Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA
CONTACT:
Lisa Freed
561-297-3022,
lfreed@fau.edu
FAU Campuses Host Events in
Honor of Black History Month
BOCA RATON, FL (February 1, 2010) – Florida Atlantic University will commemorate Black History Month with a series of events throughout the month of February at its Boca Raton, Broward and Treasure Coast campuses.
The following events will take place at FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road:
Opening Ceremony: “Celebrating the African
Diaspora”
Wednesday, February 3 at 11:30 a.m.,
Traditions Plaza on the Breezeway
Hear storytelling-troupe members Sadarri, Amber and Autumn
Joy Saskill perform “Ain’t No Hunger in
Freedom’s Kitchen,” along with other stories, songs
and poetry meant to nourish, uplift and inspire. The Body,
Mind and Soul African Dancers and Drummers also will
perform.
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Movie Screening: “Higher Learning,” starring
Omar Epps, Tyra Banks, Laurence Fishburne
Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m.
Senate Chambers in FAU’s Student Union
“Higher Learning,” directed by John Singleton,
is about students from different countries, races, and social
backgrounds who are forced to integrate when they all enroll at
Columbus University. Under pressure to perform in the classroom,
on the track or in front of their friends, the students are
strained to the breaking point by prejudice, inexperience and
misunderstanding. A short forum will take place following the
movie.
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Black Violin concert, featuring three-time Apollo-winning
duo Kev Marcus and Will-B
Monday, February 8 at 8 p.m.
FAU Housing Lawn
Three-time Apollo-winning duo Kev Marcus and Will-B are
classic violinists that combine a daunting array of musical
styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is not
quite maestro and not quite emcee, to redefine the music world
one-string at a time. With influences ranging from Shostakovich
and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks all the rules,
blending the classical with the modern to create something
rare. Kev Marcus and Will-B are Florida natives who met
while attending the Dillard High School of Performing Arts in
Fort Lauderdale. Black Violin has worked with musicians as
diverse as Alicia Keys, P.Diddy, Kanye West, Fifty Cent,
Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Aretha Franklin and the Eagles, among many
others.
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Lecture with Jeff Johnson, Tom Joyner Morning Show
political commentator and BET talk show host
Tuesday,
February 9 at 6 p.m.
Senate Chambers, FAU Student Union
Jeff Johnson is a Washington, D.C. based award-winning
journalist, social activist and political commentator. Johnson
has spent the last decade merging the worlds of politics and
popular culture, including his work as senior adviser for media
and youth outreach for People for the American Way, national
director of the Youth & College division of the NAACP, and an
appointment by celebrity Russell Simmons as the vice president of
the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). Currently, he is
managing editor and chief correspondent for The Truth with Jeff
Johnson, a hard-hitting talk show airing on Black Entertainment
Television (BET) where he has earned a reputation as the
“conscience voice” for his positive force among youth
and young adults.
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Movie Screening: “Love and Basketball,”
starring Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodard and Dennis Haysbert
Wednesday,
February 10 at 7 p.m.
Senate Chambers, FAU Student Union
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Love and
Basketball” depicts the “ups and downs” of
falling in love while trying to pursue a college education and
excel in a basketball career.
______________________________________________________________________________
Poetry Night featuring Shihan and Dana
Gilmore
Thursday, February 11 at 7 p.m.
Coyote Jacks, FAU Student Union
Poetry night will feature nationally-recognized Black poets
Dana Gilmore and Shihan, as well as local artists. The talent
that will be displayed will feature the “ups and
downs” of love, the Black family and the constraints
imposed on the Black community.
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BLACK-A-DEMICS Game Show and Trivia Competition
Wednesday,
February 24 at 7 p.m.
Coyote Jacks, FAU Student Union
Contestants will test their knowledge on Black history
facts in this Jeopardy-style game show.
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Student/Employee Networking: Featuring Kente Cloth
Fashion Show, Loom Display and Weaving Demonstration
Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m.
Coyote Jacks, Student Union
The public is invited to network with FAU students, faculty
and staff at Coyote Jacks. Gabriel Ahima, an African
weaver, will give a lecture presentation on the origins, history
and designs of the traditional kente cloths. Ahima will
demonstrate how kente is woven in a life-size traditional loom
that is used in African villages, and will give participants an
opportunity to test their weaving skills. A fashion show also
will feature an array of African textiles and kente
products.
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The following event will take place at FAU’s Davie campus, 2912 College Ave.:
Black Inventions Exhibit
Thursday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SD 105
This multimedia presentation is a tribute to the unsung
heroes, as well as Black inventors and innovators
internationally. The exhibit reveals many surprising facts and
highlights the accomplishments of Blacks in the fields of
science, aerospace communication, health care, agriculture,
transportation and engineering.
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The following events will take place at FAU’s
Treasure Coast campus, 500 NW California Blvd.:
History & Heroes Exhibit
Running
through Friday, February 26
JU Lobby
The History & Heroes exhibit is a display of
photographs based on African American history and the Civil
Rights movement.
______________________________________________________________________________
Movie Screening: “The Blind Side,” starring
Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron
Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m.
MP 101
“The Blind Side” is a story about Michael Oher,
a homeless and traumatized black boy who became an All-American
football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a
caring white woman and her family.
The events are sponsored by the offices of multicultural affairs in Boca Raton and Broward; FAU Jupiter’s Diversity Student Services; FAU Campus Recreation; FAU Dining Services; FAU’s department of housing and residential life; the South Florida Storytelling Project; Student Government BSUMP and Student Government Program Board. For more information on Black History Month events, contact Rozalia Williams at 561-297-3959 or rcwillia@fau.edu or visit http://www.fau.edu/communications/bhm.php
-FAU-
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts 10 colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu
