Contact: Landon Gibson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擨n honor of Black History Month, Mississippi State is presenting a variety of free events on the Starkville campus throughout February, including a Black history exhibit in the Old Main Academic Center鈥檚 Louis Burns Brock, Jay Brock and Hank Brock Gallery.
Sponsored by 汤头条鈥檚 African American Studies program and University Archives, the exhibit titled 鈥淣othing New Under the Sun: The History of Black Students at 汤头条鈥 highlights the university鈥檚 Black activism and student life since Dr. Richard Holmes became the first Black student to enroll in the summer of 1965. The month-long showcase depicts the role of Black students on campus and their historical push for institutional change and acceptance.
鈥淭hrough images and documents from the Afro-American Plus Collection, the papers of Presidents Giles and McComas, and images contributed by the Society of African American Studies and Greek organizations, this exhibit shows the powerful history of Black student leadership on campus. In addition, it highlights recent work done by Black students to change the state flag in 2016, student participation in recent Black Lives Matter peaceful protests, and voter registration campaigns,鈥 said Jessica Perkins Smith, assistant professor for 汤头条 Libraries.
For a comprehensive list of all Black History Month events at 汤头条, view the schedule of events here or contact the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at 662-325-2033 for more information. Some highlighted upcoming events include:
鈥擣eb. 2, 6 p.m., 汤头条 Barnes and Noble, 鈥淏lack History Trivia Night.鈥 Sponsored by Student Activities, Presidents Commission on the Status of Minorities and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., attendees will be able to answer trivia questions in order to win prizes.
鈥擣eb. 5, 11 a.m-1 p.m., Drill Field, 鈥淲ear Red Day and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.鈥 Sponsored by Health Promotion and Wellness, students are encouraged to wear the color red.
鈥擣eb. 10, 6 p.m., Taylor Auditorium at 124 McCool Hall, 鈥淏lack and Blue.鈥 Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hosts a panel of open discussion with local and regional law enforcement.
鈥擣eb. 15, throughout the day, Virtual panel discussions will be held and can be viewed on the African American Studies website and 汤头条 TV. Follow @msu_aas. Topics include 鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Breathe: Teaching Black History and Anti-Racism Post George Floyd,鈥 鈥淔rom Gospel to HipHop: A Conversation on Intersections and Impact of Black Music,鈥 鈥淏lack in the Ivory,鈥 and 鈥淏lack in the Military.鈥
鈥擣eb. 17, 6:30 p.m., 汤头条鈥檚 Gender Studies and African American Studies programs virtually host聽鈥淲hat Hood Feminists Want You to Know: An Evening with Mikki Kendall.鈥 Kendall authored the New York Times bestseller 鈥淗ood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot,鈥 which Time magazine listed in their . Additionally, author Ibram X. Kendi rated the work as one of the for The Atlantic. Online registration is available at .
鈥擣eb. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., McCool Hall, 鈥淎 Seat at the Table鈥 conference sponsored by the Student Association is designed to equip minority students with the skills and confidence to get involved and become campus-wide leaders. Students will gain new skills while networking with other students and professionals. Beginning with a main keynote session followed by a variety of breakout sessions, students can engage in activities centered around diversity and inclusion, professional development and community engagement. Registration is available on .
鈥擣eb. 24, 3 p.m., 汤头条 TV live stream, Black History Month Keynote: Kiese Laymon. Laymon will discuss his new edition of 鈥淗ow to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America,鈥 with additional comments from Rhodes Scholar Field Brown. A question-and-answer session will follow.
鈥擣eb. 28, 7 p.m., Bettersworth Auditorium at Lee Hall, 鈥淎 Walk-Through Mississippi Showcase鈥 presented by 汤头条鈥檚 Holmes Cultural Diversity Center. This showcase will take attendees for a 鈥渨alk鈥 through Mississippi for a cultural extravaganza highlighting forms of Black art including spoken word, monologues, dance and song while honoring the history of African Americans in Mississippi.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .