Observed each February, African American Heritage Month commemorates the people and movements that have advanced civil rights and social equality.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will celebrate African American Heritage Month with a variety of events, including speakers, plays and dinners.
Beverly Guy-Sheftall will headline the month’s festivities at the annual African American History Month Lecture on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. Guy-Sheftall is the founding director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center and Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies at Spelman College where she teaches courses on feminist theory and global black feminisms. In her role as director of Spelman’s Women’s Center, she has been involved with the development of student activism around a broad range of social justice issues.
Held at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History, the lecture is cosponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences’ history department and the Chancellor’s Office.
This year’s highlights also include:
- North Carolina Senator Erica Smith will speak on campus Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stone Center to discuss black women in leadership.
- A performance by acclaimed actor and playwright Mike Wiley at the Friday Center on Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. His one-man play, Breach of Peace, pays tribute to the 1961 Freedom Fighters Movement.
- The Southern Comfort dinner catered by Mama Dip’s Kitchen on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at Chase Dining Hall.
For a complete list of Black History Month events, visit the University Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s website.
By University Communications