Black History Month Events Planned at UMaine
Contact: Jose Cordero, 581-1425, George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO – Black History Month is being observed throughout the month of February at UMaine with speakers, films and, on Feb. 24, a free Black History Month dinner with a national speaker.
The month is designed to provide students and the public with a better insight into the African American culture and history, and also give thought to issues of racism, according to Jose Cordero, interim director of multicultural programs at UMaine and the ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Center.
Events began earlier this month and conclude Feb. 24 with a keynote address at the annual Black History Month Dinner by James Wallace, professor of higher education leadership at Eastern Illinois University. Wallace also is coordinator of a unique two-week program that takes participants on an annual national tour of educational institutions listed as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a White House initiative from 1980 designed to strengthen the educational capacity of black colleges and universities.
Wallace will speak on the history of African American higher education in the United States. The dinner and program is from 6-8 p.m. at Stodder Commons on the Orono campus, and is free.
The Feb. 24 program also includes poetry and a menu of “popular soul food,” Cordero says. This year will feature a tried and true southern staple of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn biscuits and apple pie.
Fried chicken and mashed potatoes may seem like a common staple for many Americans today, but Cordero explains that while everyone probably has enjoyed fried chicken and potatoes over time, many Americans had other options, whereas slaves didn’t.
“It’s the one thing slaves had to eat,” he says. Because of a dearth of other menu options, slaves “were almost forced to eat this.”
Cordero intends to observe Latin Heritage Month in March and Asian Heritage Month in April.
“I think it’s important to highlight history awareness,” he says. “It’s always a topic in need of increased awareness