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Delta State celebrates Black History Month with a variety of events

CLEVELAND, Miss.— In celebration of Black History Month, Delta State University is encouraging ongoing conversations about history, race, culture, accomplishments and accountability with several events.

Delta State’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of Student Life and the “Winning the Race” Conference are offering a variety of programming—virtually and in-person (in adherence with DSU COVID-19 guidelines). The events are free and open to the Delta State community and the general public.

“This year’s Black History Month events continue Delta State’s active, year-round engagement in learning about and reflecting on the rich history of African Americans in the United States,” said Michelle Johansen, coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion at DSU. “Many of the programs honor Black students, faculty, staff, alumni, and retired employees and major milestones in Delta State’s history. All are welcome to join in these celebrations.”

DSU’s Office of Student Life is also offering several events geared towards DSU students that are also open to the general public.

“Delta State University’s Office of Student Life invites the campus and community to help us celebrate the history and achievements of African Americans past, present and future,” said Rochelle Owsley, director of student development at DSU. “We look forward to celebrating the beauty of those who are ‘Living the Dream’ as we encourage our students to embrace the beauty of diversity.”

Scheduled campus events are as follows:

Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.: “Black History Month at Delta State: 1969 Black Student Sit-In”

Learn more about the 1969 Black Student Sit-in from sit-in participants and DSU oral history team with a viewing of this award-winning oral history project sponsored by a generous grant from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. This virtual event will be livestreamed at 6:30 p.m. via the DSU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facebook page. For more information, contact Johansen at mjohansen@deltastate.edu. 

Feb. 10, 12 p.m.: “Raise the Flag” Ceremony

Join the DSU community in a ceremony to raise Mississippi’s new state flag on campus. The in-person event will be hosted at noon at the flag poles located in the north-end of the Quadrangle. Sponsored by the DSU Office of Student Affairs, the event is open to the general public. For more information, contact Bevin Lamb at blamb@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m.: “Just Mercy” Film Screening

Starring Jamie Foxx, Michael B. Jordan, and Brie Larson, “Just Mercy” is an award-winning film based on the life of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson. A film screening, sponsored by the DSU Office Student Life, will be hosted at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Jobe Hall (in adherence to DSU COVID-19 protocols). For more information, contact Owsley at rowsley@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m: “Living the Dream: Black History Oratorical Contest”

Join DSU students, faculty and staff for a special Black History Month oratorical contest. This event will be hosted at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Jobe Hall (in adherence to DSU COVID-19 protocols). The event will also be available via livestream on the DSU Office of Student Life Facebook page. For more information, contact Owsley at rowsley@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m: “Black History Month at Delta State: The 1970s – Staff”

Learn more about significant milestones in Black history at Delta State in a conversation with Reginald Barnes ’74 and Barbara Story McKnight as they share their stories and experiences as some of the first Black administrative staff members at Delta State. This virtual event will be livestreamed at 6:30 p.m. via the DSU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facebook page. DSU Director of Career Services Nakikke Wallace Johnson will serve as the moderator. For more information, contact Johansen at mjohansen@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m: “Black History Poetry Slam”

Join DSU students, faculty, and staff for a special Black History Month poetry slam slated for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in the auditorium of Jobe Hall (in adherence to DSU COVID-19 protocols). The event will also be livestreamed on the Delta State University Office of Student Life Facebook page. For more information, contact Owsley at rowsley@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m: “Black History Month at Delta State: The 1970s – Faculty”

Learn more about significant milestones in Black history at Delta State in a conversation with Dr. James P. “Ike” Adams, Jr., and Professor Emerita Georgene Clark as they share their stories and experiences as some of the first Black full-time, tenure-track faculty hired at Delta State. This virtual event will be livestreamed at 6:30 p.m. via the DSU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facebook page. DSU Professor Arlene Sanders will serve as the moderator. For more information, contact Johansen at mjohansen@deltastate.edu.

Feb. 22, 6 p.m.: “Another America Across the Sea: A Liberian History of the United States”

Assistant Professor of History and Director of the Madison Center for the Study of the Early American Republic Dr. Andrew Wegmann will present a special lecture as part of his recognition as Delta State’s Humanities Teacher of the Year at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22. Sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the DSU Division of Social Sciences and History, this free virtual event will be hosted via Zoom. To join the Zoom event, visit www.zoom.us/join and use Meeting ID 929 5530 8912 and Passcode 134362. For more information, contact Laura Kate Fortner at (662) 846-4065.

Feb. 25, 6 p.m.: “Shades of Gray: The Black History Edition”

James Baldwin once stated, “History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.” Continue the conversation about Black history with a special program from the Winning the Race Ambassadors, a student-led group organizing engagement opportunities as part of Winning the Race Conference activities. Students will focus on discussing historical examples of Black social justice movements, White allyship, and racial justice in 2021. The event will be livestreamed at 6 p.m. on the DSU Winning the Race Facebook page and is sponsored by Winning the Race and DSU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For more information, contact Dr. Natasha Barnes at nbarnes@deltastate.edu.

To view the full schedule of DSU Black History Month events, visit www.dsublackhistory.com.