Black Awareness Month 1999 Features Variety Of Events At CU
A variety of new and traditional activities will be featured as part of Black Awareness Month celebrations at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Events scheduled to take place during February include gospel festivals, a Heritage film series, poetry nights, an African market place and a soul food fest. Organizers believe students, staff, faculty and community members will be enriched by the activities.
"We would like to share some of our cultural heritage with Boulder and the CU communities, "said Valerie Embry, staff co-coordinator. "African American culture is a vital part of the overall American culture. We hope that these activities can help people question their stereotypes about black people and black culture.
"Hopefully they can take what they've learned and incorporate it into their everyday lives to promote better mutual appreciation and understanding."
Several Black Awareness Month activities are presented jointly with other groups. "Gershwin by Request," part of the CU Artist Series, features pianist Leon Bates, soprano Sebronette Barnes and bass baritone Benjamin Matthews. The trio will perform popular works by American composer George Gershwin. A reception will follow the concert.
The International Film Festival is showing the movie "Slam!," a gritty story of an imprisoned poet that won the top prize recently at the Sundance Film Festival, the nation's top showcase for movies made without studio money.
A Career and Graduate School Fair, African market place and the gospel extravaganza will be presented in conjunction with the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government in mid-February. The annual favorite community event, the Gospel Festival, directed by Horace Boyer, will once again take place at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Boulder.
Students, staff and faculty are involved in planning the events. Senior Kierra Johnson is co-coordinator of Black Awareness Month. "I wanted to help continue the tradition of bringing awareness of African American culture to the Boulder campus," Johnson said.
A calendar of events will be distributed soon. Following is a listing of events that are open to the public.
BLACK AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITIES
o Saturday Gospel Festival Rehearsal: Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m., Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 3485 Stanford Ct., Boulder, 303-499-1444
o Gospel Festival: Sunday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
o Gershwin by Request: Macky Artist Series, Sunday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. Tickets $10-$30. Contact: CU Concerts Box Office at (303) 492-8008
o Heritage Film Series: Feb. 9, "Rosewood," Feb. 16, "Sankofa," Feb. 23, "Amistad," 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Dennis Small Cultural Center, UMC 305
o The New Awakenings Café (Poetry) Night: Feb. 12 and 19, UMC Club 156
o Talk Show on Interracial Dating hosted by Derrick Watson: Feb. 15, 6 p.m., Dennis Small Cultural Center, UMC 305
o Gospel Extravaganza: Feb. 19, 8 p.m., UMC Glen Miller Ballroom
o Career and Graduate School Fair: Feb. 19, 10-5 UMC Lobby & Loggia
o African Market Place: Feb. 19 & 20, 10-5, UMC Loggia
o SLAM!: Feb. 20 & 21, 7 & 9 p.m. plus 3:00 Sunday matinee, Muenzinger Auditorium, $3.50 general admission, $3.00 students
o Soul Food Fest featuring Chef Willie Bradley: Friday, Feb. 26, Sewall Dining Hall, 4:45 p.m., $8.25 per person