By Dr. Ghislaine Lewis ~ Advisor
Black History Month 2022 at the University of Lynchburg kicks off on Feb. 2nd with a keynote address by Zyahna Bryant whose talk is entitled Equal Access for Students of Color and the Navigation of PWI’s.
Vice President of Inclusive Excellence, Dr. Robert Canida said, “Black History Month 2022 at the University of Lynchburg is a testament of our student’s true leadership skills.”
This year’s calendar highlights black student organizations on campus including a Hidden Figures movie night hosted by Woman2Woman on Feb. 3rd in the Drysdale Westroom at 6 p.m., a Black Student Association and Office of Equity and Inclusion brown bag lunch titled Melanin Minds Matter on Feb. 10th in the Flynn Multicultural Center 12 p.m. and an Afro Latino presentation by the Hispanic Student Association and Alpha Psi Lambda on Feb. 15th in Hopwood Auditorium 7 p.m.
Canida continued, “As I think about this year’s Black History Month theme of, Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Inspiring the Future, I’m so thankful for Ms. Adrieanna Vest-Turner and Mr. Claudio Otero, III’s phenomenal leadership in planning such a robust month of programs. These two graduate students in the Office of Equity and Inclusion, stepped up and organized a month of programs that will honor America’s past and present Black inventors, scholars, educators, etc. They epitomize Dr. King’s quote, ‘A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.’ But what I’m most excited for is how this month will inspire individuals to be their best selves and strive for a brighter future.”
The month long celebration also features three courageous conversations on:
- February 9: How Everyone, Including White People, can Take Responsibility and be Anti-Racist with Brian Sorge
- February 16: Implicit Bias and Microaggressions taking place on Campus with Dr. Tammy Hodo
- February 23: Two Steps Forward and Three Steps Back with Dr. Brenda DeLee.
Celebrating the influence of food in black culture also features prominently among the festivities with a soul food lunch in the Burton Dining Hall from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and the Taste of the African Diaspora on the 3rd floor of Drysdale 12 p.m. sponsored by the African Caribbean Union.
President of the African Caribbean Union, Manuela Amouzou said, “This Black History Month at Lynchburg, I’m excited for the ACU: Taste of the African Diaspora on Feb. 25th because I believe it will be an exciting introduction into the shared pre-colonial ancestry of African American, Afro-Caribbeans, and Africans.
Amouzou also said, “ The ACU will be focusing on honoring the past and celebrating the present through the use of tasty food to educate the UL community on the pre-colonial ancestral influences of African American foods, the innovation of African American foods, and its similarities with other members of the African diaspora. Additionally, the ACU: Taste of the Diaspora event will be an exciting one as it seeks to unite and connect the members of the African diaspora and it will give everyone a fun and interactive brief introduction into the rich customs and histories of the African diaspora.”
The month will wrap up with a Gospel Show in Schewel Performance Hall on Feb. 27th at 5 p.m.
For more information, email the Office of Equity and Inclusion at oei@lynchburg.edu and for a full calendar of events visit lynchburg.edu.
All events are free and open to the public. Masks are required inside any campus building.
