Black History Month observed

2/18/2008

Throughout the month of February, schools, colleges, and organizations will gather to celebrate the history, culture, and heritage of black Americans. Enjoy the food, music, and movies of African-Americans or learn the history of slavery or listen to the famous words of noted civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some of the events marking Black History Month include:

Today

•Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves, Jr., will speak on "Citizenship, Sportsmanship, and Scholarship," from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Libbey Hall at the University of Toledo. Reservations must be made by today by calling 419-530-2261. Judge Graves also will be the speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., scholarship benefit dinner at 7 p.m. in the UT Student Union auditorium. For tickets, call 419-383-3438 or 419-530-2508 for tickets.

•African-American barbers from Lima will offer free haircuts for the first 50 Ohio Northern University students who sign up and are present for the entire event. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Center at Ohio Northern University.

Tomorrow

•Children's author Marie Bradby will present "10 Books by African-Americans," at 9:30 a.m. in the Musselman Library Reading Room at Bluffton University. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Ms. Bradby will do a reading and book signing during a soul-food dinner at Bluffton's Ramseyer Residence Hall. The dinner is free for Bluffton students and $5 per person for Bluffton faculty, staff, and community members. Call 419-358-3077 for reservations.

•Daughters of the Dust, the first feature film by African-American writer and director Julie Dash, will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 2584 of the University of Toledo student union. Call 419-530-6206 for details.

Wednesday

•Darla Turner, author of Delayed But Not Denied, will sign books from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Office of Multicultural Student Services, Room 2500 of the student union at the University of Toledo.

•The University of Toledo's Black Student Union and the Muslim Student Association will present "Justice and Unity for Students," at 7 p.m. in Room 2592 of the Student Union.

Thursday

•A forum examining the life, work, and legacy of the late rapper Tupac Shakur will start at 11:30 a.m. in Dicke Hall Forum at Ohio Northern University. Lunch will be provided following the event.

•Multicultural Jeopardy will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the South Lounge of the University of Toledo's Student Union.

•Richard Jackson, assistant superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, will be the speaker at the Alumni Leadership Series at 6 p.m. in Room 2592 of the University of Toledo's Student Union. Food will be provided.

•Tongues Untied, a film screening and discussion of the gay black experience, will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. in Room 3018 of the University of Toledo's Sudent Union. Call 419-530-6206 for information.

•A showing of American Gangster, starring Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, will start at 10 p.m. at the University of Toledo Student Recreation Center. For information, call 419-530-2310.

•A showing of the Spike Lee film Bamboozled will be followed by a discussion about racism led by Ramona Coleman-Bell, a Bowling Green State University faculty member. The event will be held at the conference center of Owens Community College's Findlay-area campus on Bright Road. Time to be announced. Call 567-661-7421 for more information.

Friday

•Comedian Jay Lamont will be featured at this year's dinner theater sponsored by Bowling Green State University's Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives. Doors will open at 7 for the 8 p.m. performance. The $15 admission fee includes light refreshments. Doors will open at

6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. Saturday performance, a semiformal event with a cash bar and dinner buffet. Tickets are $20. Call 419-372-2642 for tickets.

Saturday

•The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will host live-history performer Rudy Barker, who will perform Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speeches, starting at noon. The event at the main library, 325 Michigan St., is free and open to the public. Various other activities are scheduled throughout the afternoon. For more information, go to www.toledolibrary.org.

•The Rev. Robert G. Bass will speak at 5 p.m. at the United Missionary Baptist Church, 2705 Monroe St., on "The Journey: From Slavery to the Present."

Feb. 25

•Striking tapestries that commemorate the legacy of African theologian Augustine of Hippo will be the subject of a meeting from 9:30 to

10:30 p.m. at Corpus Christi University Parish, located on Dorr Street, across from the south entrance of the University of Toledo's main campus.

Feb. 26

•A soul-food luncheon and lecture on the "History and Legacy of African Americans in Greater Toledo," will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Terrace View Caf at Owens Community College on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Robert Smith, founder and chief executive officer of the African-American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio, will speak. The cuisine will be prepared by students in the college's culinary arts program. Reservations must be made prior to the event. For more information, call 567-661-7421.

•Beyond Beats and Rhymes, a film by Byron Hurt, will be shown from 6 to 9 p.m. in Room 2584 of the University of Toledo's Student Union. Call 419-530-3431 for more information.

Feb. 27

•Janet Rozick, historic programs manager for the Metroparks of the Toledo Area, will speak about the Underground Railroad, including its stops in Northwest Ohio, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room 4 of Monroe Community College's Whitman Center in Temperance.

•Lourdes College will host an African-American History Celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Center Commons. The celebration will feature Juanita Greene from the City of Toledo Board of Community Relations; Craig A. Stough, mayor of the city of Sylvania; Shenikwa Stratford of WNWO-Channel 24; the Lourdes College Chorus and Good Company Ensemble with Director Karen T. Biscay; Scott High School Gospel Choir with Director Latoya Crawford, and the Toledo Interfaith Mass Choir with Director Derrick Roberts.

•Enjoy real hip-hop music from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Black Swamp Pub in the Student Union of Bowling Green State University. The night will feature original poetry, live bands, emcees, neo singers, smooth rock, rap, R&B, jazz, and hip hop. The evening is sponsored by the Black Student Union.

•"Night of Appreciation: African-American Art and Music," will start at 7 p.m. in the South Lounge of the University of Toledo's Student Union.

Feb. 28

•Dr. Dorothy Perry, University of Toledo visiting assistant professor for Africana studies, will discuss the critical leadership role played by women during the U.S. Civil Rights movement in a speech from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Catharine S. Eberly Center For Women, Tucker Hall 0180, at the University of Toledo.

•An African Tea will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Office of Multicultural Student Services, Room 2500 in the Student Union at the University of Toledo.

•Bluffton University hosts its annual Community Enrichment Day. High school students of color will learn about the admission process, financial aid, and opportunities at the school. Call 419-358-3306 or 419-358-3077 for more information.

Feb. 29

•A soul-food luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in the South Lounge of the University of Toledo's Student Union. The luncheon is presented by the Black Student Union.