February 1, 2003

BOISE STATE CULTURAL CENTER PRESENTS BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

Boise State University’s Cultural Center, in conjunction with Student Programs Board, Student Involvement and the Women’s Center, will present musical performances, a film and a lecturer and comedienne in celebration of Black History Month in February. The commemoration will extend into March and include the following events:

Step Afrika!, 7 p.m. at the Special Events Center. Tickets are available at the Student Union Information Desk, $6 general admission, $3 Boise State students, faculty and staff. This event is cosponsored with Student Programs Board.

Movie: "American History X," 8 p.m. in the Special Events Center. The consequences of urban racism provide the backdrop for this contemporary drama centering around a family torn apart by hate. This film stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. Tickets are available at the door, $2 general admission, $1 Boise State students, faculty and staff. This event is cosponsored with Student Programs Board.

Nada Brahma, 12-1p.m. in the Student Union Fireplace Lounge. Since forming in 2001, this group has used traditional tribal instruments, such as the didgeridoo, sitar, oud, samira and African drums to create sound described as "tribal rock fusion."

Boise State Big Band, 12-1 p.m. in the Student Union Fireplace Lounge. Drop by and listen to lively jazz rhythms produced by Boise State Students.

Marian Anderson String Quartet, 8 p.m. in the Special Events Center. This is an opportunity to see the first African-American ensemble in history to ever win a classical music competition. Today, the quartet’s performance venues range from concert halls to soup kitchens. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for seniors, students 17 and under and Boise State students, faculty and staff at Select-a-Seat outlets. This event is cosponsored with Student Involvement.

Drum Central, 12-1 p.m. in the Student Union Fireplace Lounge. Take a break to re-energize while listening to and helping to create sounds of Africa.

Bertice Berry, 7 p.m. in the Special Events Center. See the award-winning entertainer, lecturer and comedienne give a lecture created especially for the Boise audience. As she does with all her lectures, Berry will use local issues and concerns, as well as national and global themes, to tailor her speech to her audience. The general themes of her lecture will focus on Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Berry has been featured on numerous television programs, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and "BET Live" with Tavis Smiley. This event is cosponsored by both the Women’s Center and the Cultural Center to commemorate both Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

The foundation for Black History Month was established in 1926 when Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, wanted to find a way to neutralize the ignorance and distortion of black history. Under Woodson’s direction, African American and white scholars started "Negro History Week" during the second week of February, 1926. This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthdays of two individuals that Woodson felt had dramatically affected the lives of black Americans: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976 "Negro History Week" was changed to Black History Month.

For further information on these events call 426-4259.

Emina Bektic

Cultural Center

426-4259

Pat Pyke

communications and marketing

426-1987

Patri Ann Thompson

communications and marketing intern

426-3196

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