A lecture by a nationally renowned educator, author and civil rights activist kicks off Black History Month events at Grand Valley State University.
Activities begin on Wednesday, January 31, with a lecture by Mary Frances Berry, University of Pennsylvania professor of history and American social thought. Berry was appointed by President Carter to serve on the Civil Rights Commission, a position she held until 2004, despite once being fired by President Reagan (she won reappointment in federal court).
Berry is also one of the founders of the Free South Africa Movement, a former leader in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Carter, and past provost at the University of Maryland. Well respected by her peers, Berry has 32 honorary doctoral degrees and has received numerous awards, including the NAACP Image Award.
She is the author of seven books, including "My Face Is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations," and "Why ERA Failed: Politics, Women's Rights and the Amending Process of the Constitution."
Berry's lecture will begin at 8:15 a.m. on January 31 in the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids. It is free and open to the public; a continental breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and Berry will sign books at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about the event, contact the GVSU Office of Multicultural Affairs at (616) 331-2177.
Other Black History Month events are as follows:
- Monday, February 5: National African American Read-In. Teams of five GVSU students, faculty and staff members will travel to schools in Grand Rapids to read books by African American authors. The national event is sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
- Thursday, February 15: Opening reception for GVSU Art Gallery exhibit "Them: Images of Separation." A lecture by David Pilgrim, of the Ferris State University's Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, will be given from 4-5 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room. The exhibit runs February 12-March 21 at the Art Gallery, in the Performing Arts Center on the Allendale Campus.
- Friday, February 16: Blues from the Motor City, Jazz Giants of Michigan. Craig Benjamin, GVSU assistant professor of history, will lead an exploration through live music of the contributions of some of Michigan's great jazz artists. His performance is at 7 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center.
- Tuesday, February 20: From Chitlins to Chimichangas -- Cultural Perspectives from Grand Valley's Faculty and Staff. GVSU staff and faculty members will discuss the cultural influences of various ethnic foods. A sampling of foods will be available. The event will begin at noon in the Kirkhof Center, room 204.
- Tuesday, February 27/Thursday, March 1: "The Legacy of African American Women -- We Keep Coming." This play features a cast of GVSU staff, faculty and students and spans 100 years of Black women who lived and worked as suffragists. The February 27 performance is at 7 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center; the March 1 performance is 7 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Auditorium on the Allendale Campus.
Volunteers sought for read-in
Teams of Grand Valley faculty, staff and students are sought to
make a Black History Month event successful.
The National African American Read-In is scheduled for February 5 at various Grand Rapids public schools. It coincides with the national event, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
For the Grand Valley event, the Office of Multicultural Affairs is registering teams of five people or more to visit a school from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. that day and read books by African American authors to students. Departments and student organizations are encourged to register; individuals who wish to participate can also register and be placed on a team. Books will be provided by the school.
Register for the event by January 26 by calling OMA at x12177.
