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Several events at Eastern Kentucky University this month will commemorate Black History Month.

The calendar includes films, an African American read-in, and a “unity trip.” The schedule:

·         Feb. 17, showing of the film “Fruitvale Station,” 7 p.m., Ferrell Auditorium, Combs Building. The drama centers on the tragic shooting of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Oakland, California, resident shot by Bay Area Transportation System officers on Jan. 1, 2009. The incident sent shockwaves through the nation after its capture on camera by Grant’s fellow passengers. Sponsors: Multicultural Center and Division of Student Success.

·         Feb. 18, the Chautauqua lecture by Dr. Cathy Cohen has been postponed indefinitely because of a family emergency.

·         Feb. 23, African American Read-In, a nationwide event that brings people of all backgrounds together to celebrate the works of African American writers. Members of the campus community are invited to read a 3- to 5-minute excerpt from a favorite African American writer; other options will be available for those who don’t pre-select a favorite. No pre-registration is necessary. Just drop by the Powell Building lobby any time from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to read or enjoy other readers. Refreshments will be provided, and prizes awarded. Sponsors: Multicultural Center, Division of Student Success, Freshman Academy for Diverse Students, EKU Libraries and Department of English.

·         Feb. 24, showing of film “Selma,” 7 p.m., Herndon Lounge, Powell Building. The historical drama, set during the height of the American civil rights movement, depicts the marches from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery to secure voting rights for black people. Sponsors: Multicultural Center and Division of Student Success.

·         Feb. 27, Black History Month Unity Trip. The EKU Multicultural Center will provide transportation, admission and a meal for 10 students to visit historic Camp Nelson near Nicholasville. As the third largest African-American recruiting center of the Civil War, Camp Nelson played a key role in the eventual freedom of Kentucky’s enslaved population. It served as a Union depot within a slave-holding but Union-leaning state, and as a recruitment and refugee camp for formerly enslaved African Americans. After March 1864, it became Kentucky’s largest recruitment and training center for African American troops and contained a large refugee camp for the wives and children of the soldiers. The Multicultural Center will provide admission and transportation for the first 10 students to register for the trip. To register, fill out an application packet available at the Multicultural Center (Room 100, Powell Building) and return with a $10 refundable deposit, to be returned on day of trip.

For more information about any of the events, contact Lisa Daniels at lisa.daniels@eku.edu, call 622-4373 or visit the Multicultural Center.