Colorado State Celebrates Black History Month with Events, Keynote Address by Bruce George Feb. 9

Bruce George, co-founder of the critically acclaimed, award-winning “Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam,” will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 in the Cherokee Park Room in the Lory Student Center as part of CSU’s Black History Month celebration.

George is the opening keynote speaker for this year’s Black History Month celebration at CSU. He is a writer, poet and activist whose work has appeared in major magazines, anthologies and literary publications. He has won several awards including a Peabody Award for “Russell Simmons Presents, Def Poetry Jam (HBO)” and an Upscale Showcase Award for outstanding vision, production, writing and performance. As an activist, George is associated with major grassroots organizations that foster and uplift people in struggle.

Regina E. Mason, co-author of “Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave” will give this year’s closing keynote address at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 in the West Ballroom of the Lory Student Center.

Mason is the co-author of a book that describes the experiences of her distant relative, who was a runaway slave. She is the great, great, great granddaughter of pioneering autobiographer William Grimes and she spent 15 years researching his life, his wife, their children, and the communities in which they lived. Mason will describe her detective work of scholarship and self-discovery, and how she came to co-edit the new edition.

This year’s theme for Black History Month is "Stories Untold." The CSU Black/African American Cultural Center has organized multiple events to celebrate through the month, starting today:

Today
– Opening Ceremony Proclamation by Mayor Doug Hutchinson at noon at the Lory Student Center Commons.
– Black History Month Documentary Series: “Unnatural Causes, is Inequality Making us Sick?” – Part II at 3 p.m. in Room 228 of the Lory Student Center. 

Thursday
– Milkshake Mixer at 1 p.m. in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Friday
– Movie of the week: “Rosewood” at noon in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 8
– Theatrical play, “Auction Block to Hip-Hop” at 7 p.m., Lory Student Center Theatre.

Feb. 9
– Opening Keynote Speaker: Bruce George, co-founder and creator of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam at 7 p.m. at the Cherokee Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 10
– Delta Sigma Theta sorority, inc. presents… at 7 p.m. in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 12
– Movie of the week: “Love Jones” at noon in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Feb 13
– Black History Month Dance at 7 p.m. at the West Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 15
– Census 2010 at 7 p.m. in Room 144 of the Clark Building, C wing.

Feb 16
– “Because of Her” at 6 p.m. in Room 203, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 17
– Women at Noon Panel Discussion on “Good Hair” at noon in Room 220-222, Lory Student Center.
– Documentary Series: “Unnatural Causes… is Inequality Making us Sick?” – Part III at 5 p.m. Room 230, Lory Student Center.
– Cultural Celebration at 6 p.m. in Room 222, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 18
– Wheel of Jeopardy at 6 p.m. in Room 204 of the Lory Student Center.

Feb. 19
– Movie of the week, “4 little girls” at noon in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 23
– First annual variety show at 7 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre.

Feb. 24
– Closing Keynote Speaker: Regina E. Mason, co-author of “Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave” at 6 p.m. in the West Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 26
– Movie of the week, “Selma, Lord, Selma” at noon in Room 204, Lory Student Center.

Feb. 27
– Little Shop of Physics from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Main Ballroom, Lory Student Center.

For more information on all of the Black History Month events, visit http://www.bss.colostate.edu/Data/Sites/1/documents/bhm/bhm-mailer-2010.pdf.

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