American Studies Department, Williams Center for the Arts, and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Friday, Jan. 31, 10 p.m. — vocalist Chinua Hawk, Gilbert’s Coffeehouse. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
• Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 p.m. — “Two Turntables and a Mic: Battle of the Beats,” Farinon College Center Snack Bar. Sponsored by Association of Black Collegians, Nia, and Brothers of Lafayette.
• Tuesday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. — discussion and jazz concert, “Nocturne,” featuring bassist Charlie Haden, Williams Center for the Arts. Discussion begins 7 p.m. and is followed by an 8 p.m. performance. For tickets, call 610-330-5009. Student admission is free with Lafayette ID. Sponsored by Williams Center for the Arts.
• Thursday, Feb. 6, 12:15 p.m. — brown bag lecture, “The Kingdom Has Come,” Peter Bradley, artist-in-residence, David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center. Sponsored by Office of Intercultural Development.
• Thursday, Feb. 6, 5 p.m. – artist’s reception with Peter Bradley, artist-in-residence, David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center. Sponsored by Office of Intercultural Development.
• Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. — Siblings Weekend Pre-Game Welcome, Kirby Sports Center Game Room. Sponsored by Association of Black Collegians, Nia, and Brothers of Lafayette.
• Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. — dance performance, Shadow’s Child, Urban Bush Women, Williams Center for the Arts. For tickets, call 610-330-5009. Student admission is free with Lafayette ID. Sponsored by Williams Center for the Arts.
• Friday, Feb. 7, 7 and 10 p.m. — movie, Barbershop, Limburg Theater, Farinon College Center. Film tells the story of a would-be entrepreneur who sells his family’s barbershop and goes to great lengths to get it back. Admission is $2. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
• Saturday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. — public dance performance for family and community, Shadow’s Child, Urban Bush Women, Williams Center for the Arts. For tickets, call 610-330-5009. Student admission is free with Lafayette ID. Sponsored by Williams Center for the Arts.
• Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Barbershop, Limburg Theater, Farinon College Center.
• Sunday, Feb. 9, 10 p.m. — Barbershop, Limburg Theater, Farinon College Center.
• Monday, Feb. 10, 7:45 p.m. — hip-hop dance instruction, Kirby Field House room 136. Ten weeks of Monday classes for $20. Call 610-330-5772. Sponsored by Recreation Services.
• Monday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. — Barbershop, Limburg Theater, Farinon College Center.
• Tuesday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. — Barbershop, Limburg Theater, Farinon College Center.
• Friday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. — poetry workshop, “The Color of Love,” David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center. Sponsored by English department and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m. — poetry jam, Farinon College Center Snack Bar. Sponsored by English department and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Saturday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. — “Experience Prologue 2003,” reception and dinner for prospective minority students and their parents, Marquis Hall, Bergethon Room. Sponsored by Office of Intercultural Development and Admissions Office.
• Saturday, Feb. 15, 10 p.m. — Saturday Night Dance Party, Farinon College Center Snack Bar. Sponsored by Recreation Services and Admissions Office.
• Sunday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. — talent showcase, “A Generation Redefining the World,” Williams Center for the Arts. Sponsored by Admissions Office, Lafayette Intercultural Networking Council, and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Monday, February 17, 12:15 p.m. — keynote brown bag lecture, “The Hip-Hop Generation,” author Bakari Kitwana, Williams Center for the Arts room 108. Sponsored by Dean of Students Office, Dean of Studies Office, Africana Studies department, and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Tuesday, February 18, 7:30 p.m. — keynote talk, The Hip-Hop Generation; author Bakari Kitwana, Colton Chapel. Book signing will follow. Sponsored by Dean of Students Office, Dean of Studies Office, Africana Studies Department, and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Friday, February 21, 9 p.m. — student discussion, “When Did You First Fall in Love with Hip-Hop,” Keefe Commons. Sponsored by Association of Black Collegians, Nia, and Brothers of Lafayette.
• Saturday, February 22, 10 p.m. — performance, comedian Mark Reedy, Farinon College Center Snack Bar. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
• Wednesday, February 26, 7 p.m. — lecture, “Is Race Just in Our Minds,” Jorge Garcia, professor of philosophy, Boston College, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights room 104. Sponsored by the Ethics Project and Philosophy Department.
• Wednesday, February 26, 9 p.m. — performance, spoken word artist Staceyann Chin, Farinon College Center Snack Bar. Sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum.
• Thursday, February 27, 11 a.m. — African Market, Farinon College Center Atrium. Sponsored by Association of Black Collegians, Africana Studies Department, and Office of Intercultural Development.
• Friday, February 28, noon — brown bag lecture, “The Life of Mary McCleod Bethune,” Samuel Hay, visiting professor of government and law, Interfaith Chapel, Hogg Hall. Sponsored by Chaplain’s Office and Counseling Services.
• Friday, February 28, 8 p.m. — play, The Colored Museum, Farinon College Center Atrium. Sponsored by Association of Black Collegians and Office of Intercultural Development.