Arts underplayed in celebrating black history

By EMILY CEVALLOS
and PRANITA RAGHAVAN
Collegian Arts Writers

While thinking about the achievements of blacks during Black History Month, one might wonder where the arts are.

Students and faculty in the College of Arts and Architecture have been asking a similar question about the lack of black students and faculty in the arts at the University.

"If a person were looking from the outside in, they would be asking, where are the students of color?" said Anthony Leach, instrumental instructor, University Choir co-director and The Essence of Joy director.

Leach said there is a very small percentage of both faculty and students in the arts. Currently, the University has four black art instructors.

"It is not that the environment (within the college) is hostile," Leach said, adding that the majority of blacks are in other majors outside of the arts.

In general, arts are underplayed in the United States so it is only symptomatic that they are in Black History Month, Thomas said. However, February is not the only month in which black art should be highlighted, he said.

"Why wait until February to showcase African-American music, poetry, and dance, etc.?" Leach said.

One of the goals of the University is to increase diversity, Leach said. That means integrating black art through the curriculum and students attending events that promote cultural diversity, he added.

Greg Thomas (graduate-theater) agreed that there is too little black representation in the arts, but the faculty is aware of the problem and is working hard to fix it.

Just as blacks are missing from the College of Arts and Architecture, arts are missing from Black History Month.

Leach said because of time and scheduling restraints in organizing Black History Month events, traditional activities such as lectures are emphasized. Less publicized programs such as music often take a backseat.

''Now that I'm on faculty, I'm trying to do something about that," Leach said.

Leach was involved in a black gospel program early in the month and is now organizing an end-of-the-month activity about the African-American Spiritual. The activity will involve performances by The Essence of Joy, one of Leach's singing groups, and other black guest artists.

Keegan-Michael Key (graduate-theater) would also like to see more activities during February aside from the traditional speeches that everybody has already heard.

"Everyone knows about Martin Luther King Jr. but how many people know about Zora Neale Hurston?" Key asked. Hurston is a black author of multiple works.

Thomas agreed that Martin Luther King Jr. may be more well-known but that is because his ideas are safer than some other black leaders.

"The black people America is comfortable with celebrating are . . . the ones who are the least threatening. Not that Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideas weren't threatening but look how long it took for them to be accepted," Thomas said.

Thomas said the lack of attendance and low interest in events by black students is frustrating. However, having more minority students might change that situation.

"There are a lot of activities through Paul Robeson Cultural Center but it's arts as opposed to theater. I would like to see more black plays," Key said.

And instead of just black students seeing black theater, Key said he would like to see the whole campus share the experience.