Valdosta State University Celebrates Black History Month

Black History Month in 2004 will be celebrated during several events at Valdosta State University concluding with a Black History Festival to be held on Saturday, February 28. The special activities are sponsored by VSU's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Multicultural Affairs.

?Sankofa: African-American Cultural Exhibit? will take place on Wednesday, February 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This African-American exhibit is hosted by Angela Jennings and will feature inventions, artifact and celebration of the culture. Jennings, who is an exhibitor of African-American history and cultural ambassador of goodwill, offers individuals a trip through African-American history and cultural heritage, while focusing on valuable contributions and accomplishments. Jenning is a resident of Denmark, South Carolina and her exhibit has been recognized throughout the state. She has presented at more than twenty higher learning institutions including South Carolina State University, Georgia Southern University, College of Charleston, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Wingate University.

?The Brothers,? featuring VSU's Dean of the College of the Arts, Dr. John Gaston, will take place on Friday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. in VSU's Biology/Chemistry Building Auditorium. This play focuses on some of the adversities African-American men face in today's society, and how the outcomes impact their relationships, families, and future generations. The program also attempts to stimulate dialogue that will produce solutions to the problems by African-Americans in this society. Dr. Gaston is a veteran actor and playwright and also serves as a professor of Communication Arts at VSU. He received his Ph.D in Intercultural Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The Black History Festival on Saturday, February 28 begins with a ?Pictorial History Exhibit, Historical Tour, and Lecture? at 10 a.m. in Room 163 of the University Center. A ?Playwright Workshop,? presented by Dr. John Gaston, will be held in Room 162 beginning at 12:00 p.m., and a ?Kiddie Corner? will also run from 12 Noon till 3:00 p.m. in Room 161. It will feature fun and games and art projects to be completed by workshop participants. ?Stories and Music of Africa? will be presented by Dr. Naim Abdur Rauf from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. His program features original and traditional African family oriented stories of moral character building, love for one another, and some just fun stories told in an African cultural format. The day's activities will conclude with a ?Multiple Intelligence Lecture? by Dr. Clemente Hudson, assistant professor in VSU's Department of Adult and Career Education. Dr. Hudson will lecture on ?understanding multiple intelligence, how it restructures our thinking, and how we view and value the contributions it brings to education.? Dr Hudson's lecture begins at 2:00 p.m. in Room 162.

For more information about Black History Month, please call (229) 333-5463.