Black History Month events scheduled

Northwestern’s Evanston and Chicago campuses will be the sites of numerous events scheduled in honor of Black History month. Events are free, unless otherwise noted, and are open to the public. Here are some of the highlights beginning with programs scheduled for the Evanston campus.

• 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. "Kids Fare: "The African American Heritage." The richness of the African American spirit will be celebrated during a special Black History Month edition of Kids Fare. The program, for children ages 3 to 8 and their families, features legendary bass-baritone William Warfield and the North Park University Gospel Choir, under the direction of Rollo Dilworth. The program will explore how musical ingredients are combined to create that unique gospel sound. Kids Fare programs are supported by Target Stores and Marshall Field's Project Imagine. It will be held at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Tickets are $4.50 for the general public; $3.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $2 for full-time students. To order tickets by phone, call (847) 467-4000.

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14. "Empowa: Life Lessons from Africa" is a powerful multimedia presentation about the impact of race and political change and its effect on South Africa. This program is presented by Abner Mariri, who is Zulu, and Craig Wilkinson, a white South African. The event is co-sponsored by African American Student Affairs, African American Studies, Blackboard magazine, and the Multicultural Center. The presentation will be held at Norris University Center, Room 1E. For more information, call the African American Student Affairs office at (847) 491-3610.

• 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. Unfiltered Presents "LEGACY: Our Wealth of Music," Since 1991, vocalist/musician Maggie Brown, the daughter of legendary performer Oscar Brown Jr., has toured Chicago-area schools and nationally on the college circuit, performing her one-woman show. "LEGACY: Our Wealth of Music" is a musical demonstration/lecture about the history and evolution of African American music -- from spirituals and jazz to contemporary hip-hop and rap songs. Brown will perform at Norris University Center, Higher Grounds (located on the ground level). For more information, call (847) 491-3610 or the Campus Activities office at (847) 491-2350.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21. REELTIME: "Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis@100" is a 60-minute documentary about Ruth Ellis, the oldest "out" African American lesbian, who was born July 23, 1899. By example, Ellis shows what is possible if one not only lives long and ages well, but also lives with pride. It gives a rare look at 100 years of our history. Filmmaker Yvonne Welbon will be present for a discussion. Admission is free. REELTIME is an independent film and video forum jointly sponsored by

Northwestern’s Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art and the Evanston Public Library, in partnership with project coordinators Andrea Leland and Kathy Berger of Leland/Berger Productions. This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the Illinois Humanities Council; First Bank of Evanston; North Shore Security; McDougal Littell; and the Playboy Foundation. The documentary will be show at the Block Museum’s Pick-Laudati Auditorium. For more information, call the Block Museum at (847) 491-4000 or the Evanston Public Library at (847) 866-0300.

• 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, Saturday Feb. 24. "Out 'Da Box," an original all-student comedy revue sponsored by the African American Theatre Ensemble at Shanley Hall. Single tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for Northwestern students, faculty and staff. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Norris University Center Box Office. Tickets will be available at Norris Center about two weeks prior to the event. For more information, call African American Student Affairs at (847) 491-3610.

• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Northwestern Community Ensemble’s 30th Anniversary Concert. The Northwestern Community Ensemble, the University's diverse gospel choir, will perform at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Admission is free. Tickets will be sold in the lobby on the night of the concert. For more ticket information, e-mail Adrienne Moore at nceconcert@hotmail.com or call African American Student Affairs at (847) 491-3610.

On the Chicago campus, the Black Law Students Association is sponsoring the following events. For more information call Jamenda Briscoe at (773) 529-5569.

• 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, "Contribution, Obligation or Burden: The Role of the Black Student" is the title of a discussion sponsored and moderated by the law school’s Student Diversity Council. Members of the legal community will share various perspectives on the role of black law students in the classroom. The event will be held in the Rubloff Building, Room 150.

• 9 p.m. Movie Night. "Shaft" will be screened at the Lake Shore Center.

• 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. A panel discussion titled, "Acting Black: The Effects of Stereotyping," will focus on how stereotypes affect the law, the mind, our media and our culture. Featured panelists are area scholars and media figures including Robin Robinson, news anchor for WFLD-TV; Jennifer Brody, professor of English, University of Illinois at Chicago; and local filmaker Michelle Citron, a professor of radio/television/film at Northwestern and associate dean at The Graduate School. (**Note: Citron broke her leg yesterday and may or may not be able to participate). The event will be held in the Rubloff Building, Room 150.

• 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. An Ethnic Food Fest will be held in the School of Law Atrium. Students, faculty and staff of all ethnicities will provide food. The evening will offer opportunities for Northwestern and Chicago—area law schools to experience different cultures through food, drink and music. Admission is free; food is $5 per plate. The event is co-sponsored by minority organizations including SALSA (Southeast Asian Law Student Association), APALSA, (Asian Pacific American Law Student Association), and LLSA (Latin Law Student Association). For more information, call (773) 529-5569.

• Noon Tuesday, Feb. 20. "Reproductive Freedom: A Matter of Social Justice" is an open discussion with Dorothy Roberts, a Northwestern law professor. Roberts will engage the audience in a discussion of chapter 4, "Making Reproduction a Crime," of her book, "Killing the Black Body." The program will be held at Strawn Hall.

• 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1. "Black and Blue: Colorable Issues in Race and Law Enforcement" will feature a panel of local law enforcement and civil rights advocates who will discuss racial profiling and police brutality and the wide range of effects they have on communities. Panelists include Darren P. Davis Sr., commander, University Police, Chicago campus; Harvey Grossman; legal director, Roger Baldwin Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois; R. Eugene Pincham, retired justice, Illinois Appellate Court; and attorney Flint Taylor, Jr., Peoples Law Office, Chicago. Christopher A. Bracey, visiting assistant professor of law at Northwestern, will serve as the moderator. The event will be held in the Rubloff Building, Room 150. A 7 p.m. reception will follow the discussion.

The Medical School is also sponsoring an event on the Chicago campus.

• 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, a Medical School graduate will give an information/inspiration talk during the second 2001 Speaker Series event sponsored by the Medical School’s Office of Minority Affairs on the Chicago campus. For more information, contact Laurie Brown at (312) 503-1057 or at <labrown@northwestern.edu>

For information about other Black History Month events check Plan-It Purple, Northwestern’s all-university calendar Web site at <http://planitpurple.northwestern.edu>.