Colorado State University and Fort Collins Community Celebrate Black History Month (1999)

Colorado State University and the Fort Collins community will join to celebrate Black History Month with activities throughout February. The celebration includes lectures, performances and other student hosted activities honoring the contributions of African Americans.

"Black History Month is a time to acknowledge past and present leaders who have made a difference, and to think about how we can incorporate the differences that they made in today’s society," said Shayla Reed, this year’s Black History Month committee president.

This year’s events include a keynote speech by public speaker CHUCK D, co-founder of the rap group Public Enemy, who has gone from rapping to speaking on racism and social change. The speech will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 10, at the Lory Student Center Theatre.

Black History Month also will feature a "Do You Know Your Leaders?" interactive booth located in the flea market of the student center. The multimedia booth will be set up Feb. 8-10 and everyone is invited to stop by and test their knowledge of leaders in education, civil rights and government.

The month concludes on Feb. 28 with a closing ceremony and "A Taste of the South" dinner. Reed hopes this final event will give the Black History Month committee a chance to recognize and thank all those involved, and to send the message that the struggles made by African American leaders should be remembered every day of the year, not just during February.

The following events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Feb. 12, 19 and 26 "Impact" Bible Study, 7 p.m., the Red Carpet Room in the Durrell Center on campus.

Feb. 8-10 "Do You Know Your Leaders" Booth, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Lory Student Center Flea Market.

Feb. 9 "Beyond the Faces of Diversity" Forum, 7 p.m., Cherokee Park Room, Lory Student Center, sponsored by Lamba Theta Nu.

Feb. 10 Keynote Speech by CHUCK D, 7 p.m., Lory Student Center Theater.

Feb. 11 Cupid Connection, 7 p.m., sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha, location TBA.

Feb. 13 "Sapphires and Pearls" Third Annual Charity Ball, 7 p.m., Suite 152, sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta, call (970) 491-5781 for ticket information.

Feb. 18-21 Big XII Conference, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Feb. 22-26 Black Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week.

Feb. 24 Black History Knowledge Bowl, 6:30 p.m., DC Bottoms in the Durrell Center.

Feb. 28 Closing Ceremony and "A Taste of the South" Dinner, 6 p.m., Lory Student Center West Ballroom. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 non-students.

Black History Month sponsors include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Associated Students of Colorado State University, Brother Mel & the Taste of the South Restaurant, the Black History Month Committee, Black Student Alliance, Black Student Services, Campus Activities, Colorado Concert Committee, Colorado State Event Planning Office and Box Office, Colorado State Marketing Department Distinguished Leaders Program, "Impact" Bible Study, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Landda Beta Nu Sorority Inc., Lory Student Center Dinning Services, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Suite 152 and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

For more information, contact Shayla Reed at (970) 495-2004 or Black Student Services at (970) 491-5781.