February 4-8: Roots Week, with discussions accompanying showing of
the movie Roots, Alex Haley's Pulitzer Prize-winning story of slavery
in America.
Feb. 4, 6 p.m.: Roots, with discussion on Strengths and
weaknesses of the African-American family, Laker Village South.
Sponsored by National Society of Black Engineers.
Feb. 5, 7 p.m.: Roots, with discussion, How can we uplift
African-American students at GVSU? Kirkhof Center.
Feb. 6, 7 p.m.: Roots, with discussion, Would things be
different if our great leaders were still here? Kirkhof Center.
Feb. 7, 7 p.m.: Roots, with discussion, Bush is in, where
does that leave African-Americans? Kirkhof Center.
Feb. 8, 7 p.m.: Roots, with discussion, Portrayal of blacks
in the media, Robinson Hall.
Feb. 9
, 8 p.m.: Apollo Talent Show. Cook-DeWitt Center. Sponsored by Black Student Union.Feb. 10
, 7-8:30 p.m.: Booktalk at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Rivertown Crossings Mall in Grandville. GVSU faculty members will discuss recent and classic works of African American literature, poetry, autobiography, and publications in African American history representing important areas of scholarly research. Leading the discussions will be Mitch Kachun, visiting assistant professor of History whose curriculum includes African American history and racial diversity, and Veta Tucker, associate professor of English and coordinator of the African and African American Studies Program.Feb. 15
, 7 p.m.: The Global African Presence: What They Didn't Teach You in History Class. Presentation by Runoko Rashidi, historian, writer, Pan-Africanist scholar and world traveler, focuses on the African presence globally. Eberhard Center, 301 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids. Sponsored by Black History Month Campus Event Committee and African-American Studies Program.Feb. 16
, 12:30 p.m.: Presentation by Runoko Rashidi, Kirkhof Center, Allendale campus.Feb. 16
, 6 p.m.: Soul Board, parody of game show, Cook-DeWitt Center. Sponsored by National Society of Black Engineers.Feb. 19
, 7 p.m.: Soul Food Dinner and Entertainment, Kirkhof Center. Sponsored by Black Student Union.Feb. 21
, 7:30 p.m.: Acclaimed storyteller and educator Rex Ellis will present a storytelling performance for the whole family at the Van Andel Museum Center, 272 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids. Ellis, author of Beneath the Blazing Sun: Stories from the African-American Journey, began using storytelling as a means of teaching African American history when he was director of black history presentations at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Ellis presently chairs the cultural history division of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. Ellis' appearance is sponsored by the Public Museum Foundation and Grand Valley State University. Admission is free, but seats are limited. Call 456-3977 to reserve a ticket.Feb. 22
, 12 noon-1:30 p.m.: Lecture by Rex Ellis. Ellis (see description above) will present a public lecture on the challenges of portraying historical, factual information through the lens of the entertainment industry. His talk, A Story of 'The Patriot': Presenting History to a Popular Audience, focuses on his experience as a consultant for the scenes involving African Americans on the set of the 2000 movie The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson. Admission is free. Cook-DeWitt Center, Grand Valley State University, Allendale campus.Feb. 26
, 2 p.m.: Presentation by Crystal Arlene Kuykendall, educator/attorney, Cook-DeWitt Center. Sponsored by Black History Month Event Committee.Feb. 27
, 5:30 p.m.: Presentation by Kevin Cokley, researcher, Kirkhof Center. Sponsored by Black History Month Event Committee.Feb. 28
, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Bone Marrow Drive, Kirkhof Center. Sponsored by Black History Month Event Committee.All month:
Food drive, donations given to God's Kitchen, sponsored by Minority Affairs and Social Work departments.
