SXU Announces Events to Celebrate Black History Month 2019

In celebration of Black History Month and the many achievements and contributions made by African-Americans, Saint Xavier University (SXU) is proud to host a number of events throughout the month of February to honor the culture, to acknowledge the accomplishments and to inspire discussions.

Black History Month Library Display
Hosted all month in the Robert and Mary-Rita Murphy Stump Library, come check out a curated selection of books by African-American authors put together by library staff, as well as staff and family from the Black History Month Committee and African-American Studies Program.

Saturday Night Vibes: Evolution of Hip Hop -- Saturday, February 2
Call all hip hop lovers! February 2 is your night! Come enjoy hip hop music that was first developed by artists including Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Master Flash, Run DMC, Public Enemy, East Coast Versus West Coast and rappers of today. Come out to Regina Res Center at 9 p.m. and don't forget to wear an outfit from your favorite hip hop era.

SXU Speaks: "Not Your Negro" -- Tuesday, February 5
Come join the SXU community for a discussion on the identity of the "Black Man" in the Wiseman Student Lounge from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. This SXU Speaks will highlight the cultural phenomena surrounding black men, as well as highlight the states of oppression that black men face in education, media and society.

Back Down Memory Lane -- Wednesday, February 6
Walk through the decades from noon to 2 p.m. in the Wiseman Student Lounge, starting with the Harlem Renaissance and continuing through the start of the new millennium. Stop by any time to walk down the lane.

Afro Beats/Soca Dance Class -- Friday, February 8
Come join Paige Samuels and Theresa Luabeya in the Shannon Center Dance Room from 2 to 4 p.m. for a fun, energetic dance workout class set to high energy Afro Beats music from West Africa and Soca music from the West Indies.

Saturday Night Vibes: Open Mic Night -- Saturday, February 9
Come and have a cup of joe with the Elected of Zion at 9 p.m. at Regina Res Center. There will be performances, food and contest prizes. Open mic performances are encouraged for chances to win. Grab your cup of inspiration and prepare for a fun night!

Queer, Black and Christian: the Spiritual Experience -- Monday, February 11
Join the Elected of Zion in the Butler Reception Room from 4 to 5 p.m. for an open forum discussion on black LGBTQIA+. Explore the intersectionality of black and queer people in the church and the relationship between the black LGBTQIA+ community, the black church and its leaders.

Black Health Expo -- Tuesday, February 12
Come join Jenetta Dunbar, president of AASDC, in the Wiseman Student Lounge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn about ways to stay healthy and become knowledgeable about physical and mental health issue that are prevalent in the Black community.

Black Hair-itage -- Thursday, February 14
Join friends and peers in the Wiseman Student Lounge from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to learn about African-American hair journeys, textures and products from our very own SXU students.

Dr. Crump's Scholar Talk -- Friday, February 15
Join Tracy Crump, Ph.D., as SXU hosts Troy Cicero, president and chief skill officer of Multicultural Communications, Inc., in a discussion of his organization, the challenges faced as an entrepreneur of color and topics that impact the African-American community.

Saturday Night Vibes: Kickin' It Old School -- Saturday, February 16
Join the Black Student Union in the Regina Res Center at 9 p.m. as they bring in 2019 with the fifth annual KIOS party. Enjoy the songs from the past and dive into a cultural rebirth. Do not forget to wear your favorite "Blast from the Past" outfits and dance the night away.

The Policing Crisis and the Long Road to Reform: Black Lives Matter and Beyond -- Tuesday, February 19
What are the root causes of the current policing crisis? Why have Black Lives Matter protests only produced limited reforms? What must be done in terms of solutions? Who is going to do it? This talk takes stock of the successes and limitations of contemporary anti-policing struggles and considers what it might take to roll back the carceral state in the age of Trump. This talk is presented by Cedric Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of African-America Studies and political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

SXU Speaks: We Are Not Wakanda -- Wednesday, February 20
Everyone say Black Panther and heard the chatter on social media. Come to the Wiseman Student Lounge from noon to 2 p.m. and join in a lively discussion of the film, Pan-Africanism and its place in the Twenty-First Century and beyond.

Black History Month Trivia -- Saturday, February 23
Come to the Wiseman Student Lounge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and test your knowledge of Black history at this event sponsored by the History Club. Teams of up to four people will battle over three rounds on famous people and events in African-American and African diaspora history.

African-American Achievement Awards -- Saturday, February 23
Held in McGuire Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m., the African-American Achievement Awards will recognize the contributions and achievements of African-American students, faculty and staff at Saint Xavier University.

Convening of Black Excellence -- Thursday, February 28
All students are welcome to network with successful black professionals and pioneers from the Chicagoland area in the Butler Reception Room at 5 p.m. This event will give a glimpse of what the future could look like.

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