PUEBLO – Numerous events will be held at Colorado State University-Pueblo throughout February to commemorate important people and events in African-American history. Included in the month-long celebration will be dinner lecture by Denver First Lady Mary Louise Lee, a movie night, game night, and an interactive art project utilizing quotes of famous African Americans. All events are free and open to the public and are sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and the Black Student Union (BSU).

The annual February celebration grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Woodson choose that week to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Thursday, February 1, 5 p.m., General Classroom Building 111

Dinner/Discussion

The month’s activities will commence with a Black History Dinner Dialogue. First Lady of Denver Mary Louise Lee will speak with students about Racism and Discrimination in 2018. A proud native of Denver, Lee is honored to serve the city as Denver’s First Lady. Singing and performing since the age of three, she has become a well-known staple throughout Denver’s music and performing arts landscape. For more than 20 years, she has built an extraordinary professional performing career, where she has performed nationally and internationally as an actress and a vocalist. As a career coach, vocal instructor, mentor and coordinator, she has also been an advocate for children and youth, helping steer them to make positive life choices and preparing them for visual and performing arts careers.

Wednesday, February 7, 3 p.m., Occhiato Student Center (OSC) 108

BHM Cultural Movie Night: Show Me Democracy

Amidst the uprising in Ferguson, seven St. Louis college students evolve into advocates and activists as they demand change through policy and protest and test the validity of the Margaret Mead quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

The film Show Me Democracy documents the efforts of the Scholarship Foundation’s Education Policy Internship Program, which empowers students to research education policy issues that affect them and their peers, and to coordinate efforts to influence public policy around increasing post-secondary educational access for low-income students. The documentary follows the interns’ initial frustrations with police brutality and failing school systems; their first meetings as a team; one student’e experience of being tear-gassed on the streets of Ferguson; and the group’s visits with Missouri representatives. At the state capitol, they advocate for educational reforms that would improve educational access for students of color, those with limited financial resources, and immigrant students in Missouri. The film examines the students’ personal lives and diverse backgrounds, follows them as they cope with the events in Ferguson, and will ultimately reveal whether a group of committed young people can make a difference in complex and imperfect systems.

Thursday, February 15, noon-3 p.m., OSC 108

Art it up

There are countless incredible quotes from famous African American figures from all walks of life, like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X., Muhammad Ali, and Arthur Ashe. Selecting one as inspiration for an art project is a great way to integrate arts this month’s celebration into your life.

Wednesday, February 28, 4 p.m., OSC 108

Black History Month Game Night

Test your knowledge and come play a game of Jeopardy full of questions for Black History Month.

Colorado State University-Pueblo is committed to excellence, setting the standard for regional comprehensive universities in teaching, research, and service by providing leadership and access for its region, while maintaining its commitment to diversity.

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