A Celebration of Black History

The University of Kentucky presents a series of eclectic programming in recognition of Black History Month. From a lecture by an internationally known author to a reminder of the accomplishments of a UK fraternity's alumni, from an exhibit of photographs taken in Lexington during the 1960s to documentaries written and produced by UK professors, from an operatic look at our nation’s history to a cinematic view of the culture and courage of the people of New Orleans, the university will allow everyone a chance to appreciate the "Hope & History" of African Americans.

The centerpiece of the month's events will be a lecture by Jabari Asim, the accomplished journalist, playwright, poet and author of the recently published book "What Obama Means: For Our Culture, Our Politics, and Our Future." Asim's presentation defines the context of Obama's presidency and what it could mean to Americans of all backgrounds. He also wrote "The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, and Why."

Asim's keynote lecture is slated at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Worsham Theatre in the Student Center. The event is free and open to the public due to the sponsorship of the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center, the Interfraternity Council, Student Government, African American Studies & Research, the UK chapter of the NAACP, the Panhellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the UK Black Student Union.

Asim is the editor-in-chief of NAACP's magazine, Crisis, a pre-eminent journal of politics, ideas and culture. He spent 11 years at The Washington Post, where he served as deputy editor of the book review section and a syndicated column on political and social issues. He is a frequent public speaker and commentator, and has lectured at many of the nation’s finest universities.  He is also an accomplished poet, essayist, playwright and writer of fiction.

In addition to the Asim lecture, the UK Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center will host a photo exhibit and a film series as part of the month’s observance. The photo exhibit will feature historic photographs by Lexington's Calvert McCann, whose work appears in the Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. The 15 framed, black and white prints have been acclaimed nationally and internationally for their journalistic significance. They document the otherwise unrecorded history of organized protest activities that took place during the 1960s in downtown Lexington in challenge of segregationist practices governing public accommodations. The McCann photos will be on display at the King Cultural Center Feb. 4-5, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In keeping with its "Hope & History" theme, the King Cultural Center will also sponsor a series of historic films with discussions facilitated by film scholars, screenplay writers and producers who were directly involved in the film’s production. Each film will focus on a “watershed moment” in African-American history:  The Montgomery bus boycott, the Greensboro sit-in, and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the culture of New Orleans.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to present these three exceptionally important, eye-opening documentaries, but even more so to give our audiences the opportunity to interact with people who were intimately involved in their production,” said Chester Grundy, interim director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center.

Listed below are the dates of times of the "Hope & History" film series.

• Wednesday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m., King Cultural Center, 133 Student Center. "February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four" tells the story of how four college freshmen changed the course of American history. The film offers an intimate portrait of these four men, whose moral courage at ages 17 and 18 not only changed public accommodation laws in North Carolina but served as a blueprint for nonviolent protests throughout the 1960s. A discussion and question and answer session will be facilitated by the PBS film's writer and co-producer, Daniel Smith, professor of history in the UK College of Arts and Sciences Department of History.
• Tuesday, Feb. 17, 4 p.m., King Cultural Center, 133 Student Center. "Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans" is a riveting tale of hope, heartbreak and resiliency set in New Orleans’ most fascinating neighborhood. Shot largely before Hurricane Katrina, it celebrates the resiliency of this community and how it managed to carve out a unique and expressive culture and history that would enrich America and the world.  Lolis Elie, New Orleans Times Picayune columnist and co-producer of the film, will provide commentary after the screening.
• Tuesday, Feb. 24, 4 p.m., King Cultural Center, 133 Student Center. "Boycott" is an HBO-produced film that combines real and fictional documentary footage and an unusual multimedia format to dramatize the true events that triggered the historic Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to surrender her seat in a “whites only” section of a public bus.  Herman Farrell, assistant professor of playwriting in the UK Department of Theatre and writer of the film’s screenplay will be on hand to provide commentary and guide discussion.

Other activities scheduled in recognition of Black History Month include:

• UK Opera presents "Lincoln the Decision Maker: A Black History Month Event" at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Singletary Center for the Arts, Recital Hall. A second performance is slated at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1825 Russell Cave Rd. Both events are free and open to the public. UK Opera Theatre singers will perform excerpts from "River of Time" (the new Lincoln opera in progress), African-American and historical perspectives on Lincoln’s relationships with Frederick Douglas and Sojourner Truth, events leading to the Emancipation Proclamation, and the enlistment of African Americans in the Union Army. The Lincoln Opera Project is an operatic look at our nation’s history in the making. "River of Time" is a full-length opera by Joseph Baber with libretto by James W. Rodgers, to premiere in October 2009 as part of the UK Opera Theatre regular season.
• Members of the UK Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will distribute information about the successful, influential and famous alumni of their fraternity from 11 .a.m. to noon every Thursday in February in front of the Student Center's Starbucks.