SU Announces African-American History Month Events

SALISBURY, MD---The Salisbury University Office of Multiethnic Student Services commemorates African-American History Month and beyond with a series of distinguished speakers and arts events. Former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder keynotes the series 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, in Holloway Hall Auditorium. The country’s first African-American governor, Wilder was elected in 1989 in the same commonwealth that once denied him admission to its law schools based on his race. During his 20-year political career in Virginia, Wilder advocated fair housing legislation, labor union rights for public employees, increased minority hiring in private business and was regarded as one of the commonwealth’s most influential senators. For his service he received the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Medal. He now serves as a distinguished professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Public Policy. Wilder’s appearance at SU is sponsored by the Office of Multiethnic Student Services, Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts, Office of the Provost, Office of Student Affairs, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement and the Office of Cultural Events and Museum Programs. Soul Sounds takes the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, February 12, in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. The trio explores the history of African-American music from gospel to jazz and Motown to today’s hits through performances and visual media. The event is co-sponsored by the Union of African-American Students. Dr. Dean Kotlowski of SU’s History Department is the first speaker on this year’s main topic, the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning segregated schools through its landmark 1954 case Brown vs. Board of Education decision. Kotlowski presents the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion “Presidents and the Brown Decision” at noon Friday, February 13, in Fulton Hall Room 130. Dr. Ronald Walters, a professor with the University’s of Maryland’s Government and Politics Department, speaks at 7 p.m. Monday, February 16, in the Wicomico Room, Guerrieri Center, delivering “Brown vs. Board: What Has 50 Years Accomplished?” A visiting professor at Harvard University and author of six books on African-American politics, Walters is the distinguished leadership scholar and director of the African-American Leadership Institute at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership. SU’s Office of Cultural Events and Museum Programs offers “Manufacturing Culture: Representation and the Black Collectable” February 17-April 9 in the University Gallery at Fulton Hall. Displays examine memorabilia from the 19th and early 20th centuries and how they have contributed to African-American stereotypes such as Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose. The exhibit features the collection of Robert Smith of the Communication and Theatre Arts Department and others. An opening reception is held 6-9 p.m. Friday, February 20. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. weekends. SU’s African-American History Month commemoration ends with a third view of the Brown case as Janet Sims-Wood presents “Separate But Equal Has No Place” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11, in the Wicomico Room. Her presentation includes historic photos of school conditions in states represented in the Brown case prior to the verdict, as well as photos and information on celebrations of the case’s anniversary nationwide. The event is co-sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council and the Wicomico County branch of the NAACP. All events are free and the public is cordially invited. For information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.