Black Excellence Ball and Cultural Expressions highlight a robust schedule in honor of Black History Month on the Lawrence campus.
The ball, set for 9 p.m. to midnight Feb. 18 in the Esch Hurvis Studio in Warch Campus Center, is a dance hosted by Black Student Union (BSU), a celebration of the accomplishments of Black and Brown people on campus and throughout history. It’ll be preceded by a dinner in Andrew Commons from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cultural Expressions will follow a week later on Feb. 25. The annual performance by students and alumni of color will feature song, dance, and poetry. Set for 7 to 9:30 p.m. in Esch Hurvis, the event is also put on by BSU.
The Lawrence community is working to create an environment that welcomes the world to contribute to and benefit from the liberal arts education we provide.
“It’s a Lawrence tradition and it showcases all the Black and Brown talent that we have on this campus,” said Amaka Uduh, co-president of BSU. “Cultural Expressions is a place for us to be who we want to be and who we are. We show who we are by doing what we love.”
Black Excellence will have the theme Royalty, Uduh said. Cultural Expressions has the theme Motherland. Both are nods to Africa.
“We thought it would be really cool to have a theme based on where we’re from or where our ancestors are from,” said Uduh, a senior from Nigeria.
BSU and other organizations and offices across campus have the following events still to come during Black History Month:
Feb. 10: Movie Night: Black Panther Wakanda Forever, 8 p.m, Warch Cinema
Feb. 10: Slam Poetry, Copper Rock Coffee Co., 210 W. College Ave., 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 11: Movie Night: Black Panther Wakanda Forever, 8 p.m., Warch Cinema
Feb. 12: Brunch on the Block, noon-2 p.m., Warch Campus Center (Pusey Room)
Feb. 12: Brown Girl Brunch, noon-2 p.m., Warch Campus Center (Somerset Room)
Feb. 15: Hair Care Initiative with the Diversity & Intercultural Center (advance sign-up required)
Feb. 18: Bon App BSU Dinner, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Andrew Commons
Feb. 18: Black Excellence Ball, 9 p.m., Warch Campus Center (Esch Hurvis)
Feb. 25: Cultural Expressions, 7 p.m., Warch Campus Center (Esch Hurvis)
Feb 28: Black History 101 Mobile Museum, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Warch Campus Center (Somerset Room)
In addition, Black Feminist Fortnight, a celebration of Black women and an intersectional approach to Black History Month and Women’s History Month, will be held across campus Feb. 26 to March 11. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is looking for faculty and staff to present displays in their classrooms and other spaces to connect their studies or work to Black women.
Ed Berthiaume
Ed Berthiaume is director of public information at Lawrence University.