Old ֱ University's annual celebration of Black History Month will kick off with "A Call to Action: What's Next? Part 2" at 6 p.m. Feb. 2.
The solutions-based discussion will focus on ways to collaborate on working toward social and racial justice.
The Office of Intercultural Relations has partnered with academic units and community organizations to present a variety of virtual events throughout February that highlight Black culture, history and tradition. These events include multimedia presentations, thought-provoking discussions, music and dances highlighting Angolan culture presented by the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance and a showing of the film "After Selma: The Current Reality of Voter Suppression" followed by an interactive a discussion that will include Selma activist Joanne Bland and film maker Loki Mulholland.
The University Libraries will also host an exhibition celebrating Norfolk 17 in the Learning Commons of Perry Library.
"As we embark upon the recognition of Black History Month, I am reminded of the wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he stated that, 'We are not makers of history. We are made by history,'" said Lesa Clark, executive director of the Office of Intercultural Relations. "It is an honor to present the narratives of our Monarch community and surrounding neighbors as they share their interpretations of the diversity of meaning surrounding this quote. Due to the unique time of our current existence, the scheduled events will bring accounts of triumphs, pain, contributions, lived experiences, and resiliency of Black Americans from a historical perspective and present reality."
Among the organizations sponsoring events area the ODU Black Alumni Chapter; Brother 2 Brother; the Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity; the African American and African Studies major and minor; ODU Counseling Services; the Office of Faculty Diversity and Retention; the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice; the Coalition of Black Faculty and Administrators; and the Hampton Roads Committee of200+ Men.
For more information, contact the Office of Intercultural Relations.
