Purdue’s Black Cultural Center to celebrate Black History Month

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Black Cultural Center at Purdue University will host art events, movies and performances to celebrate Black History Month throughout February.

Events include:

* "The Rudiments of SuPre." A solo exhibition by Boyd Smith. The artwork is a reflection on the social and racial injustice faced by black communities in the past, present and future day America. The exhibition will be open through Feb. 10.

A reception for the artist is set for 6-9 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 9). The exhibit will be shown in the West Gallery at the Patti & Rusty Rueff Galleries in Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts.

* Thursday (Feb. 9). 5 p.m. The Black Cultural Center will host a soul food dinner on the ground floor of Meredith Hall. The dinner will cost one dining swipe of $10, cash only. This is an opportunity for African-American faculty and staff to network with current students.

* Friday (Feb. 10) at 6:30 p.m. The Black Cultural Center will host a Black Buster film series during Black History Month. Films will be shown in the BCC Student Lounge. All films featured will be from the Blaxploitation film genre.

* Saturday (Feb. 11). 7-10 p.m. "One Love: Caribbean and Beyond" will take place in the Córdova Recreational Sports Center’s Feature Gym. There will be performances by Northern Illinois University Steelband and BCC Black Voices of Inspiration. The event is put on by Purdue’s Caribbean Students Association.

* Feb. 16. Noon. "On the Shoulders of Ancestors: The Art of Willis Bing Davis" will be presented. Bing Davis will give a gallery talk at noon at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St. Museum hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily (except holidays). Admission is $5 for nonmembers or students without student ID.

* Feb. 16. 3 p.m. The Purdue Black Cultural Center will host "Bing Davis Talk: The Joy of Being Alive" at the Black Cultural Center. Admission is free.

* Feb. 22. 2:45 p.m. The Hanna Community Center Afterschool Program will host the Patchwork Path-A-quilt Map to Freedom. The program will feature Black Cultural Center director Renee Thomas.

* ASHA for Education Purdue Chapter presents Global Movie Fest. Some films will be related to Black History Month. Films will be shown at 6 p.m. Feb. 23; noon, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 26; and 6 p.m. Feb. 27. All showings will take place in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Admission is free. There will be a panel discussion after the films on Feb. 23, at 5 p.m. Feb. 26, and on Feb. 27. 

For more information regarding the upcoming events, go to www.purdue.edu/bcc/events/index.html. 

Writer: Cat Dillon, dillon16@purdue.edu

Source: Juanita Crider, jcrider@purdue.edu