Since June 2003, the Black History Month Committee has been planning quality programming for this year’s month-long celebration.
“During this year’s celebration, we are trying to focus on all aspects of life — not just life within the black community, but life in general,” Coordinator Oren Ruth, Jr. said.
Ruth said this year, the committee instituted a policy of quality over quantity when deciding what events to plan for the celebration.
“I am confident that when people attend these events, they will take what they witnessed about the diversity that exists within our heritage and share it [with] others,” Ruth said.
In a press release, Publicity Coordinator April Langdon-Shep-herd said the Opening Ceremony will take place Feb. 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the Union Atchafalaya Room.
Langdon-Shepherd also said all LSU and Southern student organizations can compete in the W.E.B. Dubois Quiz Bowl, where teams field questions on sports, history, government, education and other areas.
The Mr. and Miss Imani Scholarship Pageant, cosponsored by Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Phi Alpha, will occur Feb. 5. “‘Imani’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘faith,'” Shepherd said. “This principle is one of the cornerstones of our country and the African-American community.”
Events occurring later in the month include a performance by the Sankofa Poets and the Apollo players, a tribute speech from Bobby Seale, a panel discussion on the state of the black church and the College Family Reunion, which will be held at Southern University.