Millikin to celebrate Black History Month
Millikin University will host a variety of events and programming sponsored by the Division of Students Affairs and in partnership with Millikin student organizations and academic departments to celebrate Black History Month this February.
Among the events in February include guest speaker Terrence Floyd, brother of George Floyd, who will speak at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. Millikin will also welcome Chicago-based visual artist and community activist Arlene Turner-Crawford for an artist talk at Perkinson Art Gallery on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m.
Black History Month originated in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson promoted what was known as "Negro History Week" in an effort to educate people about the accomplishments of African Americans. In 1976, the celebration was expanded to include the entire month of February, the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Black History Month is celebrated to remember important individuals and events in African American history.
"Each year throughout the United States, we set aside intentional time in February to reflect on the many contributions of the African American community to our nation's history. This time gives us an opportunity to celebrate individuals and groups who have overcome significant barriers because of racial inequities to make seminal contributions to the American story," said Millikin President Dr. Jim Reynolds.
The events for Millikin's Black History Month celebration are as follows.
Thursday, Feb. 3
Head Wrap Class presented by Millikin University's African Student Organization
5 – 7 p.m., Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance, 1st floor of the University Commons
Thursday, Feb. 10
Karaoke presented by Millikin University's Multicultural Voices of Praise
6 – 8 p.m., Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms, 3rd floor of the University Commons
Tuesday, Feb. 15
Black History Kahoot presented by Millikin University's Black Student Union
4:30 – 6 p.m., Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms, 3rd floor of the University Commons
Friday, Feb. 18
African Diaspora presented by Millikin University's African Student Organization and Black Student Union
5 – 7 p.m., Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance, 1st floor of the University Commons
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Terrence Floyd
Presented by Millikin University's Office of Campus Life and Office of the Provost
*Closed campus event, public attendance by special invitation only
7 p.m., Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Since his brother's tragic death, Terrence Floyd has served as a tireless community leader and grassroots organizer, sharing a message of unity, equality, criminal justice reform, and civil and human rights.
Terrence is a board member on The George Floyd Memorial Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to building a just and equal society and ending systemic racism against Black people in America. He is also the founder of We Are Floyd, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to honoring the life of George Floyd through community service and leadership and providing young people of color hope for the future.
With a mission of giving youth in America reason to believe in a better tomorrow, Terrence shares proactive solutions for ending racial and structural inequality in ways that bring about real and lasting change. He poignantly moves audiences with his brother's story and inspires younger generations to make a difference, know their worth, and realize they too have a voice and a purpose that needs to be heard.
Thursday, Feb. 24
Artist Talk with Arlene Turner-Crawford
4 p.m., Perkinson Art Gallery at Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Arlene Turner-Crawford is a Chicago-based artist committed to community and activism. She works in a range of media including painting, assemblage and collage, drawing, graphic design and illustration. Arlene defines herself as a visual artist, curator, educator, muralist and cultural activist. In her journey, she became a classroom teacher, university administrator, faculty member and student affairs unit head; a grants developer and institution builder of cultural organizations; a collaborator and mentor. She endeavors to integrate her creativity into service and the beautification of community.
Arlene Turner-Crawford
Crawford earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University and was the first African American to earn a Master of Science in Art Education from Indiana University's Herron School of Art.
Crawford has served on the Executive Board of the African American Arts Alliance and was a founding member of the Sutherland Community Arts Initiative and Sapphire & Crystals, a collective of African American women artists. Crawford's work has been exhibited in Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center, ARC Gallery, South Shore Cultural Center, African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Creative Arts Foundation and Malcolm X Community College President's Gallery, National Museum of Mexican Art, and at the Evanston Art Center, National Conference of Artist, Fundacao Cultural do Estoado de Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Friday, Feb. 25
Silent Disco presented by Millikin University's Black Student Union
9 – 11 p.m., Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms, 3rd floor of the University Commons
Monday, Feb. 28
Dance Class presented by Millikin University's African Student Organization
7 – 9 p.m., Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Rooms, 3rd floor of the University Commons