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OBERLIN TOWN AND GOWN CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2002
JANUARY 31, 2002 -- "Is Racism Dead? The Color Line Revisited" is the theme of Black History Month 2002 at Oberlin College. The College and community* -- a leading terminal on the underground railroad, an early haven for free blacks and a hotbed of abolitionism -- will celebrate the month with a series of public talks, exhibitions and other events coordinated by the College, the Oberlin Historical Improvement Organization and the Oberlin Public Library.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Leading off the observance Monday, February 4, is "Affirmative Action and American Values," an Oberlin College Convocation address by Harvard University Law Professor Christopher Edley, Jr., author of Not All Black & White: Affirmative Action, Race and American Value, in the College's Finney Chapel.
Highlights include the ticketed screening of the film Patrice Lumumba February 9 at Oberlin's Apollo Theater and several free presentations, including An Evening with Nikki Giovanni on February 21, and a concert by the Oberlin College Black Musicians Guild February 23 at the Oberlin Conservatory.
Visits to Oberlin classrooms and informal talks by celebrated African griot Papa Susso will be presented on February 25 and 26. A panel discussion on "Is Racism Dead? The Color Line Revisited" will be held on February 26 and the one-woman play, Truth: The Testimonial of Sojourner Truth will be performed by Rasheryl McCreary on February 27 at a place tba.
Town events include a breakfast talk, Our Town and Its Nationally Significant History, by Pat Murphy, executive director of the Oberlin Historical & Improvement Organization (O.H.I.O.), on February 8 at Kendal at Oberlin; an afternoon panel discussion Perspectives on African American Life February 23 at the Oberlin Public Library; and -- under the auspices of O.H.I.O's African American Preservation Committee -- a town-wide puzzle contest and an African-American Pioneers exhibition.
Speaking at Oberlin College will be:
- Marshall University Professor George Kojo Arthur, who will discuss at Afrikan Heritage House: Cloth as a Metaphor: Symbols of the Akan of Ghana (February 13);
- Oberlin alumnus John Young who will explore "Down Low or Same Gender Loving? How Homophobia in the African-American Community is Literally Killing All of Us" (February 18);
- Keith Boykin, one of America's leading commentators on issues of race and sexual orientation, who will discuss "Sex, Lies and Race in America" (February 22).
Black History Month events for Oberlin College students will also include a formal inaugural dinner, a soul session, a vendors market, and a leadership retreat.
The O.H.I.O. Black History month talk, Our Town and Its Nationally Significant History, part of the "Get Acquainted with Kendal-at-Oberlin Breakfast Series," will be held on Friday, February 8 at 9:30 A.M. Admission is $3, payable at the door. Reservations are required; call Kendal-at-Oberlin at 775-0094.
The O.H.I.O African American Preservation Committee will display an exhibition of African American Pioneers at various locations in Oberlin throughout February and March, including Kendal at Oberlin (February 2 to 17), the Oberlin Public Library (February 17 to 23), Oberlin City Hall (February 25 to March 1), and the Oberlin Community Services Center.
O.H.I.O. is also seeking additional locations to display the framed photos and text panels later in the year. To suggest sites, please contact Committee Chairperson Jean Simon or O.H.I.O. Executive Director Pat Murphy at 774-1700.
O.H.I.O's African American Preservation Committee also will host an African-American History puzzle contest at The Bridge, Kendal at Oberlin, the Oberlin Heritage Center, the Oberlin Public Library, at the public schools and at www.oberlinheritage.org. Completed puzzles must be returned to these locations by February 15.
Winners will be announced on February 23rd during a 2 P.M. public panel discussion at the Oberlin Public Library, titled Perspectives on African American Life. Panel members include George Abram, a civil rights advocate, O.H.I.O. member and Living History volunteer; Sara J. Harper, Retired Judge, Ohio Court of Appeals, Cleveland) and others. This event is co-sponsored by the Oberlin Public Library.
The College events are sponsored by the African-American Studies Department, Afrikan Heritage House, the Multicultural Resource Center, the Hewlett Grant Committee, and the offices of the president, the dean of arts and sciences, student health and the alumni association, says James Ochwa-Echel, faculty-in-residence and a member of the Black History Month Committee.
The Oberlin community's connection to the underground railroad, John Brown's raid on Harperƒs Ferry, the Amistad slave ship and rebellion, and the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue -- an event that caused Oberlin to be called "the town that started the Civil War" -- are detailed on Oberlin and the Struggle for Black Freedom, a special Black History Month Internet page posted by the Electronic Oberlin Group (EOG) with links to other Black History resources.
PROGRAM FOR OBERLIN BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2002
February 4: Convocation Address Christopher Edley, Jr. -Finney Chapel*, 8 P.M.
February 8: Breakfast talk, O.H.I.O. Executive Director Pat Murphy: Our Town and Its Nationally Significant History, Kendal at Oberlin*, 9:30 A.M.
February 8: Inaugural dinner for students/faculty: Afrikan Heritage House*, 6 P.M.
February 9: Film screening: Patrice Lumumba - Apollo Theater* (ticketed) 1 P.M.
February 9: Soul session - Afrikan Heritage House* 10 P.M. February 13 Vendors' Market - Wilder Main*, noon-5 P.M.
February 13: Public Lecture George Kojo - Cloth as a Metaphor Afrikan Heritage House*, 7 P.M.
February 15 Africana Student Leadership Retreat - Carlisle Visitors Center in La-Grange, 9 A.M.-5 P.M.
February 15: Deadline for O.H.I.O. African American History Puzzle Contest.
February 18: Public Lecture Dr. John Young: Our Silence will not protect us: How homophobia in the African-American community is killing all of us - Afrikan Heritage House,* 7 P.M.
February 21: An Evening with Nikki Giovanni - Finney Chapel*, 8 P.M.
February 22: Public Lecture Keith Boykin: Sex, Lies and Race in America - King* 106, 7 P.M.
February 23: Perspectives on African American Life panel discussion at the Oberlin Public Library*, 2 P.M.
February 23: Public concert by the Oberlin College Black Musicians Guild -- Warner Concert Hall at the Oberlin Conservatory*, 7 P.M., program tba.
February 25: After dinner talk by Papa Susso - Afrikan Heritage House, 7 P.M.
February 26: Panel discussion: The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead? Afrikan Heritage House*, time tba.
February 27: Rasheryl McCreary, Truth: The Testimonial of Sojourner Truth, venue tba, 7 P.M.
SITE ADDRESSES:
- Afrikan Heritage House (Lord-Saunders) 126 Forest St.
- Apollo Theater, 19 E. College St.
- Finney Chapel, corner of W. Lorain and N. Professor Sts.
- Kendal at Oberlin, 600 Kendal Drive King Building, 10 N. Professor St.
- Oberlin Public Library, 65 S. Main St.
- Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin Conservatory, 77 W. College St.
- Wilder Main, 135 W. Lorain St.
Media Contact: Scott Wargo
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