UA Offers African American History Month 2017 Events

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Crossroads invites the campus and community to participate in events throughout February during African American History Month.

The theme this year is “Crisis in Black Education.” Events include a selection of artwork from the Paul R. Jones Collection and a roundtable titled “Challenges in Education: From Preschool to Graduate School.”

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For details, contact UA’s Crossroads at 205-348-6930. Events include:

Friday, Feb. 3

“Students of Color Leadership Summit” – 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Ferguson Student Center Ballroom. Co-sponsors: Blackburn Institute, Center for Service and Leadership, University Programs, Women and Gender Resource Center, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, National Association of Black Accountants, Ferguson Student Center, Bama Dining, Capstone International Center, UA Crossroads, Student Life Office of Assessment, University of Alabama School of Law, Career Center, Gender and Race Studies, Black Faculty and Staff Association, UA Counseling Center. Details: 270-779-8287

Opening reception: “Freedom? Selections From the Paul R. Jones Collection,” 5 to 7 p.m., Paul. R. Jones Gallery, 2308 Sixth St., Tuscaloosa. Exhibit runs through Friday, April 28. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday and to 8 p.m. the first Friday of the month. Sponsor: College of Arts and Sciences. Details: 205-345-3038.

Saturday, Feb. 4

“Fifth Annual Tuscalooa African Film Festival,” 2 to 11 p.m., Bama Theatre, Tuscaloosa. Tickets are $10. The event will start at 2 p.m. with a live performance of African Dance, music and storytelling, followed by an award-winning children’s animation movie. “Kirikou and the Sorceress” is a 1998 African film classic written and directed by Michel Ocelot and drawn from elements of West African folk tales. The adult program begins at 6 p.m. with two award-winning short films — “The Return/La Retour” and “Destino” — and the feature-length “Dazzling Mirage.” Co-sponsors: College of Community Health Sciences, gender and race studies, Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation, Afram South Inc. Details: Leslie Zganjar, College of Community Health Sciences, director of communications, 205-348-3079 or lzganjar@cchs.ua.edu,

Monday, Feb. 6

“Community Engaged Scholarship and Civil Rights Signposts”: Discussion with Dr. Hilary Green, assistant professor of gender and race studies. 6 p.m., 1803 Capital Hall. Co-Sponsors: Center for Community-Based Partnerships; Scholars for Community Outreach, Partnership and Engagement; Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Task Force Black History Month Art Exhibit. Details: 205-348-7392.

“Black History Month Art Exhibit Opening Reception”: 6 p.m., Ferguson Center Art Gallery. Exhibit runs from Feb. 6 to Friday, Feb. 10. Sponsor: Ferguson Student Center, 205-348-2827.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

“Challenges in Education: From Preschool to Graduate School”: Black history roundtable with Montré D. Carodine, professor of law. Noon, Hayes Conference Room (Room 344), School of Law. Sponsor: UA School of Law. Details: 205-348-4541.

 Wednesday, Feb. 8

“Diverse Reverse Career Fair,” 5 to 6:30 p.m., Rast Room, Bryant Conference Center. Sponsor: UA Career Center,  205-348-5848.

“Dead Presidents” film Screening: 6 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center, first floor of Riverside Community Center. Sponsor: Intercultural Diversity Center. Details: ua_idc@ua.edu.

 “A Seat at the Table: Black Women Biblical Interpreters,” with Dr. Nyasha Junior, assistant professor, Temple University. 11 a.m., Stinson Auditorium, Stillman College. An interview with Junior is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in Stinson Auditorium. Sponsor: Stillman College.

 Thursday, Feb. 9

“African American Heritage Month Trivia Night,” 7 p.m., 205 Gorgas. Teams of three to five can participate. Free pizza and prizes for winning teams. Co-sponsor: Women and Gender Resource Center, D.R.E.A.M. Details: 205-348-5040.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

“Women of Color: The Journey of Professional Womanhood.” Professional women of color will gather to share their experiences concerning being a woman of color in the world of higher education. 6 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center, first floor of Riverside Community Center. Sponsor: Intercultural Diversity Center.  Details: ua_idc@ua.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 16

 “Education, Poverty and Criminal Justice”: Black history roundtable with Bryan Fair, professor of law. Noon, Hayes Conference Room (Room 344), School of Law. Sponsor: School of Law. Details: 205-348-4541.

“Why Nott Talk: Second Stories,” 5:30 to 7 p.m., 205 Gorgas Library. Co-Sponsors: Southern Poverty Law Center on Campus, UA Crossroads, Summersell Center for the Study of the South, Blackburn Institute, New College, Black Student Leadership Council, department of history. Details: 205-348-6930.

 “Teen Talk and Tweets With Dr. Patton”: Features Dr. Desmond Patton, assistant professor, Columbia University. Dinner will by provided – RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/h2me8tr. 5 tp 7 p.m. in Rast Room, Bryant Conference Center. Co-sponsor: School of Social Work, Bryant Conference Center, UA Crossroads. Details: Dr. Karen Starks, UA School of Social Work, 404-922-4729.

Friday, Feb. 17

“For the Culture: Showcasing New Age Black Artists” opening reception: 5 p.m., Ferguson Center Art Gallery. Exhibit runs from Feb. 13 to 24. Sponsor: Ferguson Student Center, 205-348-2827.

“Innovating Gang Violence Prevention With Qualitative Analysis and Natural Language Processing”: African American Heritage Month colloquium with Dr. Desmond Patton. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rast Room, Bryant Conference Center. Co-sponsors: School of Social Work, UA Crossroads. Details: Dr. Karen Starks, UA School of Social Work, 404-922-4729.

Monday, Feb. 20

“The Black Belt and Beyond: Engaging Communities Through Community-Based Participatory Research”: with Dr. Christopher M. Spencer, director of community development. 6 p.m., 1803 Capital Hall. Co-sponsors: Center for Community-Based Partnerships, Scholars for Community Outreach, Partnership and Engagement, Project SOAR; the Black Belt Community Foundation, Center for Community-Based Partnerships. Details:  205-348-7392.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

“The Art of Storytelling”: Black history roundtable with Steven Hobbs, Tom Bevill Chairholder of Law. Noon, Hayes Conference Room (Room 344), School of Law. Details: 205-348-4541.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

“#BlackComedy: A Night of Comedy in a Handheld World,” 6 p.m., Creative Campus, Maxwell Hall. Sponsor: Creative Campus, 205-348-7884.

“Is God Colorblind? Christianity and the Perpetuation of American Racism”: Discussion, 8 to 10 p.m., Ferguson Student Center, Forum Room 3700. Sponsor: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Thursday, Feb. 23

“African American History Month Read-in”: 6 p.m., 205 Gorgas Library. To register, go to wgrc.ua.edu. Sponsor: Women and Gender Resource Center, 205-348-5040.

Monday, Feb. 27

“Killer of Sheep: Black Families and Poverty, 40 Years Later”: 4:30 p.m., Ferguson Student Center Theatre. Sponsor: English department, 205/348-5065.