Black Studies Program
Reports Fall
Semester 2005
Spring Semester 2006
 Dr. Howard A. Mims |
The Howard A. Mims
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05
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Yolanda Burt of the CSU Career Services Center introduces the campus community to Dr. Vincent Terry and his Terry Learning Center (TLC) initiatives intended to utilize No Child Left Behind funding to stimulate an educational program for John F. Kennedy High School and the Lee/Harvard community. A number of teachers, community leaders, and CSU staff members also meet individuals affiliated with the Heritage House Foundation. |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Dr. Vincent Terry explaining how his operations will be like landing the Space Shuttle loaded with our children safely |
 Photo of Yolanda Burt of Career Services introducing the campus community to Dr. Terry, and his TLC Interests in the Cultural Center |
Saturday, August 13, 2005
  Actors discuss ways to research domestic violence, while Michelle Relerford reads for the lead role of Sophia in in this "Sister, I'm Sorry" Audition |
  Brenda Adrine reads for the role of Mama, while former cast of the Church N' the Mall's production of Fragmented Reunite at the audition for "Sister, I'm Sorry" |
 Neal Hodges and Anthony Harris join a "Sister, I'm Sorry" rehearsal to share their willingness to utilize their skills in Public Relations to assist with helping to get word out to the community about this world premeire production. Their strategy was to use a grass roots marketing strategy and an internet campaign. They discussed the general interest in this work that would stimulate a crowd because of its association with a project that engaged Blair Underwood and Greg Huskisson. Also, the community's attention to October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month was mentioned as another way to build an audience. |
Friday, September 2, 2005
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Dr. Murali Nair explaining to Dr. Michael Williams and other faculty from the Department of Social Work about Tsunami Relief strategies in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |
Dr. Murali Nair of the Department of Social Work reminds the community of the procedures that he used to acquire campus support for the Tsunami victims, while the CSU community responds to a call to organize a campus-wide information sharing session about the Katrina Hurricane Disaster relief efforts. A number of CSU faculty and staff met in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center to coordinate a follow-up meeting called by Dr. Michael Williams and scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2005 in the International Room.
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Monday, September 12, 2005
Students were recruited to complete applications to become Black
Studies Ambassadors, a team of students who accept speaking engagements
in the Greater Cleveland Community and support programs coordinated
through the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
 Photo by Prester Pickett of the Umoja Round Table with Michael Ryan and Angela Woodson |
 Angela Woods joins Magistrate Michael Ryan for an Umoja Round Table, "For A Just Cause," which discussed the interest that young people should have with the polical systems that govern the people |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Magistrate Michael Ryan |
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
 Photo by Prester Pickett of students line dancing in front of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |
The Black Studies Program hosted an Open House in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, which featured the Jazz Heritage Orchestra Quartet, DJ MickBoogie, Daoud's Puppets, Ground Control B-Boys, SirNoc, Spoken Word Artist Kecia Foster, and Culinary Arts by Ms. Carmichael. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of students enjoying refreshments and conversation in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |
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During the evening the Howard A. Mims African
American Cultural Center was the location for a reception for
NAACP ACT-SO visual artists, who displayed their visual works
of Art in the Wanda Coleman Gallery. In addition to providing
an excellent cultural exchange, this event was coordinated to
inspire greater numbers of high school students to participate
in the local ACT-SO competition in order to generate more contestants
for the national competition. The efforts with the NAACP ACT-SO
are coordinated by Jocelyn Travis, who is diligent in every way
to motivate the youth and develop their leadership skills.
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Jocelyn Travis explaining the guidelines for entering the NAACP ACT-SO competitions |
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 Photo by Prester Pickett of a high school spoken word artist showing her video footage from her trip to Milwaukee's national NAACP ACT-SO competition |
Thursday, September 14, 2005
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Melvin Hendrix introduced the topic of Perma Culture: Horticultural Enterprise Models for Economically Disadvantaged Communities through a Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture, which brings the community together to listen to local scholars and practioners who talk about their recent research or endeavors. His powerpoint presentation traced the history of the concept of Perma Culture and the need for current and future generations to learn how to rely on nature to sustain life. |  |
Friday, September 16, 2005
The African American Cultural Center continued its tradition of producing Bridges to Africa Celebrations. The program that was held on this evening emphasized Senegalese and French culture with particular regard to language. Dr. Tama Lea Engelking, Associate Professor of French for the Department of Modern Languages, moderated the dialogue between Thione Niang of TN International Services and Keba Sylla, who shared their unique perspectives from Senegal. The program opened with a presentation from the CSU Library of the film Ainsi Meurent Les Anges (And So Angels Die), which engaged in the Center a combination of French, Wolof and English. After the panel discussion the Nigerian Community of Greater Cleveland provided a Nigerian meal for all who attended.
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Photos by Prester Pickett of the Francophone Bridges to Africa Celebration which featured dialogue between Keba Sylla and Thione Niang, which was moderated by Dr. Engelking and enhanced by the Nigerian Community of Greater Cleveland |
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Monday, September 26, 2005
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Actors from the "Sister, I'm Sorry" Stage Play and members of the Antioch Baptist Church Book Club gather at Antioch Baptist Church to read the script intended for production at CSU on October 21-23, 2005. |  |
Friday, October 7, 2005
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Black Studies Ambassador Alicia Evans-Hayes introduces Maria Nordenback and the S:ta Clara Gospel Choir from Stockhom, Sweden to an audience gathered in front of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. The significance of the Negro Spiritual and African Americans' contribution to gospel music, which has spread around the world, was emphasized during this event. |  |
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The CSU Messengers of Joy Gospel Choir open for the S:ta Clara Gospel Choir. The Legendary Jerry Thomas, who coordinated their visit to Cleveland, Ohio, announced other presentations in the area where the S:ta Clara Gospel Choir planned to sing prior to their return to Stockholm, Sweden. |  |
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The S:ta Clara Gospel Choir experienced the diversity of the CSU campus by visiting the Viking Hall Residence Hall, where they dined in the Aramark Cafeteria and received a great variety of options for lunch, which included Swedish Meatballs. The choir then visited a rehearsal in the CSU Music Department with the CSU Chorale. |  |
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The joy that came from attending the CSU Chorale's rehearsal was witnessing one of the members of the S:ta Clara Gospel Choir being familiar with the piece that they were rehearsing and welcomed to join them singing. Although they only expected to observe the rehearsal, they were permitted to sing a gospel song and a traditional song from Sweden in their native tongue. The directors, Maria Nordenback and Dr. Betsy Burleigh, of both groups united for a historical photo that documented the power of music to bring people together from around the world. |  |
Saturday,
October 8, 2005
The Black Studies Ambassadors supported the African American Women's
Agenda Education Foundation's Post-Primary Mayoral Debate in Main
Classroom Auditorium. All eight candidates agreed to participate
in the debate if they were identified as one of the top two candidates
from the Primary Mayoral Election. In Frank Jackson's absence
at this event, Mayor Jane Campbell addressed questions from a
panel composed of AAWA and the directly from the audience.
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Black Studies Ambassadors Alicia R. Evans-Hayes (left) and Taimika King (right) with Senator C.J. Prentiss at Post-Primary Mayoral Debate |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Members of the African American Women's Agenda Education Foundation called to the forefront after the Post-Primary Mayoral Debate |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Debate Moderator Charissa Prunty and Mayor Jane Campbell |
Sunday, October 9, 2005
The African American Museum of Cleveland held a Grant Writing Workshop in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center with Dr. LaTrese Evette Adkins, a Post-Doctoral Fellow with athe Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College. This component of the workshop introduced general terminology used in grant writing and procedures for starting general investigations about grants via the internet. Both the Coleman Gallery and the Adams Technology Room were significant resources for this presentation.
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Grant Writing Wrokshop attendees in the Wanda Coleman Gallery receiving instructions from Dr. Adkins |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Nancy Nolan-Jones, Director of the African American Museum, introducing Dr. LaTrese Evette Adkins to workshop attendees |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Dr. Adkins observing workshop attendees searching for grant information on the computers in the Adams Technology Room in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. |
Monday,
October 10, 2005
 Photo by David C. Bonner of Prester Pickett and Carl Williams on the set of Culture Time TV |
Prester Pickett is recorded on Culture Time TV, produced by Barbara Cooper and hosted by Carl Williams, discussing the history of the "Sister, I"m Sorry" Stage Play. The intended date of broadcast for this interview was announced for Saturday, October 15, 2005, 6:00 PM on Adelphia Cable Channel 21. |
Thursday, October 13, 2005
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 Dr. Paula Mickens-English of the CSU Counceling Center presented an Umoja Round Table, "When the Goings Get Rough: Addressing Domestic Violence. She distributed information on ways to recognize a perpetrator and discussed the statistics associated with the general public and African Americans. |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Fred Ward greeting Diane Scott, who portrayed a policewoman in the "Sister, I'm Sorry" Stage Play, while Steve Acy reflects on Ward's presentation. |
Fred Ward presented an Umoja Round Table, which attracted twenty guests to the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. His topic was "Ward of the State," which traced his steps from being recognized as one of Cleveland's most notorious criminals to becoming a successful businessman engaged in legal million dollar activities. |
Thursday, October 20, 2005
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Friday,
October 21, 2005
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Danita Harris and Alicia Booth of News Channel 5 WEWS with Eric Davis, vocalist, and Bennie Tucker, Jr. |
Danita Harris of News Channel 5 and Alicia Booth are joined with Eric Davis, vocalist, and Bennie Tucker Jr., song writer and musician, to present an excerpt from "Sister, I'm Sorry," during the Noon broadcast. Additionally, Dinata Harris interviewed the Director and Playwright to discover how this world premiere in Cleveland was connected to Blair Underwood and producer Greg Huskisson and how this piece joined national efforts to address Domestic Violence.
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The Wolstein Center Box Office managed a record number of community guests, more than one thousand, who attended a Black Studies theatrical production. Two of the three performances almost reached audience capacity and standing ovations for all performances of "Sister, I'm Sorry" revealed the success of this "Edutainment" endeavor. |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of the "Sister, I'm Sorry" audience lined up to enter UC Auditorium at Cleveland State University |
Tuesday, October
25, 2005
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Early College Seniors learning about Test Taking Techniques in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |
Prester Pickett presented a portion of his Cultural Competency Workshop to 61 high school seniors from Early College. These students were guests at CSU through the CSU Career Services Center, which also took them to other departments and offices on campus. |
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Derrick Williams, Memorial Advisor for the Lakeview Cemetery, was
recommended by the Black Studies Ambassadors to join the Career Services
Center's Annual Fall Caeer Week, which featured him with professionals
from the Coroners Office, Cleveland Crime Lab, and DNA Agency on a
CSI panel--Career Scene Investigation: Careers in Forensics. He connected
his career in Mortuary Science to Forensic Science and explained to
students, who packed into the standing-room-only CSU Welcome Center,
how a well-rounded academic background can broaden the range of employment
opportunities for CSU students to consider upon graduation. This Career
Services panel was coordinated by Philomena Johnson from the Career
Services Center.
A second Career Services presentation was held later in the afternoon in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, That's Entertainment: The Buisiness of Show Business. This discussion was led by Prester Pickett, M.F.A., playwright, producer, and performer. Sonja Salaam was in attendance and shared her experience as an actress, playwright, and future director, who is beginning to advance with endeavors on a national scale. This Careers Under Construction--Your Blueprint to Career Success workshop was coordinated by Yolanda Burt of the Career Services Center.
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Derrick Williams greeting students after a Forensics Panel discussion |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Derrick Williams with Philomena Johnson |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Sonja Salaam explaining her interests in entertainment to Yolanda Burt |
Friday, November
4, 2005
| Carl Williams opens his Art Exhibition in the Howard A. Mims African American Culture Center with a reception featuring authentic Jamaican cuisine. Close to fifty guests greet him and view his collection of paintings, greeting cards, and holiday items. The reception was a historic moment with the largest gathering of area visual artists in the Center. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of area visual artists with Carl Williams |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Carl Williams with visual artist Alice Hill-Siefulluh during his reception  Photo by Prester Pickett of Monica, Caterer of Jamaican Cuisine |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Carl Williams explaining aspects of his works to Zaire of the Call & Post |
Thursday, November 10,
2005
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Dr. Maggie Jackson, Chair of the Department of Social Work, introduced Dr. Murali Nair, who opened his program on the Tsunami Aftermath. This program was featured selected readings from Tsunami Victims: An Anthology of Writings of Children In Kerala, India by Kisha Foster, Student Senator/Former Managing Editor of the Cauldron, and Prester Pickett, Coordinator of the African American Cultural Center. This program included a presentation of photos by Dr. Nair and Cassandra Guile, Student in the School of Social Work's Honors Program, which reflected aspects of their study abroad experience. Additionally, video excerpts were shown of footage of the waves and rising waters. The program concluded with Dr. Gregory Sadlek, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, giving closing remarks. The Black Studies Program was a co-sponsor of this event. |
November 10-13, 2005
| Both Prester Pickett and Ms. Ruth Reese represented the CSU Black Studies Program at the 15th Annual National Conference for the Association for Black Culture Centers. While in attendance they were able to network with colleagues at other institutions across the nation, who operate Black and Multicultural Centers . They also witnessed the interests and talents of students who were at the conference and excited about studying the diversity within the Black experience. Best practices were highlighted in Purdue University's Black Culture Center and other institutions across the country, which kept the CSU Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center representatives in good company. Programming ideas were generated, which immediately sparked an interest in bringing to Cleveland State University both Dr. Abdul Alkalimat, Director of Africana Studies at the University of Toledo, to discuss information technology from a Black Studies perspective and Poet Nikky Finney, University of Kentucky Student, to celebrate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks. Additionally, the book, Black Culture Centers: Politics of Survival and Identity, edited by Dr. Fred Hord revealed tremendous progress in an effort to reveal how Black Cultural Centers can contribute to the development of Black Studies curriculla through the missions of universities around the world. The conference concluded with an outstanding presentation by Dr. Howard Dodson, Director of the Schomburg Center, who revealed a willingness to partner with the ABCC and scholars around the world in sharing the rich legacy of African peoples. The Ebony Magestic Choir of Indiana State University kept the audience on their feet rocking and clapping with a festive jubillee for future prospects, while the Affrilachian Poets of Kentucky University motivated intellectual thought and the Purdue University Jahari Dancers celebrated what the "move" "meant." These accomplishments obviously applauded the hard work of Ricardo Nazario-Colon and UK staff as well as the leadership of Nathaniel C. Banks from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who is leading the ABCC towards a very bright future as its president. |
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Wednesday, November 16, 2005
 Photo by a Communications Major of Professor Sy Murray, Dean Mark Rosentraub, and Prester Pickett on the set of Urban Issues |
Prester Pickett joined Professor Sy Murray, Professor of Urban Affairs, on the Urban Issues Television Show discussing "Race & Environmental Justice in New Orleans" with Dean Mark Rosentraub, who hosted the show. |
 Photo by Prester Pickett of some of the members of the African Student Association enjoying fellowship in the African American Cultural Center |
The African Student Association, which holds its meetings in the African American Cultural Center, gathered this day in the Center to celebrate their participation in the International Day celebration in University Center atrium. Their table displayed some of the Center's artifacts with items collected by its members and was presented in harmony with other cultures from around the world. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of former Black Studies Ambassador Etta Abang with David Madir, President of the African Student Association |
Tuesday, November 23, 2005
Kay Teel of Memphis, Tennessee invited Prester Pickett to the school where she works to present a lecture on the African Grove Theater and their engagements with Shakespear scripts as well as a lecture on Harriet Jacobs' Life as a Slave Girl. These lectures were presented to two classes in the Middle College High School, which is housed at a community college. He was joined by his wife Bertha Lee Pickett, who presented a medley of Negro Spirituals, to show how Africans strategically used music to help secure their freedom.
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Thursday, December 8, 2005
Professor Neal Chandler, Director of the CSU Creative Writing Workshop, met regularly throughout the semester with his students in his ENG 305/602 Creative Non-Fiction Workshop in the Coleman Gallery on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition to students enjoying the
aesthetics of the revolving exhibitions, they were able to become
acquainted with faculty members in a space dedicated to preserving
the legacy of the African experience in America and abroad.
This arrangement also exposed a number of students who utilize
the African American Culture Center to Professor Chandler and
the variety of courses offerred through the English Department. |
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| The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice--Ohio hold their meeting in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. They were welcomed by both the Coordinator of the Center and the Director of the Black Studies Program. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of the union between the incoming and outgoing exective officers of the NABCJ-Ohio (Top Row: Leslie Blackmore, Cassandra Hill-Gunn, Mandel Hooks, Jevonda Hill, and Garey Burt. Front Row: Tisha Hannell, Latoya Jones, and Staci Freeman) |
| The National Association for Black Social Workers (Cleveland Chapter) meet in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center to discuss their plans for developing an city-wide Kwanzaa Celebration. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of the NABSW meeting |
| The Crusade for Christ Leadership Committee meeting revealed how various student organizations make use of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. The display of African fabric on tables outside of the Center is a welcoming appeal to students, community members and guests to our campus, who also find their way into the Center to meet other students and discover flyers and brochures that announce activities in the Greater Cleveland community. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of the Crusade for Christ Leadership Committee Meeting |
| Thursdays are also busy with the Center being regularly used by the Messengers of Joy for their Bible Study, the Men of Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity, Incorporated for their Study Table, and the African Hebrew Israelites for their Study Sessions. |
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Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Dr. Dwayne Wright, a professor in Curriculum & Foundations, sat in his African mud cloth attire to the right of his guests, Dr. Edward Young, former Cleveland Public School District Board Member, and Ms. Geraldine Dockery, a retired Strategic Facilitator currently employed in the Office of the School of Management, in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. He invited them to the Center to present a lecture, "Racial Politics in Urban Education: A Historical Perspective of the Cleveland Municipal School District," which integrated their first hand experiences with candid remarks about the efforts to desegregate the District. According to Dr. Wright, who coordinated this event in conjunction with his course (EDB608--School and Society and the American Past), "desegregation greatly altered the educational system in Cleveland and marked profound changes in the composition and the operation of the city's schools." This program was significant because of the limited understanding by the general public about issues regarding desegregation policies. In addition to giving a greater exposure to the students about the topic, Dr. Wright helped them see how the African American Cultural Center supports of the mission of the Black Studies Program. This experience highlighted how the Center offers brings together academicians, community members and students in a setting that fosters open and honest dialogue.
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Saturday, December 10, 2005
| Members of the 5th US Colored Infantry meet in the African American Cultural Center to discuss their interest in helping the Black Studies Program celebrate Rosa Parks during its 2006 MLK Day Celebration by posting The Colors as well as creating a scene from history to be depicted in a Living Museum exhibit, which is tentatively scheduled as part of the 2006 Black History Month Celebration. They confirmed their interest in holding their regular meetings in the Center and contributing to the excitement about Black history through their historical reinactments. |  Photo by Prester Pickett of 5th US Colored Infantry Meeting in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
The Tuskegee Airmen held their regular second Tuesday of the month meeting in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. They conducted their business and elected new officers for the next year. They also received a presentation by William Holdipp Jr., Manager of Research and Member Services for the Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO). CAAO is an umbrella organization of 24 black professional organizations in Northeast Ohio. CAAO assists the individual members of these organizations with entrepreneurial development and career development. Additionally, they reviewed a report by Roger Cram of Hiram College about his success with a celebration for the Tuskegee Airmen, which attracted over fifty guests to the African American Cultural Center. Highlights emphasized the success of his course, which he teaches about the Tuskegee Airmen at Hiram College (http://www.hiram.edu/tuskegeeairmen) Their meeting concluded with their excitement
about the discussion of another film on the Tuskegee Airmen
and the acquisition of autographs on posters by two of the original
Airmen. |
Tuesday, February 1, 2006
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The opening event for Black
History Month 2006 was the lecture The Revolution Just May
Be Computerized: Black Studies and Information Technology by Dr. Abdul Alkalimat. This lecture was originally scheduled
to be held in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center,
but due to the outstanding response to this event, it had to be
moved to the International Room. Entreprenuer Terrence Travis
introduced his work with the development of Cleveland365.com,
which exited the audience about the work that was being done in
Cleveland to promote and preserve Black culture electronically. Dr. Abdul Alkalimat explained how the title of the lecture reflected the line in a Gill Scott Heron poem, which states "The revolution will not be televised." Dr. Alkalimat explained how the computer could be used as an equalizer in regard to getting information to many of those who were once deprived of information. His description of his work in building web sites as well as educating the community about the methodologies used to navigate in the technological field enlightened an audience of approximately forty guests. Students in Dr. Michael Williams' Social Work course were in attendance and encouraged to apply this lesson to his course on Social Policy. Additional guests in the audience included Dr. Maggie Jackson, Chair of the Department of Social Work, Dr. Edward McKinney and community advisory committee members for the Black Studies Program Abdul Qahhar and Ms. Freeman. The intrigued audience stayed well after the lecture to meet and talk to both Dr. Alkalimat and recommendations were received to schedule his next appearance some time in the very near future. |
Photo
by Prester Pickett of Dr. Abdul Alkalimat lecturing as part
of 2006 Black History Month Calendar in the International
Room
Thursday, February 2, 2006
 Photo by Prester Pickett of Bennie Tucker, Jr. rehearses Alicia Alexander for a tribute to Robert Townsend and the work he did with Five Heartbeats.  Photo by Prester Pickett of CSU Student Jeremy Scott rehearses his song for a tribute to Spike Lee and the work he did with Malcolm X. |
Rehearsals commensed for "Keeping it Reel: A Celebration of African Americans
in the Film Industry." Bennie Tucker, Jr. was confirmed
as the music director for this project and began teaching the
songs that are part of the tribute, which is scheduled for Saturday,
February 25, 2006. He will be joined by fellow musicians and
vocalists Rob C, Focus, and Jeremy Scott. Also Michelle Relerford
(Channel 5 News), Dee Perry (WCPN/WVIZ Idea Stream), and Kevin
"Chill" Heard (Call & Post) agreed to host the
event as narrators. |
Sunday, February 5, 2006
 Frederick Taylor with Dr. A. Grace Lee Mims, who instructed him in Voice at the Music Settlement |
 Obadiah Baker |
 Twins for Christ danced and announced their acceptance into Ohio State University |
 Chris Webb presented his original poetry  Voices of Open Door sang gospel music |
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Prester Pickett served as MC for the Of Thee I Sing Community and Culture Celebration in Drinko Recital Hall which featured Obadiah Baker from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Maryland and Frederick Taylor from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. This event was sponsored by the CSU-Music Department and Rainey Institute.
Thursday, February 9, 2006
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Robert Roche presented his Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture, "Harmony with Many Nations: Ohio's History of the in the Underground Railroad with Native Americans," in the International Room instead of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center because the audience grew beyond the capacity of the Center. Students from Early College joined in the lecture which was introduced by Dr. Beverly Lloyd, Chairperson of the English Department at Early College. |
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Friday, February 10, 2006
BRIDGES TO AFRICA
Dr. F. Komla Aggor provided materials that assisted an intimate gathering of almost fifteen with seeing Ghana as one of the many countries in Africa. The first part of a lesson that he presented before he joined a general open dialogue was related to the names that males and females are given at birth through a particular tradition based on the Ghanaian names of the days of the week. Since he was born on a Tuesday he recieved the name "Komla" just like other males who were born on this day of the week. Additional conversations with Alex Kyerematen, a student from Ghana studying at the College of Wooster, allowed guests to overcome the challenge of pronouncing his last name with the lesson that "Ky" is pronounced like "ch" before he discussed the challenges that he faced with his interests in establishing stronger relations with African Americans. Another guest speaker was Robert Amoah, who is a CSU Alumnus, who helped establish the first Bridges to Africa Celebrations. Offering a perspective from a woman's point of view was Vivian Atsu.
 CSU Alumnus Robert Amoah talks about his experiences relocating to Cleveland, Ohio from Ghana. He also recalled his excitement in helping to establish the first Bridges to Africa Celebrations through the African American Cultural Center |
 Dr. Aggor explains the challenges that Africans face when they relocate to America and the struggles that they address when they return to their home lands |
Overall, there was brief review of the general challenges that native Africans face when they migrate to the United States of America to acquire an education. The first hurdle that is jumped is in regard to the stereotypes that emerge due to the lack of information that African Americans have about Africa in general and specific countries like Ghana. The media has developed an image about African Americans that also creates distance between the desired positive relationships. Additionally, many families that host Africans are in large numbers European Americans. Finally, there is the age difference in many of the natives from Africa, who come to study after acquiring formal training in their countries that often teach them to speak sometimes two or three other languages. An older student is less likely to want to attend the same type of parties that students who have just completed their high school diplomas would want to attend.
Vivian Atsu from Ghana unites with Ms. Dionne Carmichael, one of the members of the Black Studies Community Advisory Committee, and shares how her husband is a current student at Cleveland State University after her presentation on the Bridges to Africa panel |
 Alex Kyerematen, a College of Wooster student, sits on the panel and reviews some of the material that Dr. Aggor presented to describe some of his work at John Carroll University as a Professor of Spanish and Chair of the Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Cultures |
Conversations about the impact of colonialization and capitolism were related to why many Africans wear western attire, moreso, even in Africa. The expense of traditional garments was announced to have priced Africans out of their ability to wear African clothing. Other impacts included the development of Hip Hop culture. The main discussion centered on the common experience of what W.E.B. DuBois explained as a double consciousness. Many of those from Ghana who were in attendance agreed that it is sometimes difficult to relate with many of their peers and relatives upon their return to Africa. While some of their friends and relatives hold them in high esteem for coming to America, others feel as if they have distanced themselves from their people in more ways than one. Many African Americans announced their experience in being estranged from their family and community after acquiring an education. The idea of "living in two worlds, but coming home to one," seems to be a common thread in the fabric that unites African descendants.
The collective group expressed its interest in visiting the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio to experience a portion of their African Week Celebration.
Saturday,
February 11, 2006
GET ON THE BUS
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A trip to the African American Museum in Detroit, Michigan was planned as a second annual "Get On the Bus" Black History Month excursion. This group preceded a bus of CSU students, which visited the museum the following week. The trip was successful and engaged community members with support from Black Studies Ambassador Taimika King, who quized those on the van for the duration of the trip with Black history trivia questions. The youth that attended this trip were members of the Community Re-Entry program with the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. They were excited about encouraging their classmates to improve their knowledge of Black History/American History/World History. |
Sunday, February 12, 2006
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The delegation from Flint, Michigan were welcomed to the campus of Cleveland State University by the Coordinator of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center/Assistant to the Director of Black Studies. They were first able to view the International Room on the ground floor of University Center Building, where the opening Black History Month event was held with Dr. Abdul Alkalimat. Afterwards they viewed the University Center Atrium and its main floor with Campus 411, Mobile Campus, and the Computer Lab. Most importantly they saw the Master Plan which revealed the New Look of CSU with drawings of the New Student Recreation Center and the Fenn Tower Dormitories. Their visit exposed them to the success that the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center has had with achieving certain components of the University's mission. Its programs, but most importantly its partnerships with other community institutions, organizations and agencies were highlighted as a key in how so many goals are accomplished. The group was welcomed into the Center
with the music of the Jazz Heritage Orchestra playing in the
background. The modest space was explained to the be headquarters
for planning events in other venues on the university's campus
as well as in the community. The Wanda Coleman and Frank Adams
Rooms were described as multi-purpose spaces where both student
organizations and community organizations like the Tuskegee
Airmen, 5th Colored Infantry Company G, the Nigerian Community
of Greater Cleveland, Women of Racial and Economic Equality
and NAACP ACT-SO Planning Commitees meet to provide greater
knowledge and appreciation of the history, life, arts and culture
of peoples of African descent. |
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Students came together at 12:00 Noon to enjoy scenes from Karamu House Theater's production of The Colored Museum, by George Wolfe. Afterwards several male and female students from Cleveland State University competed by answering questions about Black History. A final four students (2 males and 2 females) responded to the greatest number of questions to receive the winning prize of being paired to receive an all-expense-paid evening in Tower City. They left the campus to receive an elegant dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, where their waitress Mary made the meal very delightful. Afterwards, they received a tour of the facilties by Front of the House Manager Bruce Benson. His hospitality encouraged the students to appreciate their investment in their education, which would lead to a career that could afford several stays at the Ritz-Carlton. They were most impressed with their visit to the President's Suite, which was announced to be available that evening for a modest $10,000 for the night. Seeing the Club and Fitness Center was also inspirational. Great appreciation was expressed to Julie Southwick, who arranged this exposure and the accomodating hotel staff who maintain a high class environment for all of its guests.
 The Dating Game: Show Some Love for Black History contestants write their response to a question |
 Winners of the Dating Game |
 Winners began their date at the Ritz |
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Scenes from Karamu House Theater's production of The Colored Museum were then presented to encourage the students to purchase tickets at special rates for CSU |  |
 Bernetta Fisher, Theater major, enjoys the thought of relaxing in the spa after a workout in the gym and a massage as part of the tour of the Ritz Carlton facilities |
 Frank Brown, Electrical Engineer major, and Tamera Jones, Accounting major, select a course for their meal at the Ritz Carlton |
 Winner of the Dating Game Go Select the film of their choice at Tower City Cinemas |
The evening progressed after the dinner and tour with tickets to Tower City Cinemas, which were provided by Barry Roberts, General Manager, who was willing to invest in this CSU Black History Month Celebration. Finally, the students received tickets to attend a full performance of The Colored Museum at Karamu House Theater through the kind support of the CSU Department of Student Life by Anitah Bryant, Campus Programming Specialist who manages the City Is Our Campus Ticket Program. If they attend the play as a couple, they will receive another token gift.
The recipients of this life-inspiring opportunity were Frank Brown, Bernetta Fisher, Charles Tucker, and Tamera Jones.
| A lecture on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches was presented at 1:00 PM by Prester Pickett for the Relious Studies/Black Studies course on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X on behalf of Instructor Gloria Channey-Robinson. This lecture included an oration of excerpts from the "Drum Major", "Mountaintop", and "I Have a Dream" speeches as well as a reading from his "Letter from the Birmingham City Jail." |
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
| The LINK Program coordinated through the Career Services Center with Mr. Ronald Jones, CEO of The Copious Group, a Professional Development Workshop in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |  |
Thursday,
February 16, 2006
 Ms. Alberta Crayton is announced to be the oldest guest on record ever to visit to the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. She is 101 years young and also holds the honor of being born on Christmas day, December 25, 1904 in Birmingham, Alabama. |
The Eliza Bryant Village brought a bus load of elders to participate in a celebration of Langston Hughes' poetry, which was presented by Prester Pickett. The presentation also was quite enlightening as the elders talked about their migration stories and social activities, which corresponded with some of Langston Hughes' poems. They remembered when they were the age of college students and recalled landmarks and facilities that used to attract large numbers of African Americans. Names of active churches, popular performers and professional athletes were also part this creative way to bring Black History to the forefront through individuals ready and willing to teach, yet, another generation and engage in community building activities.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Abdul Qahhar presented a lecture on how Malcolm X was influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey and his parent's involvement with the Back to Africa movement. The lecture was stimulated with an opening of a Malcolm X speech delivered by Steve Acey. This presentation allowed the actor to talk about his interests and the intent in presenting a dramatic presentation to bring attention to the day that is remembered in history for the assasination of a great Black leader. A raffel was conducted by Dr. Sanza Clark to identify a winner of two tickets to the Ohio Player's Concert at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from the Black Studies Community Advisory Committee. The standing room only audience in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center included special guests from the Elyza Bryant Village and members of the CSU community. The center was also engaged that day with a meeting with the Black Faculty and Staff Organization as well as the Black Student Union. |
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 Gerald Ford of YO Cleveland with award recipient and his career coach |
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 A former Black Studies Ambassador who graduated from CSU provided inspiration to YO Cleveland students |
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Photo by Prester Pickett of CSU Black Studies Ambassador Roy-Allen Bumpers |
Roy-Allen Bumpers sits at a table representing Cleveland State University as a Black Studies Ambassador willing to distribute information about Black History Month activities and the Black Studies Program to more than two hundred who attended the Fatherhood Fair, which was sponsored by the Including Fathers Committee and the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. He was also able to hear a speech about fatherhood, which was presented by Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and visit the other tables that highlighted agencies and services that could benefit his development as a new father. |
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Anthony Kellon, Esq., and Andrew Jarvi address the topic of Blacks and the Civil War from their engagements with the 5th US Colored Infantry (Company G) in the evening in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center |  |
Thursday, February 23, 2006
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Future employees in the Greater Cleveland communiity receive a lesson in Cultural Competency by the Coordinator of the African American Cultural Center at Antioch Baptist Church as part of their Project Genesis. |
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Rudy Ray Moore, better known as "Dolemite," had his acceptance speech video recorded by Prester Pickett in Terrence Reynolds' studio because he had to fly out of Cleveland prior to the "Keeping It Reel" Black History Month Celebration, which was acknowledging him as "The King of Comedy." He was recording the music to a CD for a soundtrack featuring the lyrics "I Wish It Would Rain." He spoke about his ventures in entertainment and how he left Cleveland and returned after serving in the Army to be groomed by his mentor. He was joined in the studio by his son, who resides in Akron and a number of local area musicians who were putting the finishing touches on CD. He announced his prospects of returning to California to start efforts with a movie that would chronicle his life's accomplishments and remind younger comedians that there is a legacy that precedes them. |
Friday, February 24, 2006
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Instructor Linda Price provides a Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lecture in the Wanda Colman Gallery on August Wilson for approximately twenty-five guests. Included in the audience was Dr. Louis Barbeto, Chair of the English Department, who co-teaches the course on August Wilson's works. A piano was borrowed from the Music Department to add to the room's aesthetic value, since she was concentrating on Wilson's The Piano Lesson. |
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Alice Lasoi, a Maasai woman from Kenya, who was a guest of Dr. Barbara Hoffman, CSU Professor of Anthropology, displays cultural artifacts in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. She welcomed questions from a group of high school students who were visiting the campus and CSU students and community members who attended that day's Black History month celebrations. |
Saturday, February 25, 2006
THE BLACK STUDIES AMBASSADOR ORATORICAL CONTEST
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 Demetris General, a 10th grade student from Martin Luther King Law and Public Service, wins 3rd place ($75) for his presentation of Margaret Fishback Powers' "Footprints" |
Additionally, the judges were able to give positive feedback to the students after their presentations and encourage them to begin to prepare for the local NAACP ACT-SO Competitions and maintain the asperations of being able to represent Cleveland, Ohio in the national competitions in Washington, D.C. this summer. |
THE LIVING MUSEUM
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Andrew Jarvi introduced guests to the Living Museum exhibition on the 5th US Colored Infantry, Company G. |
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The next historical figure guests were introduced to was Langston Hughes, who was seated just inside the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center at a typewriter. Hughes was represented by Andre Brown, a member of the Cleveland African Grove Ensemble.
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The Honorable Mayor Frank Jackson was part of the Living Museum through the talent of Rodney Freeman. |
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The Honorable Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was part of the Living Museum through the presence of Marketa (Fuller) President, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. |
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Malcolm X was part of the Living Museum through the talent of Anthony Nickerson-El, a community actor and Fire Fighter for the City of Cleveland. |
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Dorothy Dandridge was part of the Living Museum through the talent of CSU Student Octabvia Hood, a Black Studies Ambassador |
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Frederick Douglass was part of the Living Museum through the talent of Michael Crutcher, an actor from Kentucky who is nationally recognized for his historical portrayals that allow audiences to receive responses to their questions while he remains in character. |
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Sarah Vaughn was portrayed in the Living Museum by Vidah Saeed. Additionally, the video The Ladies Sing the Blues played on a small monitor to inform the audience about Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters and others. |
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Hattie B. Alexander was represented in the Living Museum by the Girls Assembly of the State of Ohio OES, PHA, No. 40, Cleveland. |  |
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Frederick Douglass had a chance to greet a bus with students from the College of Wooster, who came to Cleveland to see the Living Museum and "Keeping It Reel" |  |
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Frank Teel Jr, a resident in the Buckeye Woodland community, came to the campus to meet Living Museum Frank Jackson and stand with Sarah Vaughn. He left the event thinking that had actually met Frank Jackson since Mr. Freeman looked so much like him and was able to convince him to join his campaign. |
KEEPING IT REEL: A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
 Anthony Nickerson speaks as Malcolm X in a tribute to the film Malcolm X by Spike Lee |
 The vocal group Focus sings "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" in the Keeping It Reel Tribute to Coolie High |
 Rob Coleman sings "Georgia" as a tribute to the movie Ray |
 Vidah "Vidiva" Saeed singing "Miss Celie's Blues" in the Keeping It Reel tribute to The Color Purple, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey |
 Eris Dyson presents her original poetry to D'Angelo Sullivan in the Keeping It Reel tribute to Love Jones |
 Bertha Lee Pickett sings for the tribute to Waiting to Exhale |
 Andre Brown and Dezmond Peterson recreate a scene to tribute Best Man |
 D'Angelo Sullivan and Angela Thomas appear in a tribute to Richard Roundtree and Ron O'Neal with a memory of Superfly and Shaft, which resembled some the success recently experienced by Terrence Howard, another product of the Greater Cleveland community. |
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 Television and Radio Celebrity Dee Perry, who hosted the evening tribute with Silver B, presented the King of Comedy award to Rudy Ray Moore. Accepting the award in his absence was Octavia Hood who stood as Halle Berry in the show |
 The 5th US Colored Infantry (Company G) gave a special tribute to Glory and the work of Morgan Freeman and Denzell Washington |
 Local film maker Alex Michaels was by to announced his success with a current film project |
 Alicia D. Alexander and D. Angello Sullivan gives a tribute to Robert Townsend and The Five Heartbeats |
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 David Velo Stewart, native Cleveland film maker stopped by to announce his reached goal of 1/2 million dollars for his next film project |
   216 Beat Riders Keeping It Reel for Break dancing in films |
 Keeping It Reel also gave a tribute to the potential for the next soundtrack for a future film to come out of Cleveland, Ohio with Deep 3 |
 Intensity Keeping It Reel for Poppin' in films  CSU
Hip Hop Dance Company Keeping It Reel |
 Ruben's Crew Keeping It Reel |
Ruben gave a full performance to tribute the first formal Hiphopera, which was produced in Cleveland, Ohio as part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's international Hiphop conference and Carmen Jones: The Hiphopera by Robert Townsend |
 Ruben's Crew Keeping It Reel |
Sunday, February 26, 2006
 The Black Studies Ambassadors assist with the first Black History Month Program as vocalists, musicians, and speakers at the Rivers of Living Water Apostolic Church on Cleveland's West side of town.   |
 Prester Pickett is joined by Black Studies Ambassadors Jason Rives, Jessica Locust, and Jason Locust with a lecture and artistic presentation at Rivers of Living Waters Apostolic Church |
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
The Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center was represented at Fairhill's 16th Annual Black History Luncheon, which carried the theme "Bringing Black History Into Focus--A Celebration of People." The keynote speaker was Margot Copeland, Executive VP, Director, Civic Affairs and Corporate Diversity, Chair of Key Foundation. Her presentation wasn't restricted behind a podium but led her to take center stage between an enlarged photograph of Ms. Coreta Scott King and Rosa Parks, which presented a larger picture of who had her back. She highlighted the fact that Black History is American History through her message that introduced who she was in contrast to what she does. Her personal history promoted the experiences of her parents in Pertersburgh, Virginia who had her while they were in their forties. Her mother had a business degree but could only advance as a teacher because of the social norms during that time that regulated that position as the highest status for Black women. Ironically, her mother's peseverence would produce a child who would become one of the nation's most acclaimed corporate executives, which were chronicled in a beautifully published program booklet. While her father would eventually get her introduced to a college professor who would write a two-page single-spaced letter of recommendation on her behalf to assist her with getting into college, she accomplished the rest by proving to be a good stewart. Her charge was to find someone else to help in a like manner.
Margot Copeland with Derrick Williams at Fairhill Center
Ms. Copeland inspired a room full to capacity with her words of wisdom,
which were seasoned as a graduate of Hampton Institute. The central
part of her commentary was her role as a proud mother, a vessel, for
a young eighteen year old son, a soon to be "Morehouse Graduate,"
and a loving twenty-seven year old daughter. The rest of her message
focused on advice for career development and the way she tries to
help others with her "Mentoring Moments." She emphasized
putting circumstances in your life where you are able to do one thing
at a time to improve your quality of life. This was summarized as
part of her recipe for happiness, while the recipe for hot water corn
bread was another delight in the printed program. Further she talked
about her migration story, and how Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
and Reverend Dr. Otis Moss helped her achieve many accomplishments
by finding a good church home, or home church. In closing, she announced
her concerns about a decreasing investment in public schools, where
the problems with our youth should not be blamed on them. She left
the audience with a great appreciation for her diversity, which was
distinguished in her presentation as being Black, a woman, a mother,
an early middle-aged person, and a business professional. All of this
classed her as a phenomenal woman with a phenomal message that she
donated to the community.
This
occassion also provided an opportunity to share a Black Studies Ambassador
presentation which showcased the poetry of James Weldon Johnson, Langston
Hughes, and Naomi Madgett("Fifty Years", "Aunt Sue's
Stories", "Dream Boogie," and "Midway").
This inspired a number of audience members to remember their association
with Karamu House and interests in writing poetry and attending plays.
A delightful meal was served through the collaboration of Something
New Catering and the Youth Employment Program, while a joyful music celebration by The Intergenerational School (TIS)
reminded all of the harmony that we have in the innocence of the children
who kept us in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his
dream. Some were able to burn off the calories from the delicious
apple cobler in the presentation of line dancing by the peer-led older
adult group, The Yes I Can! Dancers, who stepped in the name of love.
The overall experience culminated with the singing of "Lift Every
Voice and Sing" by Ladie Smith, which brought those able to their
feet in appreation for the teamwork expressed at Fairhill Center.
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Prester Pickett presented a
lesson on Benjamin Banneker at St. Louis School to pre-school students.
In addition to singing songs about Benjamin Banneker they were introduced
to maps that highlighted the locations of Africa and America. Their
kinestetic learning experience engaged them with making and designing
their own clocks, since Benjamin Banneker is noted for making the
first functional clock in America.
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Friday, March 3, 2006
The Black Studies Ambassadors had as their special guests in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center for the day elementary school students from The Intergenerational School. These students returned with their meals to the Center to be introduced to these Ambassadors who introduced their area of study and the responded to their questions. They were invited to the campus to represent the Black Studies Program in the Diversity Day Celebration, which was coordinated by the CSU Department of Student Life and City Year in the University Center Building atrium. The Intergenerational School Choir's presentation included the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes, as well as songs that referenced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. After singing "Something for me, Something for you" they sung "What Can One Little Person Do" and then their finale "What a Wonderful World" with a soundtrack recording of Louis Armstrong.
 TIS students enjoyed a meal in the Center which was served by City Year |
 Intergenerational School Choir directed by Mr. Dominick Chicotel |
 Ms. Sylvia Kruger applauding her TIS students' success |
The Black Student Union made excellent use of the African American Cultural Center by presenting a REBOOT cd "Listening Party" & "Academic Rap Poetry Slam in the Wanda Coleman Gallery. This event featured Student Hip Hop Activist for Research and Performance (S.H.A.R.P.) from the University of Toledo. They explained their efforts to utilize cultural activities to stimulate serious community activism that promoted an interest in higher education as well as performed. The evening included a discussion with Dr. Dwayne Wright about the direction of Hip Hop and the preferred direction for Hip Hop. Turn tables allowed the DJ element of Hip Hop to be fulfilled, while a Poetry Slam competition allowed Kisha Foster to inspire poets in attendance to express themselves for an opportunity to win cash prizes.
 Kisha Foster and Ms. Ruth Reese, advisor to BSU, celebrate the success of the Poetry Slam competition and entire event |
 University of Toledo students gave a power point presentation about their SHARP initiatives through their cultural center |
 Dr. Dwayne Wright opened a discussion about Hip Hop |
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Shawn
Butler, Community Liason for Mayor Martin O'Malley of Cincinatti, was
a special guest who stopped in to introduce himself to parents, teachers,
and students who were receiving an orientation about the NAACP ACT-SO
competition in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center.
This orientation was intended to introduce students to some of the tips
assoicated with the process of preparing to enter a local contest, which
could secure them national attention. Jocelyn Travis and Prester Pickett
were able to respond to questions about the local competition, which
will be held Saturday, April 22, 2006 at Case Western Reserve University,
as well as talk about the efforts of the youth who work with the NAACP
to develop a greater awareness and appreciation for their goals to excell
in a variety of fields.
Friday,
March 24, 2006
The Bridge Builders from Portland,
Oregon were welcomed to Cleveland State University by Prester Pickett
and Thomas Austin, an original member of the Tuskegee Airmen. They entered
the African American Cultural Center, where they first met members of
the CSU African Student Association, who were studying in the Adams
Technology Room. They then moved to the Wanda Coleman Gallery/Meeting
Room where they were introduced to Dr. Michael Williams and welcomed
by the Black Studies Ambassadors. They particpated in a "Talented
Tenth" Workshop, where the Coordinator of the African American
Cultural Center opened the session with a recital of James Weldon Johnson's
"Fifty Years," which followed their tradition of opening recitations.
He then guided them through a number of excercises intended to increase
their awareness of W.E.B. DuBois' philosophy about "exceptional
men" who represented their people.
 The Bridge Builders gathered in the Wanda Coleman Gallery |
 The Bridge Builders welcomed to CSU by Thomas Austin, an original Tuskegee Airman |
 The Bridge Builders received words of inspiration from Black Studies Ambassador Alecia Hayes |
 The Bridge Builders meet members of the CSU African Student Association in the Frank Adams Room |
 The Bridge Builders gave a recitation before and after their Talented Tenth Workshop |
 The Bridge Builders ciphered the lyrics by Badz from his recording "What Kind of Leader You Be" |
 The Bridge Builders studied Badz while Black Studies Ambassador Alecia Hayes and Taimika King posed for prosperity purposes |
 The Bridge Builders boarded their bus in route to New Orleans |
They
recalled the struggle that African descendants faced in overcoming language
and cultural barriers, when many of the ancestors were enslaved, placed
on slave ships, and destined to survive the middle passage. They were
challenged to assume the position as members of the "Talented Tenth,"
who were expected to teach the teachers about the best practices for
distributing knowledge as well as building character. They witnessed
the concerns that their own people would have as they distanced themselves
for some time in institutions of higher learning and discussed why it
is a difficult task to educate and inspire the masses. Afterwards they
were able to achieve the goal of advancing their entire group with 100%
accuracy on a test that was given at the end of the workshop. Finally,
they received a presentation of an original rap, which was presented
by a guest artist, BADZ, a guest artist from Jamaica. This portion of
their journey was used to see how well they were able to read, write,
and cipher. They left the African American Cultural Center, which was
named to tribute the legacy of Dr. Howard A. Mims, with token pens that
represented the Black Studies Program, and boarded their American Heritage
bus which returned them to their lodging for their rest and the eventual
next leg of their excursion to New Orleans.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
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Black Studies Ambassadors Alecia Hayes and Taimika King stood next to Pastor Frank Smith of Manna House and former Black Studies Ambassador Sanchez Starks in the tradition of IMAGES Radio Show guests meeting in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center before they walk over to the IMS recording studio to tape a show. |
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Dr. Regennia Williams of the History Department convened a meeting in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center with the committee responsible for organizing the Fifty Years Beyond Bandung Academic Conference, which is scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2006. |
Thursday
& Friday, March 30 & 31, 2006
 Photo by Prester Pickett of CSU Alumnus Gregory Van Prince with one of his music classes at Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland that participated in a Black Studies Ambassador "Edutainment" Workshop |
A Black Studies Ambassador Workshop on "Edutainment" was presented over a course of two days for students at the Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland. This workshop allowed nine classes taught by CSU Alumnus Gregory Van Prince to learn about the various professions that are affiliated with the emerging "Edutainment" industry. They studied how various "Edutainment" projects can stimulate the economy and how teachers can publish books and create curriucula designed around a number of theatrical presentations for stage and screen. Students were informed about the integration of different music genres in various theatrical productions as a means to engage at least three generations. The students were excited to view excerpts from various stage productions that featured their teacher, Mr. Prince, and even a film that was shot on location in East Cleveland on the same street that their temporary school is housed. Additionally, they were thrilled to hear about the prospects of another Spiderman movie having scenes filmed in Cleveland. |
Thursday, April 6 2006
Prester Pickett represented the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center as the keynote speaker for the "I'm Thinking College" College Fair Night for the standing-room-only event. Phyllis Jackson, the event's coordinator, assembled an amazing gathering where parents, students, and college educators gathered at the Memorial Nottingham Library. The purpose of the event was to celebrate Cleveland's bright future through the hopes in the children's plans to attend college. While traditional college fairs are orchestrated to recruit the top juniors and seniors from high school to various institutions, this celebration was for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at Henry W. Longfellow School and others. The highlights of the evening were a dance, student poem, dramatic scene, motivational talks by Longellow staff and teachers, and an outstanding encounter with Antoinne M. McKinney, a future Black Studies Ambassador, who is presently a student at Glennville High School. Antoinne engaged the audience with his polished interpersonal communication skills, which allowed him to share how he participates in the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program at Cleveland State University, carries a 5.00 gpa, yes 5.00, plays sports, and works as the founder, leader, and member of a variety of organizations.
Mr. Pickett's message traced his history of thinking about college through an audio cassette recording of an interview that he acquired from his classmates in the 7th grade as they walked home from Audubon Jr. High School to their single-parent, poverty-stricken households. One of his subjects was Antoine Hudson, who proclaimed that one day he was going to become a Medical Doctor, and more specifically, by attending Case Western Reserve University. When Prester and Antoine graduated from John Adams High School they left together to enroll at the College of Wooster with two other John Adams High School Rebels, Diane Brown, and Sharon Stubbs. This portion of Mr. Pickett's testimony concluded with an annoncement that he became a playwright, who utilized the skills that he had acquired by the time he was in the 7th grade to help him produce plays, and Antoine Hudson became Dr. Antoine Hudson with Dr. Daine Brown-Young, and Dr. Sharon Stubbs. All four of these students who matriculated through high school together, particpated in the Upward Bound Program at CWRU under the direction of Carrie A. R. Reeves, secured B.A. degrees from the College of Wooster and terminal degrees from Case Western Reserve University, making Antoine's vision for his future a reality. Unfortunately, Antoine passed away in 2004. Prester proclaimed that most students acquire all the skills that they need to survive college by the time they are in the third grade, if their parents and teachers instill in them dignity.
Parents and others in attendance were then introduced to how negative music and violent television programs can influence the behavior of their children. In addition to the students being shown the potential that they have to attend Cleveland State University or any other institution of higher learning around the world, the parents and teachers were directed to a table where Antoinne McKinney shared applications and literature about CSU. Before Mr. Pickett left to attend the Butler Jones Scholarhsip Dinner at CSU, he invited everyone at the event to visit his office in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center to see the certificate that was presented to him for participating on the Longfellow School program mounted on the same wall with his M.F.A. from CWRU.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Approximately seventy-five high school students in the Upward Bound and Talent Search Programs at Robert Morris College in the Chicago, Illinois area received an orientation in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center. These prospective CSU students were exposed to the type of culturally enriching environment that could contribute to their success at a predominantly white university. They moved from the Adams Room to the Coleman Room before progressing through the rest of their tour of the University.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
A group of approximately forty middle school students from southern Ohio visited the African American Cultural Center to participate in a Cultural Competency Workshop presented by Prester Pickett. These students started their experience in the Adams Room, where they were joined by Joan Southgate, an elder who walked the underground railroad route from Ripley, Ohio to Canada and published a book about her experience. They then moved to the Coleman Room, where they advanced through a workshop intended to excite them about their cultural heritage and encouraged them to appreciate the heritage of others. A group of adult chaperones including a resident of Fremont, Ohio who was eighty-one years old, also participated in the workshop. At the end of the workshop each guest recieved a fresh $10 bill from the accumulated $10,000 that was derived from fund raisers to make the trip possible. Guests from southern Ohio then afforded their lunch in Aramark's cafeteria prior to their tour of the campus. Students were very excited to meet a Black Studies Ambassador, Alecia Evans-Hayes, who gave them a brief motivating talk on the bridge that connects the Main Classroom Building to the University Center Building. The students were very excited to then sit in the variety of learning environments, which ranged from a huge lecture hall to a small classroom with twenty desks and a smaller room where students meet with professors at a conference table. Prior to boarding their bus to depart for their visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, they observed students voting for student government offices in the UC atrium, where they then participated in a treasure hunt to find a particular country's flag and stand underneath it in the atrium. They eventually boarded their bus after taking pictures next to the memorable CSU signage that would allow them to return in the future with memories about a rewarding experience where they were able to proclaim with loud voices "I'm Going to College." This visit was coordinated by Gayle Jackson, Ph.D. and Alvin Jackson, M.D., a husband and wife team with a long history of planning trips to expose young African Americans to colleges and universities.
May 19, 2006
Prester Pickett joined Professor Mary Joyce Green of the CSU Women's Comprehensive Program and Seretta Archer of the CSU AHANA Program in a morning session that welcomed colleagues from across the state, who were attending a gathering convened by the CSU Office of Minority Affairs and Community Relations, to Cleveland State University . This event, "Imagine a Consortium of Multicultural Centers in Ohio," allowed Mr. Pickett an opportunity to express the interest of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center being inclusive of discussions about multiculturalism from a culturally specific perspective. The Center is a member of the Association of Black Culture Centers, which engages an assembly of African American Cultural Centers and Multicultural Centers, and strives toward pluralistic goals from an Afrocentric perspectives. Mr. Pickett greeted those in attendance in a variety of different languages, which are used by various African descendants in the Diaspora. His reflection of a lesson from Jessie Jackson reminded him that French is a very significant language for communicating with African descendants, while other reflections spoke through tongues indiginous to Africa. The rest of his presentation utilized metaphorical applications of the construct of roads, avenues, bridges, and a free way to make a point about opportunities to transport ideas and cultural practices across the state of Ohio.
As early as the Africans' ability to overcome language road blocks during the Middle Passage to their ability to assimilate, accommodate, acculturate and amalgamate Caribbean, European, and indigenous American cultures, the African experience was evidenced to be larger than the main stream and more easily recognized as a river. Remembering how African descendants were supported by Native Americans, and enlightened Europeans during their travels on the Underground Railroad are obvious programs that engage the Center with a multitude of activities that celebrate diversity.
He clarified the ability of African Americans to reflect on their history to have a leading role in the conversations about multiculturalism. African Americans have unique experiences that have similarties to other experiences acquired by individuals with different cultures. Hence, one attribute about the African American Cultural Center that was highlighted was its ability to balance the celebrations of differences and similarities. Migration stories and struggles with prejudice are common narratives to all of the ethnic groups in America that contrast the tones of racism and cultural definition that demarcate a specific identity for African Americans. Therefore, the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center has concentrated on the development of programs that improve the relations between African Americans and African natives in a public space, where other cultural groups are welcome to observe and even participate in an ongoing process. Conversations that include Hispanic/Latino cultures as part of the African Diaspora allow for more harmonious dialogue to develop through evloving presentations that are maturing to a very healthy status.
Since the products of Jazz and even Tap Dance were a result of African descendants integrating other cultural practices with their own, it is easy to see various intersections that apparntly allowed a safe merging of traffic. The conversations inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., where struggles to secure Civil Rights are celebrated annually by the Center, automatically inspire opportunities to embrace multiculturalism. The intersection of Christian and Budhist philosophies in addition to Hebrew and Muslim traditions reveal how a variety of one of the components of culture, faith/religion, operates among students, faculty and staff, who resepct the African American Cultural Center as a common ground.
As the established headquarters for the Tuskegee Airmen, the Center becomes a space where younger students can see older African Americans respectfully working with others from different cultures, where aliances between African Americans and Jews as well as other groups are remembered. While the 5th US Colored Infantry is able to remember the dignity African Americans acquired as they fought to maintain these United States of America with men and women from other cultural groups, the avenue for cultural programs open into a four lane high way, where flow of traffic is monitored and even regulated to prevent traffic jams. Critical conversations where the community comes together to discuss some very serious topics require the knowledge that the first electronic traffic signal was created by an African American from Cleveland, Ohio--Garrett Morgan. Hence, mechanisms at critical intersections are necessary.
The ability for the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center to embrace a variety of cultures through its Bridges to Africa initiatives to the use of the Center by the English Department for one of its Creative Writing classes reveals how the Center helps the University achieve a part of its mission and literally attracts people from around the world. The vehicles that the Center uses were highlighted through a series of photographs that emphasized the attraction that the Center has to all students and the entire Greater Cleveland community as well as its guests. These vehicles are directly related to the recrutiment and retention of students to Cleveland, Cleveland State University, and the Black Studies Program. Even the way the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center has traveled various routes to correctional facilities in the State of Ohio opens the dialogue about multiculturalism, since Black culture is unique from prison culture and Hiphop culture, for that matter.
The Center's vehicles travel on other roads to various cultural institutions in Cleveland like Karamu House Theater, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and Playhouse Square. The most recent experience allowed the Coordinator of the Center to host Annetta Gomez-Jefferson in Cleveland to attend the reading and reception for Ruby Dee at the Cleveland Playhouse. Additional avenues that carry the Center to various destinations include its successful partnerships and collaborations with entities like A Cultural Exchange, The UMADAOP Program, the Cleveland Chapter of the NAACP, Upward Bound Programs, and the many academic departments as well as programs at the University that fuel many excursions.
The construct of bridges connect the Center to its international communities that are often established by various faith based institutions. Several engagements have been guided by the United Pastors in Mission, where Mount Sinai Baptist Church, Mount Zion Church of Oakwood Village, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, and Antioch Baptist Church have been its principle conductors. A dramatic increase in the use of the Center by the University's native African student population was correlated to the Center's ability to provide a welcoming environment, where there is a sensivity to specific cultures in addition to nationalities. The Center was highlighted for having celebrated partnerships with the City of Cleveland as well as the Greater Cleveland Visitor's Bureau, which is obviously interested in venues that leave a lasting impression on those who visit and reside in this great city and will consider returning for other visits or to possibly stay.
Records are beginning to track the furthest distance groups have traveled to visit the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center, which to date is the Bridge Builders from Portland, Oregon. We have on record the oldest individual who has visited the Center to the largest group that has visited the Center. A recent post card campaign will drive an initiative to map the destinations that the Center is able to reach through its guests. Francisco Rietta, an international missionary, was introduced to the OMACR guests from various institutions and revealed how the Center assisted his efforts. Additionally, another initiative is to reach the international community through the various guests to the City because of the treatment that they or their family members are receiving at various hospitals. This endeavor will assist the Black Studies Ambassadors in a tremendous way in their pursuit of medical careers and directly relate to the University's mission ("We are here to serve and engage the public and prepare our students to lead productive, responsible and satistying lives in the region and global society.")
Black Studies Ambassadors are often asked to
drive these vehicles into the community, where they make contact with
various professionals in other fields. So, a final reference to the
letters of recommendations from the desk of the Coordinator of the African
American Cultural Center assists with how the Center is making progress
with students at CSU. Overall, the conferences’ theme of imagining
a consortium was likened to imaging a marriage, where the concept of
a free way was used to keep the relationship between multicultural centers
and ethnically gender specific centers moving in positive directions.
The HAMACC wants to stay in touch with other Centers with successful
models and offerred to give presentations of its cultural competency
workshop as well as artistic presentations of by the Cleveland Renaissance
Entreprenuerial Artistic Touring Excursions (CREATE) group that utilizes
the Center. The keys to the Center were shared with the OMCR, who became
the designated drivers for the rest of the day, to allow the campus
guests a chance to visit the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural
Center and see some of Cleveland's wealth at CSU.
End of the Year Overview
The 2005-06 Academic Year at Cleveland State
University provided an opportunity for the Howard A. Mims African American
Cultural Center to provide meeting and program space to 24 on-campus
entities and 19 off-campus entities. The vehicles for the Center allowed
it this year to carry the University's mission to 3,560 individuals
who attended Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series Lectures, Kuumba Arts Presentations,
Black Studies Ambassador Engagements, Bridges to Africa Panels, and
Umoja Round Table Discussions. Additionally, a countless number of guests
visited the Center from around the world to view the cultural aesthetics
of the Center, study various topics and meet with other students, scholars,
and professionals in the reception area, Frank Adams Room, and Wanda
Coleman Art Gallery. Others visited our activities through their regular
visits to our web page and this report. We invite everyone to visit
us again in the come-back city at our world-class institution.
All Events are Free and Open to the Public Unless Otherwise Noted with *Admission
Cleveland
State University is an AA/EOE commited to nondiscrimination. M/F/H/V
encouraged.
For more information about these programs contact Black Studies at (216)
687-3
Cleveland State University
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Black Studies Program
2121 Euclid Avenue, MC 137
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Main Classroom Plaza, Room 137
1899 East 22nd Street