K-State to celebrate Black History Month during February

Media Relations and Marketing
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
Phone: 785-532-6415
Fax: 785-532-6418

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Akilah Mahon, 913-707-2645, amahon@k-state.edu.
Pronouncer: Akilah Mahon is Ah-key-lah Mah-hon
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

K-STATE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH DURING FEBRUARY

MANHATTAN -- During the month of February, Kansas State University will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of events and activities. The theme of the month is "Digging Deeper."

"We are focused on building leaders in our community and expanding our knowledge from an academic and cultural stance. The cultural stance ties into Black History Month through our events," said Akilah Mahon, senior in finance, Kansas City, Kan., and president of K-State's Black Student Union.

Mahon says Black History Month is important for many reasons and hopes that all K-State students will come out and join in the celebration.

"Black History Month is about celebrating the history and contribution of African-Americans," she said. "It's about learning from the past and ways to improve our future. We have to remember that it is not just black history, it is American history. It's a time to honor African-Americans who have paved the way for many of us, who have invented a lot of the things we use, and have helped make advances in many fields."

Guest speakers will include Chuck D, the co-founder of the rap group Public Enemy, who will present a lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in the K-State Student Union Grand Ballroom. Herman Boone, the high school football coach who inspired the movie, "Remember the Titans," will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Union's Forum Hall. Boone's lecture is sponsored by K-State's Interfraternity Council.

Also speaking will be Edward Perkins, the first black U.S. ambassador to South Africa and the United Nations, as part of K-State's Dorothy Thompson Civil Rights Lecture Series. The lecture will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Forum Hall. Perkins is now the senior vice provost for international programs, William J. Crowe chair, professor of geopolitics and executive director of the International Programs Center for the University of Oklahoma. He served as ambassador to South Africa from 1986-89 and as ambassador to the United Nations from 1992-93.

Another highlight of the month will be the Langston Hughes Project at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, in Forum Hall. The project is a presentation of "Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz," a work written by Hughes in the early 1960s. The presentation will be a multimedia performance that involves the spoken word, a jazz quartet and a slide presentation of images from the Harlem Renaissance, all occurring simultaneously. It will be orchestrated by musical director and composer Ron McCurdy, chair and professor of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.

All Black History Month are free and open to the public. Other events include:

* Feb. 5-14: Candy Rose Fundraiser in the Union food court.

* Friday, Feb. 23: The Late Noir, a variety show, 8 p.m., Union courtyard.

* Tuesday, Feb. 27: Soul Cafe, featuring live music and refreshments, 8:30-10 p.m., Union courtyard. The event is intended for students as a way to express themselves and their talents.

Black History Month also will include several members of K-State's Black Student Union attending the Big XII Conference on Black Student Government, Feb. 15-18, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.