The University of Mississippi has plenty of events lined up in lieu of February, or Black History Month, but Ole Miss's storied past makes the month much more than just remembrance.
Ole Miss helped make what is considered black history. From James Meredith to more modern day black firsts, the University of Mississippi is continuously writing its own story of black history.
The university is featuring everything from guest lectures to museum exhibits to dance and music performances, covering topics from African Diaspora to Civil Rights, the university has planned programming for every day of the month, all in celebration.
The University of Mississippi Museum is highlighting parts of a permanent collection during the month to encourage appreciation of Western African history. The selection Richard K. Meyer collection, as donated by the late Meyer, is a collection of works from the Dogon, Ibo and Yoruba cultures.
"We appreciate anyone who comes in and is able to find and celebrate a part of their heritage," Collections Manager Marti Funke said.
"There is a lot of history behind the collection and we are happy to share that. Most people of Western African heritage would be able to find ties; it's a very widespread collection."
Just before the kick off of Black History Month, The Overby Center hosted the premier of "Not in Our Town," a PBS documentary showing the reaction to the removal of "From Dixie With Love" amongst students and even the Ku Klux Klan.
Toran Dean, a senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., was one of the students featured in the film. Dean notes that while many Black HistoProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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Month celebrations center around previous events, that was not the documentary's focus.
"The documentary was not to point out what's wrong with Ole Miss," Dean said. "But instead, it's a look at how far we've come."
Ole Miss hosted the first black Associated Student Body president Nic Lott in a kick off celebration last week.
Lott gave a speech in the Union Lobby addressing students, faculty, staff and alumni. Lott took the audience back the integration of Ole Miss with James Meredith as the first black student.
"A lot of folks today take advantage of the opportunities they have been afforded without knowing the sacrifices and the tremendous courage that people had during those dark, evil days in our state," Lott told the Daily Mississippian.
The Theatre Department at Ole Miss has also worked to bring in several dance companies, specializing in contemporary lyrical style as well as African-inspired choreography.
"brittani acuff"
The GREEK quote from brittany blah blah
Andrew Benefield, a senior from Jackson, Miss. who plans on attending several of the events, is just proud that the university is capitalizing on its past.
"I'm glad the university takes measures to celebrate how far we have come," he said.
"Black History Month is just a reminder that as an African American, we didn't get here alone," Dean said. "The struggle and accomplishments of blacks before us got us here today."
Whether an appreciative artist or dancer, reflective African native or black American, or witnessing Ole Miss student or professor, there is something scheduled this month for everyone. For a complete listing of events, visit http://zing.olemiss.edu/category/celebrating-black-history/.
Ole Miss helped make what is considered black history. From James Meredith to more modern day black firsts, the University of Mississippi is continuously writing its own story of black history.
The university is featuring everything from guest lectures to museum exhibits to dance and music performances, covering topics from African Diaspora to Civil Rights, the university has planned programming for every day of the month, all in celebration.
The University of Mississippi Museum is highlighting parts of a permanent collection during the month to encourage appreciation of Western African history. The selection Richard K. Meyer collection, as donated by the late Meyer, is a collection of works from the Dogon, Ibo and Yoruba cultures.
"We appreciate anyone who comes in and is able to find and celebrate a part of their heritage," Collections Manager Marti Funke said.
"There is a lot of history behind the collection and we are happy to share that. Most people of Western African heritage would be able to find ties; it's a very widespread collection."
Just before the kick off of Black History Month, The Overby Center hosted the premier of "Not in Our Town," a PBS documentary showing the reaction to the removal of "From Dixie With Love" amongst students and even the Ku Klux Klan.
Toran Dean, a senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., was one of the students featured in the film. Dean notes that while many Black HistoProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0
Month celebrations center around previous events, that was not the documentary's focus.
"The documentary was not to point out what's wrong with Ole Miss," Dean said. "But instead, it's a look at how far we've come."
Ole Miss hosted the first black Associated Student Body president Nic Lott in a kick off celebration last week.
Lott gave a speech in the Union Lobby addressing students, faculty, staff and alumni. Lott took the audience back the integration of Ole Miss with James Meredith as the first black student.
"A lot of folks today take advantage of the opportunities they have been afforded without knowing the sacrifices and the tremendous courage that people had during those dark, evil days in our state," Lott told the Daily Mississippian.
The Theatre Department at Ole Miss has also worked to bring in several dance companies, specializing in contemporary lyrical style as well as African-inspired choreography.
"brittani acuff"
The GREEK quote from brittany blah blah
Andrew Benefield, a senior from Jackson, Miss. who plans on attending several of the events, is just proud that the university is capitalizing on its past.
"I'm glad the university takes measures to celebrate how far we have come," he said.
"Black History Month is just a reminder that as an African American, we didn't get here alone," Dean said. "The struggle and accomplishments of blacks before us got us here today."
Whether an appreciative artist or dancer, reflective African native or black American, or witnessing Ole Miss student or professor, there is something scheduled this month for everyone. For a complete listing of events, visit http://zing.olemiss.edu/category/celebrating-black-history/.
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