Crossroads Community Center, along with several departments throughout campus, has planned 34 different programs, exhibits, discussions and events for February in celebration of African-American History Month.
African-American History Month began as Negro History Week. The primary initiative was to bring awareness to the contributions African-Americans made throughout history. Now, 86 years later, the Crossroads Community Center continues to promote the objectives under which Negro History Week was established by striving to make an association between students’ coursework and historical figures.
“This year’s campus celebration will explore the ties between our community experiences and our scholarly pursuits,” said Beverly Hawk, Crossroads Community Center director. “Our focus is on sharing our stories and learning what we have in common and what makes us different.”
A number of opportunities are offered throughout the month of February to allow students, faculty, staff and the community the chance to share those experiences.
“These events will bring together students of today and yesterday by creating a special space of shared experience,” Hawk said.
One of the main events kicking off African-American History month is RealTalk. RealTalk, sponsored by Sustained Dialogue, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Honors College Assembly and Crossroads Community Center, will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the Crossroads Lounge.
Hawk said RealTalk is a student-facilitated discussion that provides “… a chance to share real feelings in a civil conversation.”
Thursday’s discussion will be centered on the topic, “Free Speech in Today’s World.” The conversation is based on the fine line drawn between freedom of speech and verbal harassment, and students are encouraged to participate and contribute their thoughts on the subject.
In collaboration with the Crossroads Community Center, The University of Alabama School of Social Work will remember one of its distinguished graduates, Ethel Hall.
“A History of Racial Inequality: A Social Work Response,” was created to remember Hall, an Alabama educator, and the first African-American woman to receive her Ph.D. at the UA School of Social Work.
To honor her contributions, the School of Social Work Board of Friends and the Social Work Association for Cultural Awareness will host Larry Davis, dean of social work from the University of Pittsburgh. Davis, director of the Center on Race and Social Problems, will discuss the meaning of social work in a lecture titled, “A History of Racial Inequality: A Social Work Response,” on Friday, Feb. 10 at noon in Little Hall Room 223.
Sean Hudson, a senior majoring in social work, expressed the significance of this event.
“This event is highly important as it speaks to the diversity of the School of Social Work and the profession,” Hudson said.
In addition to the array of scheduled events, Alabama African-American quizzes sponsored by University Libraries will be available at the front desk of Gorgas Library throughout the entire month.
Also, every Friday at the Brewer-Porch Children’s Center there will be events that include storytelling and motivational speakers for children.
The month long events planned for African-American History Month are a part of the initiative UA is Culture, established by Crossroads Community Center. Every month, UA is Culture strives to bring awareness and celebrate different cultures.
Crossroads Community Center, along with UA departments, provides the community opportunities to immerse itself in the experiences of others, while celebrating the past and the history it holds.
“African-American History Month is for everybody,” Hawk said. “It’s everybody’s month. Celebrate it … these engaging programs give us a chance to realize we are each truly creating history every day during our years at the Capstone.”
All events are free and open to the public. Posters outlining the calendar of events are available throughout campus. For more information, visit www.crossroads.ua.edu.
