Black History Month events include speakers, food tasters, performers

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February is Black History Month across the nation and Central Michigan University is doing its part to spread the word.

The month’s events, both informational and entertaining, are designed to appeal to people of all races, said Allegan senior Steve Lewis, president of Program Board.

“The objective for this year’s Black History Month was to educate students as much as possible about black history, but make it fun in the process,” Lewis said.

The month’s keynote speaker, Yvonne Latty, will present at 7 p.m. Thursday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Latty is the director of the Reporting New York and Reporting the Nation programs at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is the author of “In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss and the Fight to Stay Alive” and “We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans, from World War II to the War in Iraq.”

The Black Family Reunion and Food Taster & Thinkfast Trivia event is at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the University Center Rotunda and Terrace Rooms. The food taster will include country-fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread and gumbo. The event costs $3 for students and $5 for general public admission.

“N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK” will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17 in Plachta Auditorium. The performance was created by three young actors of different ethnicities to share their stories of crafting an identity while living in America’s middle class culture, according to the Minority Student Services website.

Royal Oak freshman Sara Enochs said she plans to attend some of the events because she believes it is beneficial to get involved with a variety of people and learn what everyone has to offer.

“I think it is good that we recognize all the differences,” Enochs said.

The Black History Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Multicultural Education Center all month long.

For more information as well as times and locations for the events, visit www.diversity.cmich.edu/MSS.

Choosing the month’s speakers and entertainers was a collaborative effort between Program Board and Minority Student Services, said Lincoln Park senior Paul Sullivan, lecture chairman of Program Board.

“Program Board assisted in the process, but it was Minority Student Services who selected the speakers,” Sullivan said.