Tash Mahnokaren
Staff Writer
In honor of Black History Month, Idaho State University, in cooperation with the Diversity Resource Center will host a series of events that cater to commemorating African-American heritage.
One of these will be a succession of panel discussions held throughout the month of February that address specific sections of President Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.”
These discussions will be held February 11, 19 and 24 in the Pond Student Union Building.
The values of work and the promise of social equality, inclusion and citizenship are so powerful in American culture that they have persisted through the histories of political reform.
Obama’s book addresses the social and political concerns surrounding American society.
The Diversity Resource Center, in its own efforts to commemorate Black History Month, will continue to put on an event each week throughout the month of February.
Henry Evans, assistant director of equal opportunity/affirmative action and diversity, has helped to spark increased efforts each year for Black History Month, as well as throughout the remainder of the year.
Commemorative efforts began on Jan. 20 with the Martin Luther King March, which was held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The march is an annual event, with ISU and the community coming together to take part in the festivities of the day.
“The first week of Black History Month, we held a showing of ‘The Butler,’ about the first black butler at the White House,” said Maria Raass, student program coordinator at the Diversity Resource Center. “We try to incorporate many cultural and national holidays within the center.”
The second week of commemoration sought the help of Paul Sivitz, a lecturer in the Department of History who gave a presentation on the African-American contribution to race and jazz in the American culture.
A strong effort from multiple departments throughout campus is helping to make all of the events successful.
The Diversity Resource Center will further its commemoration of black history with a documentary on Martin Luther King, Jr.
“In past years we have done diversity fairs with community members, but this year we haven’t had the time, so we’re just doing smaller events within the center,” said Raass.
The commemoration process of incorporating weekly events over the period of a month is a fairly new platform, according to Raass. The Diversity Resource Center hopes to continue this style of commemoration with other racial and cultural memorial efforts.
Inside the Rendezvous building last year, a Rosa Parks bus seat fundraiser could be found, one of the ways that ISU has attempted to increase its commemoration of African-American heritage.
“The next step is for ISU to get more involved and to incorporate cultural events in the school,” said Raass. “We do have cultural nights, but that is student organizations trying to show and share their culture with ISU and the community.”
Raising awareness of cultural diversity is something that ISU hopes will help to dispel cultural ignorance and produce students with a better understanding of race, ethnicity and diversity.
