TSU Welcomes Nationally Renowned Speakers During Black History Month
Tennessee State University will officially kick off its Black History Month celebration with an impressive line-up of speakers and the 12th Annual Africana Studies Conference.
The 2005-2006 Student Development Presentation and Symposium Series will begin its program by welcoming several guest lecturers including:
- Ilyasah Shabazz, author of Growing Up X and daughter of the late Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, on February 2.
- Joe Dudley, humanitarian and self-made entrepreneur of Dudley products, will speak on February 7.
- Dick Gregory, human-rights activist, comedian, and actor will speak on February 21.
The 12th Annual Africana Studies Conference is from Feb. 1-4, 2006. The TSU Department of Africana Studies will host this event on the main campus of TSU. This year’s theme is “Cultural Unity of Campus and Community II: Education, Reparation and Development.”
Africana Studies is a multidimensional area of study that includes all of the disciplines in the university as well as activities and programs in the community. The goal of the department is the practical education of students in the cultures, historiography, knowledge and skills of the global African experience.
The conference begins on Wednesday with the Miss Nubian Queen Pageant at 7:00 p.m. in the T.E. Poag Auditorium. On Thursday, Feb. 2, the conference features keynote speaker, Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of assassinated leader, Malcolm X at 1:00 p.m. in the T.E. Poag Auditorium.
On Thursday, Feb.2, and Friday, Feb. 3, various workshops will be held, and special guest speakers including Dr. Amiri Yasin Al-Hadid, Sipo Dumasane, Mr. Muwali Davis, Mrs. Rochelle Ingram, Ms. Jacqueline Johnson, Dr. Robin Harris Kimbrough, Dr. Mayibuye Monanabela and Dr. Wosene Yefru will be featured in the Floyd-Payne Campus Center.
Friday evening’s activities will conclude at 7:00 in the T.E. Poag Auditorium with a Poetry Jam Contest that will award the winner a $500 grand prize.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the 3rd Annual Writers’ Workshop on Tour will feature David C. Coleman from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Women’s Bldg. Auditorium.
The Conference and the evening will conclude with the 3rd Annual Nashville Kemet Jubilee, which will take place from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
The Samuel Shannon Distinguished Lectures Series opens on Wednesday, February 15. Dr. Toyin Falola, a Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas at Austin, will speak in honor of Black History Month at Tennessee State University in the Boswell Chemistry Auditorium on the main campus.
Falola, a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, is an award-winning author of numerous books. Some of his titles include Key Events in African History: A Reference Guide and Nationalism and African Intellectuals. He has also edited several works, including Tradition and Change in Africa, and African Writers and Readers.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the TSU Public Relations Office at 615-963-5331.