January 31, 2005
Black History Month events begin February
3
By Louise Donahue
A Tribute to Black Music," lectures on the history
of black organizing in Florida and on ways to strengthen Black
History month celebrations, screening of a film about presidential
candidate Shirley Chisholm, and several performances by the
African American Theater Arts Troupe highlight UCSCs Black
History Month events during February.
Members of the African American
Theater Arts Troupe are, from left, Dane Diamond Errisson,
Stephanie Pot (Front) LaJoi Whitten, Wesley Adkins, Leilani
Montes, David Scott, Carla St. Juste. Photo courtesy
of the African American Theater Arts Troupe.
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The musical tribute, a café night/open microphone event,
will be held from 8:30 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, at
the College Eight Cafe.
Participants are urged to bring your voice, your music,
or your spoken word to the event, cosponsored by College
Eight Programs, the African/Black Student Alliance, and AKA.
Emancipation Betrayed: The Hidden History of Black Organizing
and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody
Election of 1920, is the title of a noon lecture by community
studies professor Paul Ortiz on Tuesday, February 15, at Baobab
Lounge at Merrill College.
Sponsored by the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community,
the free brown-bag lunchtime event is open to the campus community.
Refreshments will be provided.
Sociology professor John Brown Childs will discuss ways to
honor and strengthen the celebration of Black History Month
during a free lecture for the campus community at noon on Thursday,
February 10, in Room D of the Bay Tree Conference Center. Childss
talk is part of the Diversity Lecture Series.
Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress
and later the first black person to seek a major party's nomination
for president, is the subject of Chisholm 72: Unbought
and Unbossed, to be shown February 24. Sponsored by the
Womens Center and The 51 Percent Project, the free showing
will be held at 7 p.m. at Bay Tree Conference Room D.
The African American Theater Arts Troupe will perform Urban
Transitions: Loose Blossoms, centering on the impact of
the drug subculture. Written by Ron Milner, the play touches
on an array of issues, including homelessness and family ties.
Urban Transitions demonstrates how the drug subculture
has woven its way into mainstream culture, affecting lower-class
as well as middle-class families.
Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms will be performed
at the following locations:
February 12-13: Cabrillo College, Saturday at 8 p.m.,
Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for students
with ID.
February 18-19: Louden Nelson Community Center; Friday
and Saturday, 8 p.m.
February 26: Oldemeyer Community Center in Seaside,
8 p.m.
March 4-6, UCSC Theater Arts, Experimental Theater,
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Free for UCSC
students with ID, $13 general admission; seniors and students,
$9; UCSC faculty and staff, $2.
African American Theater Arts Troupe members come from a variety
of backgrounds and majors. The troupe was formed in 1991 by
Donald Williams as a vehicle to create unity, higher visibility,
and understanding of African American culture. Williams has
directed the troupe since its inception.
Additional information on the troupe is available by contacting
Don Williams at (831) 459-3409, or dwilliam@ucsc.edu.
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