Activities offer something for everyone during Black History Month

Black History Month organizers at NAU are hoping to start some of their own traditions this year.

Students from the Black Student Union, the Multicultural Student Center and from several residence halls teamed up to create a monthlong celebration in February of African-American culture that has something for everyone.

"We all share an American history that touches each of us in different ways, and hopefully everyone will be affected by at least one of these events," said Jamie S. Patton, senior program coordinator for the Multicultural Student Center.

Patton said organizers hope the informal "First Fridays" get-together for NAU's African-American community will become a monthly tradition.

Events throughout the month pay tribute to this year's theme: "From Freedom to Slavery-Africans in the Americas."

Highlights include a Black Faculty and Staff Mixer for both the NAU and Flagstaff community to get to know NAU's African-American faculty and staff.

Performances include an evening with comic Mark Curry and an afternoon event with NAU's Gospel Choir. Lecturer, singer and songwriter Byron Motley will discuss the Negro Baseball Leagues. An "Open Mic" night for poets or singers who wish to perform will help represent all voices on campus.

An array of films include: Higher Learning, a story about young people from different backgrounds being forced to integrate at Columbus University; Love Jones, a complicated romance set in Chicago; Rosewood, based on the true story of hate-fueled violence in a small Florida town; and Mario Van Peebles' New Jack City, chronicling the rise and fall of a New York City drug dealer.

The Multicultural Student Center is also sponsoring an HIV/AIDS awareness booth that will provide general information and how HIV/AIDS is affecting African-Americans.

"It is unfortunate that it's only a month, but I am grateful that NAU supports Black History Month," Patton said. "It's a part of American history that we all need to embrace."

A schedule of events is available online.

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