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Show Thursday, February 26,2004 Daily Utah Chronicle 4 ikWlJ(E iran Diversity promoted yet attendance sparse classes if you don't show up. You stand out. It's hard because people don't believe you can be educated because you're a person of color." "You in get spotted -- Patricia U professor William Smith listens to fellow panelists in the Union Theatre last week about the importance of Brown story by Emily Miller At the U, the beginning and end of February mark the onset and closure of Rlack History Month. Programming at the U for the month though somewhat meagerly attended was packed with an impressive lineup of speakers and panelists, politicians, artists, photographers, filmmakers, writers, poets, faculty and local community members. "This country could not have been established without black people. If you took away their contributions, there would be no America as we know it," said Al Young, one of the presenters. Attendance was low for many of the events, but students and organizers were still optimistic about the benefits of holding Black Awareness at the U. Vice President for Diversity Karen Dace said the small turnout at many of the events might partially be because advertising and publicity for the month were inadequate. "We could have pushed it more...These activities don't have the advertising budgets. And it's time. Faculty aren't doing this as their job. They're doing it on top of everything else," Dace said. U student Raquel Rasmussen said she thought the month was great. "You get to learn more about diversity, things you don't learn in the classroom." Freshman Gregory Annis agreed that raising awareness about black experiences is a necessity at predominantly white institutions like the U. He said Black Awareness Month is important. "A lot of white people have never had to learn these things before. They learn about black innovators. It improves the quality of our education and it improves relations between the races." Although the month tends to focus more on black Americans' experiences, it also encompasses African, Caribbean, Indian, and other black American experiences. For freshmen Athena Deng from Egypt and Patricia Malanga from the Congo, the month was educational, even if it didn't apply directly to their own cultural ex- periences. n "It teaches me a lot about experience here in the United States. I came from Africa straight African-America- to Utah, and people here are a bit close- - - Photos by v. Board of Education. Lonny Danler minded," Malanga said. Both Malanga and Deng came to the United States to pursue higher education that is not typically available for women in their homelands. Deng plans to return home after completing school. "I'll go back a somebody," she said. Though they will earn respect for their educated status back home, Malanga said it isn't always easy being a person of color at the U. "You get spotted in classes if you don't show up. You stand out. It's hard because people don't believe you can be educated because you're a person of color," she said. Malanga said the month is valuable because it helps students of color overcome some of the obstacles they face in school by educating people about diversity. "It shows Utah kids how the outside world is for blacks. The outside world is tough," she said. Black Scholars United moderator, Sara Hogan, attributed much of the success associated with diversity promotion at the U to former President Bernie Machen. "Machcn was a big change agent. The groundwork for diversity is here, but in order to have a campus community that has cultural competency, we need support. We need the push from the administration," Hogan said. This month's events culminated with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision in favor of school integration. Wilfred Samuels, Black Awareness Month coordinator and professor of English and ethnic studies, pointed out that many students are ignorant of the benefits they have received as a result of the decision. "As an institution for teaching and learning, this is part of our responsibility. We are developing young people who will go out and make a real difference," he said. Part of making a difference was expanding this month's events to encompass the larger Salt Lake City community. Many events for Black Awareness took place outside of campus at the Distinctive Gallery of African American Arts and the Calvary Baptist Church. esanders (chronicle, utah. edu i rip' Oi i 4 tit v I 1 1 ! ; ; 1 Lewis Chidziva, a batik opening reception. A artist from Zimbabwe, talks about his art with a friend in the Union Gallery during the number of exhibits both on and off campus were on display for Black Awareness Month. Left: A few members from the audience ask questions and thank the panelists from "Witnesses and i Participants: 1 1 l X Below: Dennis Archer, the current and first president of the American Bar Association and mayor of Detroit, gives Black Awareness Month's keynote address, "With All Deliberate Speed: Upon the Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education" In the Union last week. African-Americ- two-ter- i i z ; 1 If 1 Gesel Mason performs "Ladies First" at the Marriott Center for Dance Saturday night. The event was one of many cultural artistic performances of the month. anaj Growing up with Jim Crow" in the Union Theatre. V i 1 f 1 1 ,f Malanga v.; ' - '1 S" & m |
