Elizabethtown College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events throughout the month of February. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging is partnering with several offices on campus to host events recognizing Black achievement as well as the work being done toward building an equitable and inclusive culture at Etown.
View upcoming events below and join the Blue Jay campus community:
Knowledge Journey | Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | BSC Concourse & Campus-Wide
Do you know how Black History Month celebrated the contributions and achievements of African Americans to the country? Africans first came to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries, which is when African American history began. African American history is a significant component of international history and has enormous value in American history. Scan QR codes across campus, you may discover some fascinating facts about this noteworthy month by taking the Black History Month trivia quiz. Stop by the BSC to help create solidarity posters to be on display all month!
Black History Month Flag Raising and Performance by the Crispus Attucks Infamous Unstoppables Drill Team and Drum Squad | Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. | BSC Concourse and The KAV
The Pan-African flag is a symbol of liberation and pride. Raising this flag signifies a month-long celebration of education and social events. The visit from this local student group will include college enrichment and educational experience with the Ubuntu Mentors. The collaboration between Etown and Crispus Attucks will also feature BHM events each Saturday of the month at the Crispus Attucks Community Center in Lancaster.
Beloved Community Collective Keynote Address by Judge Jodie Richardson | Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. | Susquehanna Room (RSVP Required)
Judge Richardson has lived in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, all of her life. She is familiar with the regional culture and climate and is able to relate to and serve her community with trust, respect, intellect, firmness, and compassion. Judge Richardson upholds the law by being trustworthy, respectful, equitable, and equal at all times. She makes sure that all parties are given the opportunity to be heard, to fully state their case, to be treated equally and with respect, and that they are all informed about the legal process. Judge Richardson is a major supporter of restorative justice, youth aid panels, judicial advocacy, services for people facing mental disabilities, treatment for substance abusers, and advocacy for the law.
“Running for Magisterial District Judge was both an honor and my duty to position myself as a public servant for the improvement and enhancement of my community. I am principled, forthright, and will always operate with integrity,” Judge Jodie Richardson, Magisterial District Judge, Lancaster, PA 02-2-01 District (3rd & 7th wards) Jan 2018.
Registration is required for this event. Please email DEB@etown.edu to RSVP.
Black Is: The Blackness Project with Gene Thomas | Thursday, Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. | Gibble Auditorium
Black Is: The Blackness Project will bring together a panel of Black Elizabethtown College employees to discuss their experiences of being Black, their lives, their work, their joys, and their understanding of community. The panel will serve as a post-discussion after the showing of The Blackness Project (2018) a feature-length documentary film about culture and race from the African American and other minority perspectives, directed by Korey Green. Both the film and the discussion will serve as a way for those in attendance to think about how not only Black people share and occupy different places and spaces, but also how making and creating space for Black people can be transformative.
“From Equity Talk to Equity Walk,” Book Discussion with Dr. Kesha Morant Williams, Nichole Gonzalez, and Dr. Susan Mapp | Friday, Feb. 3 from noon to 2 p.m. | Jay’s Lounge (RSVP Required)
“From Equity Talk to Equity Walk” is an action-oriented guide on how to help increase equity in higher education. This book discussion is designed to start conversations on how Elizabethtown College can create action steps to help achieve the goals set out in its Strategic Plan theme of Inclusive Excellence and develop individual and institutional accountability measures.
All faculty and staff are welcome to attend the book discussion. If you are interested in participating in the discussion, please RSVP.
Tie Dye in Solidarity | Monday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | BSC Concourse
Join us for a Tie Dye in Solidarity event where students can provide a t-shirt or pair of socks to tie die and take home. Black History Month aims to increase awareness of the knowledge, culture, and heritage of Black people. It also encourages others to study and share new information by normalizing dialogues that are typically avoided. Black represents the melanin-rich skin color of Africans or people of African descent and our shared identity. Yellow represents the sun, prosperity, optimism, justice, and equality for all people. Green symbolizes Mother Nature, Africa’s rich greenery, and other God-given natural resources. Red symbolizes blood and history; the excruciating bloodshed people of color underwent during the battle against slavery, racism, and colonialism.
“The Sky is Deeper Than the Sea” Book Discussion with Tyné Angela Freeman | Monday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. | McCormick Classroom, High Library
Students are invited to join us for this classroom-based engagement opportunity with Tyné Angela Freeman work spans songwriting, ethnomusicology, recording, and authorship. Her album and text, “The Sky is Deeper Than the Sea,” considers aspects of trauma, transcendent hope, history, love, and resilience. Resting on a profound belief in hope, Freeman explores the reconciliation of traumatic histories through evocative approaches to story and time.
Monday Series Concert: Tyné Angela Freeman | Monday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. | Leffler Chapel and Performance Center
A vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Freeman graduated from Dartmouth College in 2017 with a degree in music. She has released five independent records and has performed across the U.S. and internationally. Freeman was a performer in the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage Series, a YoungArts national winner, and a finalist in the 2018 Independent Music Awards.
The Gandhian Roots of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nonviolent Movement with Dr. Jeff Long | Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 12:30 p.m. | Hoover 214
Join Dr. Long’s discussion about the Gandhian foundations of Dr. King’s nonviolent strategy for changing society. This discussion will consider Gandhi’s own roots and sources in the Hindu and Jain traditions, as well as his encounters with Christianity. We’ll also highlight Rev. James Lawson and Bayard Rustin, who played important roles in bringing Dr. King’s awareness of Gandhi’s work.
Developing Resilience with Dr. Bruce Lynch | Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. | Hoover 214Learn more about resilience and engage in conversation about it with Dr. Bruce Lynch. Discuss myths and accurate information as related to resilience. Discover the distinctions between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and explore strategies for coping with the effects of losses and setbacks, while maintaining your focus on longer-term goals.
Ujima Dialogue: Black History Month Discussion | Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. | McCormick Classroom, High Library
Mosaic Scholars facilitate the Ujima Dialogue Series, a bi-weekly, informal conversation about current diversity, equity, accessibility, and justice topics. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend as Ujima is a principle of Kwanzaa that means “collective work and responsibility.” The theme of discussion for February will center on Black History Month.
Haircuts by Alex | Friday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Mosaic House
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Whether you celebrate it or not, we think it’s a good idea to show some love, even if it just means taking the time to pamper yourself. Celebrate your love for yourself so that you can also love others. How can you do that? Haircuts by Alex.
NAACP Black Business Panel | Monday, Feb 13 at 7 p.m. | The KAV
Our society has an issue with financial literacy. One person, one group, or one individual is not the only one who is affected by financial literacy issues. Given that it primarily impacts the younger generation, it affects the entire country. However, to help young adults of color make better financial decisions and manage their finances through generations with greater fluency, it is absolutely required to teach them the value of financial literacy. Join the Black Business Panel in discussing financial literacy and investing in the Black community. Participants will learn the basic mechanisms of financial assurance and can interact with individuals who actively invest in the local community to understand the applications of financial importance.
Cooking for the Culture with Gene Thomas | Tuesday, Feb 14 at 5:30 p.m. | Bowers Demo Kitchen (RSVP Required)
Do you picture comfort dishes that remind you of home served during family get-togethers and holidays when you think of soul food? Recipes for common foods have been passed down from generation to generation. These age-old comfort foods may now be made with healthier ingredients to bring back memories of good times. Let’s consider recipes that leave the following generation a legacy of pride, well-being, and longevity. Register attendance at Darcey Mills by Feb 7.
Ubuntu Mentor Paint Night | Wednesday, Feb 15 at 5 p.m. | Mosaic House (RSVP Required)
Create an original piece of art to mark Black History Month in a special way! We take our time and engage in a creative activity when we paint, which promotes relaxation. Your mind cannot be distracted by the hustle of everyday life when you are concentrating on your steady hand and paint application. Grab a paintbrush and let all your problems fade away. We’ve been painting since kindergarten, so everyone is skilled at it! Register attendance at Darcey Mills by Feb. 8.
Black History Month Trivia Game Night | Friday, Feb 17 at 7 p.m. | Hoover 212
Compete for BHM trivia champion! NAACP and NOIR event combines honors and commemorates Black culture and history, and celebrates the achievements of Black authors, musicians, leaders, and icons. Picture round, celebrate the accomplishments of the many famous icons and leaders within the Black community by naming each famous first. Music round, name the song and musician of some of the best songs by Black artists, spanning decades and genres. Creative questions, test your knowledge of Black culture, history, leaders, and icons in this series of inspired questions. One final winning team, every game has a leaderboard, so you’ll know exactly who the Black History Month virtual trivia champion is at the end of the three rounds!
The Black Business Expo | Saturday, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Park City Mall, Lancaster
The Black Business Expo was created to give minority-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, small businesses resources, start-ups, and their supporters, a platform to network, collaborate, and build in order to strengthen our local economies. Join the Elizabethtown NAACP for an off-campus trip to Lancaster, shuttle leaves at 12:30 pm. Please register attendance at naacp@etown.edu by Feb 11. Find the answers to most questions at https://www.aacal.org/vendors.
Black History Month Karaoke | Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. | The KAV
Whether you want to go classic or keep it contemporary, this is your chance to live out your music performance fantasies to Etown’s most loving crowd. With hundreds of songs to choose from, all those years of singing along in clubs, in the car, or in front of a mirror have led to this moment! We will also have our free mobile bar there for students, Conrad’s Corner, which allows students 21+ one free beverage an hour.
Juneteenth Revisited | Sunday, Feb 19, 10 a.m.| Mosaic House (RSVP Required)
Juneteenth is an important milestone in American culture. Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth National Independence Day are all names for the holiday honoring the abolition of slavery in the United States, which is celebrated on June 19 every year. We’re getting together at the Mosaic House to discuss Juneteenth in light of the fact that students aren’t here during the summer. Juneteenth represents resistance, resilience, and Black Joy. Join the Ubuntu Mentors for Soulful Sunday: brunch, conversation, and an afternoon of fun at Lancaster’s Round1 Bowling and Amusement Center. Email Darcey Mills for registration by Feb 5.
Athletic Jeopardy | Monday, Feb 20 at 8 p.m. | Bowers Center First Floor Lounge
SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and the Elizabethtown College NAACP will host an Athletic Jeopardy. The month of February is an opportunity to consider the significance of Black history and achievements. It enables professional sports leagues to acknowledge the accomplishments of their Black athletes while advancing their cause for a better future. Black History Month is an opportunity to honor a group of athletes who overcame prejudice to leave a lasting impact in their respective sports. Many of the greatest Black athletes have made significant contributions to changing the social fabric of the country. Prizes awarded to quiz competition winners!
Black Mardi Gras: Resistance, Resilience, and the Preservation of History in New Orleans with Darcey Mills | Tuesday, Feb 21 at 4 p.m. | Mosaic House
Explore the ways Black culture and history have deeply impacted Mardi Gras celebrations for all people. We owe the enjoyment of these traditions to our Black communities who not only preserved their culture for survival but to experience pleasure despite the forces that pressed against them.
ZUZU Acrobats Performance | Friday, Feb 24 at 6 p.m. | Leffler Chapel
The ZUZU Acrobats is a Tanzanian troupe who bases their performances on 2000 years of history. They bring modern art, culture, and passion with them everywhere they go. ZUZU celebrates their niche culture of Dar Es Salaam through jaw-dropping acrobatics, live music, singing, dancing, and more. ZUZU African Acrobats exhibit gravity-defying stunts while simultaneously displaying the beauty of the Tanzanian culture of East Africa.
Film Screening: I Am Not Your Negro (2016) | Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. | The KAV
The 2016 film I Am Not Your Negro is an award-winning documentary on James Baldwin and racial inequality in America which highlights his views on three prominent Black leaders who were assassinated in the 1960’s: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. Through extensive use of archival footage of Baldwin and excerpts from his writings, filmmaker Raoul Peck draws parallels between the realities of racial inequality in America today and Baldwin’s views on the different realities experienced by Black and white Americans in the mid-20th century. (Etown Blue Print Program: DIVERSE1, 7 units)
This screening is intended for Etown students, staff, and faculty and will be followed by a brief, informal discussion. It is co-sponsored by High Library, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and the Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking. Please note: The content of this film depicts racial violence. Please be aware this film is rated PG-13 for some disturbing violent images and racial slurs. Some viewers may experience intellectual and/or emotional discomfort. This is a common response when exposed to content of this nature.