February marks African American Heritage Month at Emory, and the University is geared up for a wide range of activities to celebrate.

Not only does the 2001 program explore the many cultural, historical and aademic aspects of the African American experience, it also relates African American heritage to some of the wider themes of reconciliation woven throughout campus this year. One of the new features this year is an expanded roster of films—nine in all.

“All of them will have to do with race and reconciliation,” said Vera Rorie, director of the Office of Multicultural Programs. “We’ll have a discussion after each, and we’ll correlate what happened in the movie and what happened in real life.

Rorie said there is no central theme to this year’s activities, but all are somewhat related to the Year of Reconciliation. Activities for most any taste or interest are planned most every day of the month.

For more information on any of the events listed, contact the number listed with the event or the Office of Multicultural Programs at 404-727-6754. Also, continue to watch Emory Report’s calendar page for complete times, dates and locations.

Films: The most recognizable titles are Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington (Feb. 16–17), and Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, starring Damon Wayans (Feb. 12). But a wide range of documentaries also are being screened, such as Take Your Bags/The KKK Boutique Ain’t Just Rednecks (Feb. 1); The Bombing of Osage Avenue (Feb. 15), which chronicles the destruction of the Cobb’s Creek neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1985; and Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100 (Feb. 8), which filmmaker Yvonne Welbon premiered last year, will make a return engagement.

Lectures and Panel Discussions: Johnnetta Cole, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Anthropology will moderate a panel titled “Hearings for Healing: Testimonies on Racism and Reconciliation,” featuring civil rights activist C. T. Vivian and Georgia Rep. Dan Ponder, Feb. 12.

The reconciliation theme also pops up in Teresa Brown’s forum, “The Reality of Reconciliation” (Feb. 14). Brown is faculty advisor for the Candler Black Student Caucus.

Another panel discussion—a free-form event dealing with issues of race and racism—will take place Feb. 7 in Glenn Auditorium. The nationally known roster of panelists includes Harvard University Professor Cornel West; Michael Eric Dyson, Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor of ethics and politics, religion and culture, and African American studies at DePaul; author Elaine Brown; Jennifer Hochschild, William Stewart Tod Professor of Public Affairs at Princeton; Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.); and Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Calif.)

Civil rights will be the topic of discussion for the reading, “Recent Memoirs of the Civil Rights Movement,” Feb. 6. Constance Curry and Joan Browning will read from their book Deep in Our Hearts: Nine White Women in the Freedom Movement, and Sara Mitchell Parsons will present excerpts of her work, From Southern Wrongs to Civil Rights: The Making of a White Civil Rights Activist. Civil rights activist and scholar in residence at the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change Bernard Lafayette will speak and Feb. 13. That same day, University of Iowa professor Adrien Wing will discuss “Comparative Apartheid and South Africa.”

Arts and culture: Gospel music performances also will play a big part in this year’s program. The Himsingers from Radcliffe Presbyterian Church (Feb. 10) and Voices of Imani (Feb. 14) will perform, and the musical gospel play S.T.O.P. (Seek Thine Own Purpose) will be presented in 208 White Hall, Feb. 15 and 17. Several worship services are also scattered throughout the month.
Other aspects of African American culture are represented as well. The Association of Caribbean Educators and Students will sponsor a food tasting at the Gatehouse Grill, Feb. 5.