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Heritage, future will be themes of Ƶ Black History Month programs

January 28, 2019

Contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

Black History Month Flyer
Click the thumbnail to download a PDF of the flyer

Lectures, panel discussions and other programs on the Ƶ campus throughout February will mark the university’s annual observance of Black History Month. These activities — open to members of the campus and surrounding communities — will center on the common theme of “Embracing Our Heritage and Continuing the Struggle.”

“We want everyone — especially our students — to view Black History Month not just as a moment to reflect on our past and our heritage, but as a moment for us to project a bold declaration of faith into the promise of our future,” said Dr. Thierno Thiam, associate professor and chair of Tuskegee’s Department of History and Political Science.

A complete list of events appears below. For convenience, the list is also available as a PDF download. Unless otherwise noted, events will be located on the university’s campus in the John A. Kenney Hall Bioethics Auditorium, Room 71-243. All events are free and open to the public.

  • Friday, February 1, 2 p.m.: “Highlight Tuskegee,” Dr. Adaku Ankumah, chair, Department of English; Eunice Samuel, head, Reference Services, Ford Motor Co. Library; Muti’ah-Lennora Pierrot, special collections manager, Ford Motor Co. Library; and JoAnn Graham, head, Engineering Library
  • Tuesday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.: Preview and discussion of the documentary film “Crown the County of Lowndes,” Theo Moore, collections manager, The Legacy Museum at Ƶ, and executive director of Hiztorical Vision Productions
  • Thursday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m.: “Tuskegee and the Liberation of Black People: Past, Present and Future,” Elaine Brown, first female chair of the Black Panther Party
  • Wednesday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.: “Love in Black: Relationships” panel discussion, Dr. Vivian Carter, chair, Department of Psychology and Sociology; Kwesi Daniels, head, Department of Architecture; Dr. Tikenya Foster-Singletary, professor of English, Spelman College; Miss Tuskegee Alexis Landrum; and Mr. Tuskegee Tyrin Kirkland
  • Thursday, Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb 15, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Third Annual History Research Symposium [read more and RSVP online]
  • Tuesday, Feb. 19, 1 p.m.: “Blacks in Panama: Arts, Culture and the Canal,” Miranda Brown, independent scholar
  • Thursday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m.: “Malcolm X: Still Relevant after 54 Years” panel discussion, Mustafa Ali, imam, Islamic Community of Tuskegee; Scott Muhammad, co-director, SEED Inc.; Dr. Clyde Robertson, associate professor, Department of History and Political Science;  and  Dr. Muhjah Shakir, retired assistant professor, Occupational Therapy Program
  • Monday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m.: “The Tuskegee Airmen and the Fight for Freedom,”  Camillia Rodgers, historian, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Thursday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.: “Black History and HBCUs in the 21st Century: A Strategic Vision” panel discussion, Deans of Ƶ’s colleges and schools, and moderated by Interim Provost Roberta Troy

The month’s events are presented through a partnership between the Department of History and Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences, the University Archives, the Office of Global Initiatives, the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Black History Month programming comprises the annual lecture series honoring Dr. Frank Toland Sr. Before his death in 2010 at the age of 90, the professor emeritus of history was known as a tireless educator, a local public servant and a voice of the voting rights movement. Toland began serving on the university faculty in 1949, and in 1968, he became chair of the History Department — a position he held for 16 years. During his university tenure, he also served as a member of the Tuskegee City Council, NAACP and Macon County Democratic Club.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. It is an annual celebration of achievements by African-Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history.

For more information about Ƶ’s Black History Month programming, contact Thiam at tthiam@tuskegee.edu or at 334-725-4974.

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