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The Daily OrangeBlack History Month | Hip-hop journalist to headline celebratory events
By Jaclyn Bissell and Stephanie Musat
Posted: 2/4/08, 12:10 AM EST Section: News
This February, Black History month has a new focus: looking toward the future.
With a black candidate eligible for the presidency, accomplishing change is a possibility.
A major theme of this year's celebration is the focus on accomplishments and the future, according to the Office of Multicultural Affairs's (OMA) Web site. At Syracuse University, the OMA is hosting events to commemorate the struggles of blacks throughout the years, while still looking toward the future.
"With (Barack) Obama running, it shows that African Americans are a big part of the future and are striving to become a prevalent force in today's society," said Michelle Henderson, a junior Spanish language/literature and culture and African-American studies major.
Senior political science and African-American studies major Yusuf Abdul-Qadir agreed because of the nomination of both a woman and a Black man in this election.
"It is specifically important being African American because the struggles African Americans have gone through set the path for people like Barack Obama," he said
The OMA said everyone can learn something from Black History Month by embracing campus diversity
"With the election, I think people will be more aware [of Black History month], but I don't know how much more involved they will be," Henderson said.
To spur involvement, the OMA encourages students to take advantage of the events and explore black history.
Friday's kickoff for Black History Month featured soul foods in the Schine Student Center, and it gave students the opportunity to learn about the month's celebratory events.
Thursday's event is a commemorative lecture by Joan Morgan, an award-winning author, journalist and cultural critic. With her expertise in hip-hop and gender, Morgan will lecture students on "hip-hop feminism," which will also include a discussion about racial and gender divides.
Morgan has been teaching and making appearances on radio and television, including MTV, BET and VH1, to spread her message.
With a black candidate eligible for the presidency, accomplishing change is a possibility.
A major theme of this year's celebration is the focus on accomplishments and the future, according to the Office of Multicultural Affairs's (OMA) Web site. At Syracuse University, the OMA is hosting events to commemorate the struggles of blacks throughout the years, while still looking toward the future.
"With (Barack) Obama running, it shows that African Americans are a big part of the future and are striving to become a prevalent force in today's society," said Michelle Henderson, a junior Spanish language/literature and culture and African-American studies major.
Senior political science and African-American studies major Yusuf Abdul-Qadir agreed because of the nomination of both a woman and a Black man in this election.
"It is specifically important being African American because the struggles African Americans have gone through set the path for people like Barack Obama," he said
The OMA said everyone can learn something from Black History Month by embracing campus diversity
"With the election, I think people will be more aware [of Black History month], but I don't know how much more involved they will be," Henderson said.
To spur involvement, the OMA encourages students to take advantage of the events and explore black history.
Friday's kickoff for Black History Month featured soul foods in the Schine Student Center, and it gave students the opportunity to learn about the month's celebratory events.
Thursday's event is a commemorative lecture by Joan Morgan, an award-winning author, journalist and cultural critic. With her expertise in hip-hop and gender, Morgan will lecture students on "hip-hop feminism," which will also include a discussion about racial and gender divides.
Morgan has been teaching and making appearances on radio and television, including MTV, BET and VH1, to spread her message.
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