Rhodes College Celebrates Black History Month 2010

Rhodes College is celebrating Black History Month with several events that are free and open to the public. For more information contact Sabrina Brown in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at browns@rhodes.edu or (901) 843-3529.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

February 4
Lecture by the Brown Sisters from Brown v. Board of Education BCLC Ballroom, 7 p.m.
The presenters are Cheryl and Linda Brown who are two of the children originally involved in the landmark decision Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The sisters remain committed to carrying on the Civil Rights legacy by working to promote diversity in education, business, and through civic leadership.

February 10
Lecture by Author Daryl Davis: “A Black Man’s Odyssey Into the Ku Klux Klan”
BCLC Ballroom, 7 p.m.
Davis has gained a truly unique perspective on the issue of racism and in his presentations tells of setting up surprise meetings with Klan leaders unaware of his skin color and attending KKK rallies.

February 12
Diversity Dialogue Series: Dr. Nancy Fairley of Davidson College Presents “Memories: Tales of White Folk”
Orgill Room in Clough Hall, noon
The presentation deals with how Black families prepared their children for racist encounters with Whites.

February 16
Film Screening and Panel: “I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life”
BCLC Ballroom, 7 p.m.
Following the viewing of the 30-minute documentary, a panel will take questions from the audience. The panel includes Elmore Nickleberry--one of the African American sanitation workers whose strike in 1968 precipitated the visit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis--as well as the film’s writer and producers.

February 22
Guest Performance: Jazz Pianist Ellis Marsalis BCLC Ballroom, 7 p.m.
New Orleans jazz pianist and father of Wynton and Branford, Marsalis is a major influence in jazz.
Tickets are required. After February 1, free tickets will be available at Rhodes Express on the Rhodes campus. (901) 843-3000.

February 23
"From The Heart Of A King" Performance
McCoy Theatre, 7 p.m.
A one-man show performed by Phil Darius Wallace, "From The Heart Of A King" is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that covers his life from child to the civil rights era. This story is told through song, dance, speeches, and poetry.

Events are sponsored by Rhodes’ Community Service, College Relations, First Year Programs, African American Studies, CODA, Student Involvement Lecture Board, Associate Dean of Students Office, Black Student Association, Psychology Department, McCoy Theatre and Multicultural Affairs.

Daily throughout February, WYPL FM 89.3 will play audio of Rhodes students interviewing Memphians who were involved in the Civil Rights movement. The broadcasts are sponsored by Crossroads to Freedom and the Memphis Public Library and Information Center.