UW-Parkside News: Black History Month kicks off, continues at UW-P

Black History Month kicks off, continues at UW-P

Dr. Kinchen speaks at Black History Month kickoff.

UW-Parkside's celebration of Black History Month got off to a rousing start Wednesday. Through songs by students, poetry, dance by the Chaos Dance Team, and the spoken word, the university gathered around this year's the theme "Living Through Our Voices." The kick-off celebration was held in Main Place of the Wyllie Hall throughout the noon hour.

After reciting the words to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the Black National Anthem, UW-Parkside Music Professor Dr. James Kinchen reminded students they must remain active or the civil rights movement would become history, something to be studied only in museums.

Check today's "Colors of the Day" for more pictures from Wednesday's celebration.

One week from today, Thursday, Feb. 9, our celebration continues with an evening that brings history to life. Starting at 7 p.m. in Studio A of The Rita, "meet" early civil rights activist Ida B. Wells as portrayed by Milwaukee actress Marti Gobel.

Ida B. Wells was born to slave parents in Mississippi during the U.S. Civil War.

As a journalist living in Memphis, Tenn., Wells spoke out on the need to end segregation, lynch mobs, and the destruction of African-American property in the South. After a threat against her life, Wells migrated to Chicago where she would later work with Fredrick Douglass.

Gobel founded Uprooted Theatre, an African-American theatre troupe, and starred in the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of "Around the World in 80 Days." She also earned excellent reviews while performing the one-woman show "Neat" for Milwaukee's Renaissance Theaterworks.

Marti Gobel's performance as Ida B. Wells is free and open to the public.
A day earlier, Wednesday, Feb. 8, UW-Parkside's Black History Month Read-In highlights books by African American writers. Students read book excerpts from black authors as part of the national program. Spoken word artist Nico Moore begins the event with a performance. The read-in begins at noon in the UW-Parkside Library. Admission is free.

ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 2/2/2012

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Black History Month kicks off, continues at UW-P