Friday, February 1, 2008
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore invites the community to join them in celebrating Black History Month during an array of events offered throughout February. The African Diaspora, social issues, African-American accomplishments and black entrepreneurship today will be explored along with other prominent topics.
The sixth annual African-American Read-in will be held on Tuesday, February 5, at 7 p.m. in the Student Services Center theatre. Join President Thelma B. Thompson and the UMES faculty, staff and students for a discussion and book signing with award-winning reporter and author John Head on his work, “Standing in the Shadows: Black Men and Depression.”
A film series featuring the work of Director Spike Lee will be held on February 6, 13, 20 and 27 in the Student Services Center theatre with showings at noon and 7 p.m. The film titles are “School Daze,” “She Hates Me,” “Bamboozled,” and Inside Man,” respectively. Admission is complimentary and open to the public.
“Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery Exhibition,” at the Mosely Gallery in the Arts and Technology Center on campus opens with a reception on February 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. The traveling exhibit created by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library will remain on display through February 28. It consists of approximately 30 full color panels that reflect the experience of the transatlantic slave trade. The Mosely Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The President’s Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be held on Friday, February 22, in the Student Services Center Ballroom at 7:30 a.m. as part of the Homecoming activities. Pastor Matthew D. Gallashaw II of Christ Community Bible Church in Philadelphia, Pa., and director of the Helping Hand Rescue Mission, is President Thelma B. Thompson’s keynote speaker for the event. Music will be provided by the UMES Gospel Choir and breakfast by UMES dining services. Tickets are $40 per person or $350 for a table of 10. Proceeds benefit student scholarships.
The month long celebration culminates with a luncheon and symposium on Thursday, February 28, at noon and 3 p.m., respectively, in the Richard A. Henson Center ballroom on campus. The symposium guest speaker is Dr. Juliet Walker of the University of Texas at Austin, the country’s foremost expert on the history of black business. She will speak on the topic “African American Business in a Global Economy: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.” The event is free of charge and open to the public. Reserve a seat at the luncheon by calling 410-651-6434 on or before Friday, February 22.
“Experiences in Black Entrepreneurship,” a lecture by Simba Sana, the CEO of Karibu Books, takes place Thursday, February 28, at 7 pm. in the Student Services Center theatre following the symposium. The lecture is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Black History Month celebration at UMES, call the Office of Public Relations at 410-651-6669. Black History Month at UMES is made possible, in part, by a grant from Delmarva Power.
####
Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations,x
