Cleveland State University’s Black Studies Program will present a wide range of activities in honor of Black History Month. From lectures to art exhibits to music concerts and festivals, Cleveland State is engaging the community in a celebration of the lives, history and culture of people of African descent.

All events are free and open to the public unless noted. The following is a selection of events; for a complete list and more information, please call the Black Studies Program at 216.687.3655 or visit www.csuohio.edu/class/blackstudies.

Through February

Children of Abraham Exhibit
CSU Library
An exhibit exploring the common roots of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Monday, February 2

Exhibit: A Single Garment of Destiny
12:00 noon
Main Classroom (MC), room 137
Mixed media pieces that integrate fabric and other items onto the canvas with vivid paintings by Gary Williams, Director of Bar Exam
Preparation, CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Wednesday, February 4

Lecture: “Exodus: ‘Slavery,’ ‘Freedom’ and the ‘Promised Land’ in the Language of African American Spirituals”
9:45 a.m., CSU Library, first floor
Presented by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, CSU Dept. of History

Friday, February 6

Film and Discussion: “Memphis Dreams: Searching for the Promised Land”
1:30 p.m., Rhodes Tower room 325

Tuesday, February 10

Lecture: From Crispus Attucks Onward
12:00 noon, MC room 134
Tribute to African Americans in the U.S. Military by William C. Wedley, Director, Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Toledo. In partnership with SERV (Supportive Education for Returning Veterans) and local military recruitment offices

Wednesday, February 11

Emotional Intelligence: What Is It, Why We Need It and How to Get It
12:15-1:15 p.m. MC room 137
Presented by Dr. Paula Mickens-English through the Counseling Center. Additional workshops on February 18 and 25, March 4, 11, 25, and April 1 and 8 in the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center.

Tuesday, February 17

Lift Every Voice and Sing
12:00 noon, Main Classroom North Lobby
A tribute to James Weldon Johnson and his brother John Rosamond Johnson for their creation of what became known as the Negro National Anthem

A Black Presidential Address
CSU organizations with regard to the African American community will address the audience, review goals accomplished and project their vision for the future. With Student Government, Black Student Union, African Student Association and others.

Wednesday, February 18

Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers
12:00 noon & 4 p.m., MC 104
Recruitment initiative for the Summer Institute and the Associates Program, which provides opportunities for students to engage in a graduate-level curriculum and prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Institute is held each year in July at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

February 19 - March 1

Wilberforce
A play by Keith Josef Adkins
Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. CSU Factory Theatre
1833 East 24th Street
Tickets: $10, $5 for students, seniors, CSU faculty/staff
Box Office: 216.687.2109
The CSU Dramatic Arts Program presents the world premiere of Wilberforce, the engaging and controversial new work about progress, tradition and America’s first black college.

Wednesday, February 25

Black History in 2009: Is It Still Necessary?
5-7 p.m., MC room 401
Registration required: call 216.687.2048
A discussion over dinner inspired by the election of an African American U.S. President and the question of whether the dream has been fulfilled to the point of omitting a Black History Month.

Thursday, February 26

A Reading with Jericho Brown and Terrance Hayes
7:30 p.m., MC rooms 134 and 137
Jericho Brown was a speechwriter to the former mayor of New Orleans and is the author of the poetry collection Please (New Issues, 2008). He is an assistant professor of English and creative writing at the University of San Diego.

Terrance Hayes is the author of three collections of poetry: Wind in a Box (Penguin, 2006), Hip Logic (Penguin 2002), a National Poetry Series selection; and Muscular Music. Hayes is an associate professor of creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University.

Friday, February 27

From the Stage to the Page
12 noon (CSU and other registered students only)
This Umoja Round Table will encourage dialogue with two nationally acclaimed poets, Jericho Brown and Terrance Hayes, who will share their experiences and resources available to poets who want to move from performance to published work. They will also engage students in a Q&A period and autograph books.

A Madam C. J. Walker Extravaganza
8 p.m., Music and Communication Building, Waetjen Lobby
$5 Students, $10 General Public
Featuring a Hair Show, Fashion Show, and Celebrity and Historical Figure Look-A-Like and Sound-A-Like presentation with the Haraka Poets from Purdue University’s Black Cultural Center.

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