Friday, Feb. 20, 1998

Black History Month events feature music, food

By BROOKE GLASSMAN
and MICHELE LAUFIK
Collegian Arts Writers

The University's celebration of Black History Month will wrap up this weekend and next with a variety of festivals and events designed to highlight culture through music, performances and food.

Beginning at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the Black Graduate Student Association will present the program "Black History in Music, Word, Dance and Food."

To accomplish this, the event features soul food and an explanation of its importance and relevance. In addition, performers include students Anthony Irons, who will perform a one-man play, and Joy Hooper, who will read African-American women's poetry. This program is free and will include door prizes and trivia.

The activities will conclude next weekend with a one-woman play by Fran DeLeon titled Faces of America at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 in Schwab Auditorium. Admission is free.

Collegian Graphic

"The play contains a series of vignettes focusing on what America's people look like and what their lives are like, including the positives and negatives, the sweet and the bittersweet," said Lawrence Young, director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. The event is sponsored by the Centers for Community Education.

Throughout the performance, DeLeon transforms herself into a variety of personalities such as an elderly person, a Chicano and a young man. She portrays these images through change of voice and facial expression with only a slight alteration in costume and scenery.

"The program expresses the idea that to understand and appreciate our nation, we need to understand and appreciate all the pieces. There is no one face to America," Young said.

Young said this idea of unity reflects the intent of Black History Month.

"Historically, the purpose of Black History Month has been to develop a sense of inclusiveness," he said.

Continuing this learning and appreciation of the surrounding culture, the African Student Association will sponsor "A Touch of Africa," a program featuring a dinner, show and dance at 6 p.m., Feb. 28 at The Bryce Jordan Center. The meal will be cooked by the students and will feature African food.

At 8 p.m. the entertainment begins, including a fashion show, songs, dances, plays and poems read by students. To close out the evening, a live band will play African, Calypso and Caribbean music. Ticket cost is $5.

"The purpose of the program is for the African Students to share their culture with the University and to educate," said Joe Molete (graduate-biochemistry and molecular biology), secretary of the African Student Association.