Every February, Black History Month is observed across the United States. Black History Month is a time to embrace and celebrate aspects of African-American culture.  This year, Black History Month is particularly important as the Georgia Tech Community recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Matriculation of Black Students.   Please mark your calendar and take note of the various scheduled events:

 OMED Listings

Tuesday, February 1st –  Black History Taboo
7 pm, Student Center Piedmont Room
Attendees will play a Black History version of the popular game Taboo.
Sponsored by AASU

Tuesday, February 8th – Black Amazing Race

6 pm, Starting at Student Center
We will be playing Amazing Race with Black Historical locations in the Atlanta area. Each team (with a car) has to go to each location and take a picture and whoever comes back the fastest wins a prize
Sponsored by AASU

February 9th – Salute to Ellington

 10am; Ferst Center for the Arts

Free lecture/demo by Jazz Reach that introduces students of all ages to the world of jazz music.

February 12th – Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra

7PM; Ferst Center, Richard Gallery

February 12th ~ Sound check and Q&A for GT students followed by Jazz Connect @ 7PM in the Richards Gallery of the theater.  The performance will be held the same day @ 8 PM; student tickets are $10.

Tuesday, February 15th – Book Club Discussion – The Help by Kathryn Stockett

12 – 1 pm, Women’s Resource Center

Bring your lunch and join the WRC and Diversity Programs for a conversation about Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. Set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who’s raised 17 children, and Aibileen’s best friend Minny, who’s found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams.

Sponsored by the Office of Diversity Programs and the Women’s Resource Center

http://www.womenscenter.gatech.edu/plugins/content/index.php?id=58

Tuesday, February 15th – “Understanding Identity and Building a Collective Voice” Panel
6 – 8 pm (including a reception), Klaus 1456 and Klaus Atrium (for reception)
The purpose of the “Understanding Identity and Building a Collective Voice” Education Session will be to show students the value of stepping outside of their own identity groups in order to build community. While sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes met with resistance, the value of thinking and acting with a community in mind, and not just the parts that make it, produces extraordinary results. GT Alumni panelist will share their experiences and stories about times in their careers, communities, and personal lives where they have focused outside of their immediate circles to highlight inclusiveness, or to build a collective voice to reach a broader goal, and the success they have found in those ventures. This panel will allow students to consider their own identity groups and allow them to consider how to bring strength to a community by leveraging their individuality and experience.

Sponsored by SAA, AASU, OMED, and the 50th Matriculation Committee

http://www.gtsaa.com/?q=understanding-identity-panel

Thursday, February 17th – Trivia Night @ Junior’s Grill
6 pm, Junior’s Grill

Annual Black History Trivia Night at Juniors.
Sponsored by AASU

Thursday, February 24th – Natural Hair Panel with “GT Campaign for EveryBody”

7 – 9 pm, Student Center Ballroom
Sponsored by GT Housing, Office of Diversity, AASU, and Women’s Resource Center

Friday, February 25th – ONYX BALL!!!
8 pm – 1 am, The Biltmore

Every year, the African American Student Union finishes Black History Month by hosting the Onyx Ball where Georgia Tech students and their guests come dressed to impress to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history.

For more information contact Erin Wilson at gtaasu.blackhistory@gmail.com

http://www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/aasu/onyx_ball.html

Monday, February 28th – Unveiling of African American Exhibit
6:30 pm, Alumni House
You are cordially invited to an evening of “firsts” as we celebrate the accomplishments of Black Alumni, Faculty and Staff over the past 50 years by unveiling the first Georgia Tech African American History Exhibit.

Cocktail Reception, Business Attire

Sponsored By: The Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization

Honored Guests:  Georgia Tech’s First Vice President for Institute Diversity, Dr. Archie Ervin

Dean for the Ivan Allen College, Dr. Jacqueline Royster

RSVP - contactus@gtblackalumni.org