JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 2, 2022) – East Tennessee State University will celebrate Black History Month in February with a range of events, school officials announced.
“At ETSU, we are proud to stand for diversity and inclusion,” said Dr. Daryl Carter,
a professor of history, associate dean and director of the Black American Studies Program. “The Black American Studies Program is thrilled to support these initiatives, and
I encourage students, faculty, staff and members of the community to consider attending
what events they can.”
Here’s a look at some of the events:
- Starting at noon on Feb. 2 at the Langston Centre, Carter will give a series of talks about the experience of Black Americans since 2001. These talks will happen each Wednesday, starting at noon, through the month of February. The Centre is located at 315 Elm Street in Johnson City.
- At 7 p.m. on Feb. 2, an interactive workshop on self-care will be held in the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center Presentation Room.
- Starting at 4 p.m. on Feb. 3, a film entitled, “I’m Not a Racist, Am I?” will be screened in the D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room 272. For more information, contact Stacy Onks at onkss@etsu.edu or call 423-439-6942.
- Starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center Presentation Room, The Black Affairs Association will host a discussion designed to educate and raise awareness of issues surrounding sex in the Black community, including health protection, relationships and intimacy in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
- At 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 8 in the D.P. Culp Student Center Collaboration Space 216, free HIV/AIDs testing will be held as the Black Affairs Association honors National Black HIV/AIDs Awareness Day.
- At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Bud Frank Theatre, entertainer Reggie Harris will perform. Harris is a well-known musician and storyteller. The Bud Frank Theatre is located inside Gilbreath Hall on Stout Drive.
- At 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the D.P. Student Culp Center East Tennessee Room 272, the Black Affairs Association will host an event titled “Shades of Black Discussion.” This event will feature a discussion between black and brown students from different regions of the world about their perceptions of colorism, being black at a PWI (predominantly white institution), and bridging the divide between African and African American students.
- Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 in the Cave at the D.P. Culp Student Center, the Black Affairs Association will host an event entitled, “Jerseys On: The Final Game Watch Party.”
- At 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 via Zoom, Carter and Dr. Megan Tewell will speak about Black history. Register for the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3r06se3.
- At 6 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Slocumb Galleries, Carter will participate in “Conversations on the Green Book” and the “Lost Communities of Johnson City.” The Slocumb Galleries is located on the campus of ETSU at 232 Sherrod Drive.
- Starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, the Black Affairs Association, as a part of “Unapologetically Black,” will host “Karaoke Night,” in the Cave 142 room located in the D.P. Culp Student Center.
- At 11 a.m. on Feb. 21 in the Cave 142 room located in the D.P. Culp Student Center, the Black Affairs Association will host the “Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels,” an exhibit that boasts a unique collection of inventions, rare artifacts, African art, sculptures, paintings and historical articles from black newspapers.
- At 6 p.m. on Feb. 22 via Zoom, Dorothy Roberts will speak about health care and Black Americans. Roberts is the author of “Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty.” Email waldenrr@etsu.edu for a Zoom link.
- At 6 p.m. on Feb. 23, Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin will speak about Black Appalachians. For additional information, contact Carter at carterda@etsu.edu.
- At 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the D.P. Culp Student Center, Martha Street Auditorium 101, the Black Affairs Association presents “Step Afrika!,” a performance that blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances, an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience.
- Starting at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Martin Center Recital Hall, the Black American Studies program and members of the ETSU Music Department will present “Celebrating Black American Composers.”
- At 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, the Black Affairs Association will be hosting an event entitled, “Semi-formal: The All Black Affair,” in Ballroom 316 in the D.P. Culp Student Center.
For more information regarding the Black Affairs Association and their month-long celebration “Unapologetically Black,” contact Brook’ale Anderson at etsumc@etsu.edu or call 423-439-4844. For additional information, contact Lydia Carr at carrlm@etsu.edu or 423-439-4339. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.