Oregon State University is celebrating Black History Month in February with a host of free events that highlight the achievements and struggles of African-Americans from the past to the present.
The following is a selection of the events on OSU’s Corvallis campus:
Griggs Center Grand Opening
A grand opening celebration of the new Griggs Center for Black & Indigenous Student Success will take place noon to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 1, in Memorial Union Room 61. The grand opening of the center will introduce students to the services the office provides, as well as highlight an honor roll of Black and Indigenous students who excelled academically this fall. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
OSU Album Club: The Harder They Come
Join Director of Popular Music and Performing Arts/Rock Historian Bob Santelli to listen to and discuss “The Harder They Come,” a 1972 soundtrack to the film of the same name, featuring music by Jimmy Cliff. This is an album that was key in bringing reggae music into the pop music realm in the U.S. This free Zoom event is open to all and will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Registration is required.
Rescheduled Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Address
Registration is now open for the keynote address to be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 in The LaSells Stewart Center and via livestream. The keynote speaker is LaTosha Brown, a nationally recognized expert on Black voting rights and voter suppression, Black women’s empowerment and philanthropy. Her talk was originally scheduled to take place Jan. 17 but was postponed because of her involvement supporting federal voting rights legislation in Washington, D.C. This event is free, but registration is required. For information, contact diversity@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-1063.
Race In America Discussion: “Colorism in the Black and Latinx Communities”
The Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center and the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center are coordinating a discussion about the history of anti-Blackness in the Latinx community, colorism in both communities, and Hispanic cultures learning of their African heritage. This event will feature Iván Carbajal, assistant professor with OSU’s School of Psychological Science, and Terrance Harris, Director of the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center, where the event will be taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 5 p.m.
Black Lives Matter in Academic Spaces: Three Lessons in Critical Literacy
A remote public talk by Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo professor of English language and literature with a specialization in African American studies. Young will discuss the ways that teachers and the public in both the U.S. and Canada have misappropriated the linguistic concept of code-switching as it applies to both Black language and standard language speakers. This is a virtual event, free and open to all, from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. Registration is required.
4th Annual “Writing (PNW) Black History Into Wikipedia” Event
The Valley Library is partnering with the national non-profit AfroCROWD for the editathon, which will focus on improving existing Wikipedia articles and creating new articles. Training is provided at the beginning of the event. There will be an in-person event at the Valley Library and a virtual event simultaneously from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. Click here to register and learn more about the event.
Orange & Black Concert
This annual concert to raise awareness of vocal and choral scholarships at Oregon State will feature the Oregon State University Chamber Choir, Meistersingers and Bella Voce choirs. The free program includes a tribute to Black History Month with songs by Black composers and will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, at the First United Methodist Church, located on 1175 NW Monroe St. Venue capacity will be reduced to allow for social distancing. Admission requires masks and proof of COVID vaccination along with a valid photo ID. This venue does not accept proof of a test in lieu of a COVID vaccine.
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