Events at ASU recognize Black History Month
Arizona State University will celebrate Black History Month beginning Feb. 1 with a schedule of events for students, staff, faculty, alumni and members of the public.
The month of remembrance honors the history and heritage of peoples of African descent. Events will include a keynote speech, concerts, poetry readings, roundtable discussions and various guest lectures.
A list of events at all university locations is as follows:
Opening Candlelight Vigil
6:30 p.m., Feb. 2, Old Main Fountain, Tempe campus
Celebrate Black African ancestors, honoring the road they paved at the official kick-off event.
Cultural Appropriation: Stealing or Paying Homage?
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 7, Discovery Hall, room 250, Tempe campus
This one-day symposium discusses critical dialogue on cultural appropriation, cultural (in)sensitivity and awareness and political correctness. Workshops will feature intergenerational-expert speakers to elaborate and engage attendees on various forms of cultural appropriation, stereotyping and buffoonery, while offering historical perspectives and exploring the sociopolitical and cultural ramifications of these acts and behaviors. Register at https://cultural-appropriation-symposium.eventbrite.com. This event is sponsored by Project Humanities and Student and Cultural Engagement.
Opening Celebration and Gumbo Challenge
6 p.m., Feb. 7, home of Duku Anokye (off-campus location)
Faculty, staff and students university-wide are invited to partake in the challenge. RSVP or request more information by calling (602) 543-5300 or emailing westevents@asu.edu.
Peace Luncheon
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 11, Student Union Ballrooms, Polytechnic campus">
Join the Council of Religious Advisors and the rest of the Polytechnic campus for the 10th annual Peace Luncheon in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and Black History Month. Various faith groups will talk about how faith and beliefs help achieve peace on local, national and global levels. Seating is limited, so RSVP to Wadell Blackwell at wdellb@asu.edu. For more information, call 480-727-1165.
The moving account of Richard and Mildred Loving, who were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage. Their struggle culminated in a landmark Supreme Court decision, Loving v. Virginia (1967) which overturned anti-miscegenation laws in the United States. Sponsored by The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
#NoFilter: Conversations Amongst the ASU Black Community
7 p.m., Feb. 11, Student Center, Downtown Phoenix campus
#NoFilter is an opportunity for all students to engage in facilitated dialogue on current events pertaining to ASU and throughout the nation.
From PHD (Po Ho on Dope) to PhD: How Education Saved My Life – presented by Elaine Richardson
7:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Kiva, West campus
Elaine Richardson shares her story of sexual exploitation and other forms of bondage to promote healing and empowerment through education. Faculty, staff and students university-wide are invited to attend this personal lecture.
How Crowded is Your Bed
7 p.m., Feb. 12, Coor Hall, room 120, Tempe campus
The event features a dialogue to promote health and wellness in the bedroom and serve as a way for students to discuss appropriate romantic relationships. This event is sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and African American Men of Arizona State University.
Masquerade Ball
7 p.m., Feb. 13, Memorial Union, room 241, Ventana, Tempe campus
The Masquerade Ball welcomes the African and African American and larger community to engage in a positive atmosphere and connect socially. Originating from West African culture, masquerades are festive events that involve wearing masks. For ticket information, contact Kyle Denman at kldenman@asu.edu.
SafeZONE Workshop – Black History Month Edition
9 a.m.-noon, Feb. 17, Student Union, Polytechnic campus
SafeZONE is a workshop designed to increase the overall campus community's understanding and awareness of issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/ally (LGBTQIA) and other marginalized persons. SafeZONE was created to provide a more inclusive and accepting campus climate. To sign up for the training, visit https://eoss.asu.edu/safezone/workshops.
Even as slavery ended in the south after the Civil War, new forms of forced labor kept thousands of African Americans in bondage until the onset of World War II. Based on the 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same title by Douglas Blackmon. Sponsored by The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
Straight Talk about the N-word
5-7 p.m, Feb. 19, Cooley Ballroom, Student Union, Polytechnic campus
ASU professor Neal Lester will hold under a critical microscope this single word, described as “the most inflammatory, shocking and historic word in the English language.” The presentation considers the word’s “continually shifting use” through the complex discourse of American race relations. This event is organized in conjunction with Project Humanities.
14th Annual Pioneer Award Dinner
6 p.m., Feb. 19, La Sala B and C, West campus
Festivities will honor Pioneer Award Recipient and Foundation Professor Matthew Whitaker. The event will also include an awards ceremony, oral history, entertainment and reception/dinner. African attire is suggested. RSVP or request more information by calling (602) 543-5300 or emailing westevents@asu.edu.
Film screening: The Abolitionists
4:30 p.m., Feb. 26, Memorial Union, Pima Room 230, Tempe campus
A small group of moral reformers in the 1830s launched one of the most ambitious social movements imaginable: the immediate emancipation of millions of African Americans held in bondage, at a time when slavery was one of the most powerful economic and political forces in the United States. Sponsored by The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
Film screening: Freedom Riders
4:30 p.m., March 5, Memorial Union, Pima Room 230, Tempe campus
The Freedom Rides of 1961 were a pivotal moment in the long Civil Rights struggle that redefined America. Based on Raymond Arsenault’s recent book, this documentary film offers an inside look at the brave band of activists who challenged segregation in the Deep South. Sponsored by The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
For event updates, visit the Black History Month event calendar.