As February begins, we mark Black History Month around the nation and at Brenau.
According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Carter G. Woodson suggested in 1926 that the second week of February should be dedicated to celebrating the history, culture and achievements of the Black community.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month, telling Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Nationally, this year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts, and Brenau has several cultural events planned in February.
On Feb. 22, the Humanities Department hosts C.M. Borroughs, poet and associate professor of creative writing at Columbia College Chicago, for Brenau’s Georgia Poetry Circuit series. The reading begins at 2 p.m. in the Trustee Library; Q&A will follow. More information is available on the Brenau event calendar.
The Black Faculty and Staff Association plans a number of events:
- Feb. 14 and Feb. 22: African Drumming session led by Kofi Mawuko at the Norcross Campus with graduate students
- Feb. 16: Spades Game Night. 5-6 p.m. Hopkins Dining Hall
- Feb. 19: Black History Trivia. 5-6:30 p.m. Hopkins Dining Hall
- Feb. 21: African Drumming Session. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Hopkins Dining Hall
- Feb. 22: Under the BaoBao Tree: Where Do We Stand? Zoom discussion
- Also, students who want to learn more about Black history can participate in the Black History Trivia event sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority starting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 20.
Visual and performing arts are an essential part of Brenau and are celebrated throughout the year. As Maya Angelou said: “No matter how difficult the conditions, art can flourish, and the human spirit will express itself.”
February also features the talents of faculty and students in dance and vocal performances and concludes with a play featuring Brenau University students participating in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Later this spring, Dancing Under the Bao Bao Tree: A Celebration of Dance Culture will be the first-ever cultural concert in Gainesville. This event is funded through a grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts, and more information is available on the calendar.
I hope you will join me at one or more of these events in February and throughout the year as an opportunity to delve into the history of Black experiences, honor the contributions of Black individuals, and strive for a more egalitarian community.
You can listen to the February episode of my podcast, Brenau Insight: Conversations with the President, on SoundCloud.
