What can we expect during Black History Month 2012 at Emory? Food, jazz, intriguing conversations, and roof-raising dance performances by Emory's favorite step teams, according to Brittany Fields, president of the Black Student Association.
"Everyone in the Emory community should attend the Black History Month Block Party on Feb. 11," she says. "It's a great way for those who do not consider themselves part of the black community to come and see what it means to be black at Emory." The Block Party is scheduled to take place in the Cox Ballroom from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts will be playing host to the Emory Annual Jazz Fest. Feb. 10 features performances from vocalist Sachal Vasandani and the Gary Motley Trio at 8 p.m. Feb. 11, also known as Big Band Night, stars the Emory Jazz Faculty Ensemble at 8 p.m. and is free to the public. For ticket information, visit arts.emory.edu.
On Feb. 18, the Black History Month Health Promotion Fair will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Woodruff Health Sciences Center lobby and plaza. The event is a free opportunity for students to learn about the various conditions and illnesses that affect the black community at large, says Fields. National health organizations such as the American Diabetes Association and local organizations such as the Association of Black Public Health Students will set up informational stations where students can interact with representatives in a casual format. Co-sponsored by the Black Student Alliance and the Student National Medical Association, the fair is open to the Emory community as well as students in the greater Atlanta area.
To join the ongoing conversation about the life and community of black undergraduate students at Emory, check out the first installment of the Black at Emory Forum on Feb. 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the Emory Center for Ethics. Part II will resume on Feb. 28 at the same time and location. The community dialogues will be moderated by Emory seniors Lynn Hargrow and Gaybrielle Moore.
On Feb. 23, the Goizueta Black MBA Association will hold its annual potluck in the business school courtyard at 4 p.m. The event will feature African, Caribbean and Southern cuisine, as well as dance performances by Emory and Morehouse College students, says Goizueta Black MBA Association President Samira Malik. The free event will also include a dance party.
On Feb. 24, the 7th Annual Diverse Leadership Conference will take place at Goizueta Business School from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The keynote speaker, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), will address topics such as globalization trends and overcoming cultural barriers. Other notable speakers include Cyril Turner, president of Delta Global Services, Bill Hague, vice president of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, Goizueta professors Jeff Rosensweig and Jagdish Sheth, and many more. "It's going to be an amazing networking opportunity to meet other students, corporate leaders and members of the Atlanta community," says Tyrona Heath, conference chair. To register for more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/goizuetadlc2012.
On Feb. 25, the Emory Chapter of the NAACP will sponsor a group tour of the King Center and the Apex Museum. "[The tour] will help us gain a deeper understanding of the role Atlanta played in black history and culture," says Emory NAACP Secretary Kala Hurst. For details and registration information, contact Hurst.
Ever wondered what President Barack Obama and Malcolm X would say to each other if they ever met? Don't miss "The Conversation," a play that imagines a dialogue between the two on Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m. in White Hall Room 208. The event is free and open to the public.
Awards, honors and recognitions will be presented at the Black History Month Gala on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Math and Sciences Center Atrium.
See the Emory 2012 Black History Month calendar of events for the full schedule.