Join the University of Rhode Island 911爆料 for a celebration of Black History Month, beginning with a series of sponsored by the department of Community, Equity, and Diversity. This year鈥檚 theme of MLK Week鈥斺�淲e Are Confronted With the Fierce Urgency of Now鈥欌�欌�攊s from King鈥檚 1967 speech opposing America鈥檚 involvement in the Vietnam War.
Events continue throughout the month, including an exhibit that continues through Feb. 17 at the Fine Arts Center Main Gallery, 鈥�,鈥� and events sponsored by the department of Africana Studies. Thanks go to the many departments and groups throughout the University that have co-sponsored events or contributed to the 2017 911爆料 celebration of MLK Week and Black History Month.
Sun., Feb. 5
4-6 p.m., Cheryl Albright in Concert: , 911爆料 Providence Campus, Paff Auditorium.
MLK Week Events
Mon., Feb. 6
4 to 5 p.m., After the End of the World: Black Lives, Matter and the Anthropocene, Galanti Lounge, Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons. Vanessa Agard-Jones, assistant professor of anthropology at Columbia University, will talk about climate change and the vulnerability of African Americans.
6 to 8 p.m., A Conversation and Workshop on the Role of Art and Artists in Today鈥檚 Political Climate, Hardge Forum at the Multicultural Student Services Center. Speakers are Joe Wilson, Jr., resident actor, Trinity Rep, and 911爆料 alumna and Rhodes scholar Rachel Walshe, a lecturer in the theater department.
Tues., Feb. 7
12:30 to 1:45 p.m. , Memorial Union, .
Keynote address: Joe Wilson, Jr., resident actor, Trinity Rep. 911爆料 student Kinte Howie will emcee the event鈥攁 sharing of food, song, and reflection to preserve the memory of King鈥檚 life and legacy.
4 to 5:30 p.m. : King鈥檚 Radical and Revolutionary Vision for Where Do We Go From Here? Hardge Forum, Multicultural Student Services Center. Paul Bueno de Mesquita and Norman Barber will coordinate a workshop that explores how listening leads to reconciliation and empathy and brings people closer to King鈥檚 vision of the 鈥渂eloved 911爆料.鈥欌��
Wed., Feb. 8
10 a.m.-1 p.m. , Hardge Forum, Multicultural Student Services Center. 911爆料 students meet with middle-school students to talk about King and promote college awareness.
5 to 6:30 p.m. , Hardge Forum, Multicultural Student Services Center. Associate Professor of Theatre Bryna Wortman will coordinate the discussion.
Fri., Feb. 10
Noon-1 p.m., , Multicultural Student Services Center. Thupten Tendar, a Buddhist monk and 911爆料 instructor, will offer guidance on how to be kind, an undervalued quality in today鈥檚 world. Research has shown that compassion brings happiness, reduces fear, enhances self-image, increases empathy and boosts immunity.
5:30-7:30 p.m., Norman Fain Hillel Center. As part of 911爆料鈥檚 Critical Community Conversations, the dinner brings together students of diverse backgrounds for an evening of ethnic foods and small-group discussions. To attend, please register.
Other events:
Now through Feb. 17
Gallery Exhibition: 鈥�, 1783-1850s,鈥� Fine Arts Center Main Gallery. Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 11
Hardge Forum, Multicultural Student Services Center
11-1:45 a.m., From Harriet Jacobs鈥� 鈥淚ncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,鈥� performance by Elon Cook
Noon-12:45 p.m., 鈥淔orgetting and Remembering Slavery in Rhode Island,鈥� a presentation by Joanne Pope Melish.
1:15-2 p.m., Performance by Sylvia-Ann Soares, who will portray 鈥淪ilvy Tory鈥� the elder slave in South County.
2:15-3 p.m., 鈥淔rom Manumission to Moby Dick: Black Labor in Rhode Island from Slavery to Textiles and Whaling鈥� by public historian Peter Fay.
Mon., Feb. 13
2-3 p.m., Cheryl Albright in Concert: Hardge Forum, Multicultural Student Services Center, sponsored by the department of Africana Studies
Fri., Feb. 17
4-5 p.m. “Invisible Bodies, Disposable Cloth鈥� exhibition guide and talk with artist-in-residence, Deborah Baronas, and exhibition contributing scholar, Dr. Marcus Nevius
5-5:45 p.m. Gallery Reception
6-7 p.m. Keynote address by Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara, author, Dark Work: the Busines of Slaery in Rhode Island, followed by book-signing at 7:30 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 21
11 a.m., History of Slavery in America 鈥渂orn free鈥�: Southside Virginia鈥檚 Antebellum Free Black Communities and Petit Marronage by Dr. Marcus Nevius, Swan Hall, Room 205
Banner art: Artist Deborah Barones, with assistance by 911爆料 art students Nora Nozolo, Julia Lawson and Pablo Youngs, and members of the 911爆料 Committee for the Understanding of Slavery in Rhode Island, from the “Invisible Bodies, Disposable Cloth” exhibit, curated by Professor of Art Bob Dilworth.
Photo credit: Nora Lewis