Art, Lectures, Poetry and More Fill Black History Month Calendar

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2002) -- Historical images created by artists, musicians, and storytellers highlight Black History Month celebrations at Tennessee Tech University in February.

Concerts, art exhibits, poetry readings and the annual Soul Food Dinner are included on this year's calendar.
Featured events this year:

Ribbon Day
Friday, Feb. 1, Roaden University Center, first floor
Students will mark the first day of the annual celebration by handing out ribbons commemorating Black History Month.

"What Blacks Need to Know About Islam"
Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7-9 p.m., Black Cultural Center
History professor Wali Kharif will cite from the Qur'an, the holy book of the Muslims, and Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, considered the most reliable collections of Hadith (traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).

"Remnants"
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-noon, Black Cultural Center
An exhibit of original art by Marc Burnett, TTU's vice president of student affairs, will be on display.

Shindana Cooper
Thursday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m.-noon, Black Cultural Center
Cooper, a skilled storyteller and poet, perpetuates the centuries' old tradition of oral story telling. Her characterizations include Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod and Harriet Tubman. She recently produced her own radio program called "Keepers of the Culture."

Africa Sogaye Guinea West African Dance Theater Inc.
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7-8:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room
A community-based cultural group, Africa Sogaye continues the century old tradition of African dance, drum and folklore. The dances and songs illustrate the cycles of life marked by birth, rites of passage, weddings, harvest and other significant milestones of everyday life.

B.F. Maiz
Wednesday, Feb. 20/Thursday, Feb. 21, 7-9 p.m., Black Cultural Center
On Feb. 20, Maiz will lecture on the impact Langston Hughes had on the African-American community and will recite select pieces of Hughes' work. On Feb. 21, Maiz will have students read essays and lead a discussion of language and meaning. He also will read original poetry and tell how Hughes influenced his writing.

"A Time to Kill"
Monday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m., RUC Multipurpose Room
Based on John Grisham's first novel, a Mississippi factory worker deals with the brutal assault of his 10-year-old daughter by two racist thugs on a drunken spree. A kaleidoscopic range of Mississippians -- white and black, poor and privileged, Klan members desperate to regenerate their dying "glory," civil rights activists anxious to keep their cause moving forward -- are involved in the subsequent consequences. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey and Kevin Spacey.

Soul Food Dinner
Thursday, Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m., RUC Multipurpose Room
This year's dinner features entertainment by Blues Works, a trio known for its well-seasoned acoustic/electric style of blues. Cost is $5. No reservations required; pay at the door.
Art exhibits also include "Cotton in My Hands" at the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery, which opens Feb. 5.

A full event calendar is located at www2.tntech.edu/bcc/calendar.htm

--Karen Lykins