Black History Month Marked at University

The University of Scranton’s Multicultural Center, the Office of Community Engagement and Government Relations, the Weinberg Memorial Library, the Black Scranton Project, the Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union and other organizations have planned a number of events for Black History Month.

University of Scranton President, Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., noted “the events and activities for Black History Month that call for celebration, reflection, learning and action” in his Black History Month message sent to the University community.

Events and activities planned begin Thursday, Feb. 1, with a table sit titled “MC Awareness Month Table Sit: Black Resistance” with information for University students, faculty and staff. The event begins at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the DeNaples Center. Also on Feb.1, the University will light its Class of 2020 Gateway sign in red, yellow and green for Black History Month. The sign will be lit in these colors on Saturday evenings in February.

On Feb. 7, the University’s will begin its Black History Month Film Series with the screening of “Judas and the Black Messiah,” with an introductory talk by Anthony Betancourt, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Scranton. Presented by the Weinberg Memorial Library, the films will be shown at 7:30 p.m. free of charge and open to the public on Wednesdays in February in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Other films planned for the Black History Month Film Series are: “The Hate You Give,” with introductory talk by Dr. Betancourt on Wednesday, Feb. 14; and “Cooley High,” with an introductory talk by Melissa Anyiwo, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Scranton, on Feb. 28.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, the Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union will host a Freedom Fest for members of the University community, beginning at 8 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom DeNaples Center. Also, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, the Cultural Centers will host Black Women in Music at 7 p.m. in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall.

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Black Scranton Project Center for Arts and Culture will host a Screening and Talk Back: “Black Voices: Scranton Stories.” at 6:30 p.m. in Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. The event is open to the public, however, registration is required to attend and can be made by visiting http://www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory.

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Cultural Centers will host a Dialogue Series on Race, Racism, Identity and Privilege: “Black Arts Movements: Afrofuturism” for members of the University community. The talk will be at 8 p.m. in the Multicultural Center of the DeNaples Center. Also, the Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union will host a Black History Month Trivia Night on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall.

For additional information about the University’s Black History Month events and learning opportunities, contact the Multicultural Center at 570-941-5904 or multicultural@scranton.edu.