EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University is actively celebrating Black History Month, with a variety of events remaining in the second half of February, including the week after EMU’s spring break (Feb. 17-25).

Highlights of the remaining schedule include:

Thursday, Feb. 15:

• “Soulfull” Thursday: (5 p.m. to 8 p.m., The Honors College): Join the Black Honors Student Organization, the Black Faculty and Staff Association and The Honors College in celebrating the second annual Soulfull Thursday. The purpose of Soulfull Thursday is to bring the EMU community together to network, laugh, and share fellowship over a delicious soul food dinner.  Entry to Soulfull Thursday is $5 for students and $7 for faculty/staff.  All proceeds will go towards the Black Faculty & Staff Association Malcolm X & Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship.

• African Queer Liberation: Film Screening (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., The Intersection): Queer and Trans People of Color Collective will be hosting a film screening in the EMU Student Center Intersection room of “Simon & I,” a documentary based in South Africa following Simon Nkoli and Bev Ditsie as they work to confront Apartheid and homophobia as one struggle. Following the film, there will be a discussion addressing topics in the documentary. Snacks will be provided.

Tuesday, Feb. 27

• Black Male Monologues (7 p.m., Student Center Auditorium): “The time of our lives,” is a show that will portray a timeline of African American history through visual and spoken art.

Wednesday, Feb. 28

• Talking Black in America (6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Student Center Auditorium): The Speech-Language Pathology Program and Linguistics Program present the documentary, “Talking Black in America.” With the perspectives of everyday speakers and the guidance of historians, linguists, and educators, Talking Black in America showcases the history and symbolic role of language in the lives of African Americans and highlights its tremendous impact on the speech and culture of the United States. The documentary addresses the persistent misinformation about African American speech and situates it as an integral part of the historical and cultural legacy of all Americans.

• First annual Black Students Matter Unity Photo (5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. TBD-between the Intersection or the Student Center Auditorium): To end Black History Month on a high note, organizers have scheduled the first annual Black History Month Unity Photo. The location (between the SC Intersection or SC Auditorium), will be determined and conveyed. Participants should plan to arrive wearing your Black Students Matter T-shirts at 5 p.m. The picture will be taken promptly at 5:20 p.m.  

For further details, contact the Center for Multicultural Affairs at 734-487-2377 or by email at cma_dci@emich.edu or email Gregory Thomas at gthomas5@emich.edu

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.