University coordinates Black History Month events

Black fur trappers. Black Panther Party. Black law enforcement officers. The struggle for voting rights.

The topics are diverse, but they all are part of the discussion this month as part of 15 Black History Month activities at Southeast Missouri State University.

There's more to black history than the civil rights struggles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said Trent Ball, assistant dean of students and director of minority student programs at the school.

"We take seriously our responsibility to help educate the community," he said.

This year's events include programs that focus on the past, everything from a lecture by former Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale to Missouri's black history dating back to 1712.

Such history includes fur trappers, slavery and the era of ragtime music, Ball said.

"This year, the idea was to really look at historical pieces," he said.

"There were families in Cape Girardeau and the Bootheel that were very supportive of the civil rights movement," Ball said.

Ball said many Missourians, including blacks, are unaware of black history in the state and nation.

Information for all

The goal of Black History Month, he said, is to inform all Missourians about such history, not just black students.

Seale's lecture, scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Rose Theatre, will be one of the key campus events in celebration of black history.

But it is far from the only event.

Southeast has expanded its Black History Month activities by including lectures sponsored by different academic departments on campus.

Among the February events is a quiz bowl that tests contestants' knowledge of black history and culture.

But there are plenty of non-history activities too, dealing with topics from law enforcement to minority businesses.

Clarence Edwards, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, will lecture at noon on Feb. 23 at Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium.

"Our goal was to make sure we branch out in every area," said Ball. "We have quite a few African-American students who are criminal justice majors," he said, explaining the decision to bring in a law enforcement official.

Student regent India Jeffery, who is a black student from the St. Louis area, said it's important for students and the general community to learn about black history and the long struggle for civil rights.

"Learning from the past is the only way you keep from repeating things in the future," she said.

Getting busy students to attend campus lectures and other events can be a big challenge, Jeffery said.

As a result, a number of events have been scheduled for noon to make it more convenient for students to attend, she said.

The celebration of Black History Month also has been helped by the efforts of academic departments to offer programs that interest students in their fields.

"I believe we get a very diverse audience," she said.

All but two of the events are open to the public. Only two dinner events are by invitation only, school officials said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITES AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE

Wednesday

* One Voice, One Vote: A History of Voting Rights in the United States: An open forum on the struggle for voting rights for blacks, women and young adults, University Center Program Lounge, noon.

* Bobby Seale, co-founder and former chairman of the Black Panther Party, will speak on citizen empowerment and the struggle for civil rights, Rose Theatre, 7 p.m.

Thursday

* Second annual Artistic Expressions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream: University Center Ballroom, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 8

* Quiz Bowl: Contest tests knowledge of black history and culture, University Center Program Lounge, 9 p.m. to midnight.

Feb. 9

* Can You See Clearly Now? Advertising Images in Black and White: Discussion about current images found in television advertising and how they can provoke or prevent cultural change, University Center Program Lounge, noon.

Feb. 13

* Michael Davis Lecture: Dr. Reggie Murphy, director of research services for Gannett Co. Inc., will speak, University Center Ballroom, 7 p.m.

Feb. 14-18

* Open House at Minority Student Program Office: University Center, noon to 4 p.m. each day.

Feb. 16

* Promise of Leadership -- Challenging Young African-Americans to Assume Their Place in the World as Leaders: Panel of black professionals will discuss the responsibilities and challenges of becoming a leader.

* Minority Career Exploration Dinner: The event involves minority students in mentoring and networking activities designed to enhance their understanding of the value of higher education in the global marketplace, University Center Ballroom, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Feb. 17

* Quiz Bowl: Contest will test participants' knowledge of black history and culture, prizes will be awarded, University Center Missouriana Room, 9 p.m. to midnight.

Feb. 23

* Crimal Justice and Sociology Day: Clarence Edwards, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, will speak, Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium, noon.

Feb. 24

* Ronald McNair Scholars Banquet: Dinner honors both scholars and faculty members, University Center Ballroom and Party Room, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Feb. 26

* Hidden Treasures -- Missouri's Undiscovered Black History: Angela DaSilva, cultural preservationist, will discuss black history dating back to 1712 and its impact on the state today, University Center Program Lounge, 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 28

* Doing Business by the Good Book: David Steward, chief executive officer of World Wide Technology who founded the largest black-owned business in the United States and also authored "Doing Business by the Good Book," will speak, Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium, noon.

February and March 2005

* Eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Read-a-Thon: University students and volunteers will present multicultural readings and activities to prekindergarten to eighth-grade children in local schools.