News & Events

“State of the Black Student” Highlights Black History Month at UNC Asheville

January 18, 2012

UNC Asheville will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with a series of events, headlined by a distinguished panel analyzing the “State of the Black Student.”

The following Black History Month events at UNC Asheville are free and open to the public:

February 8: “Hotel Rwanda” – This Oscar-nominated film tells the true-life story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed more than 1,000 Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda. The screening takes place at 8 p.m. in Highsmith University Union Grotto, and is sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Black Student Association.

February 9: “State of the Black Student” – This panel discussion features:

• Omar Tyree, author and consultant
• Marc LaMont Hill, host of “Our World With Black Enterprise” on TV One, and affiliated faculty member, Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University
• Eve Wright, vice president/associate general counsel of the NBA’s Miami Heat
• Hezekiah Griggs III, founder of HG3 Media and CEO of H360 Capital

This event takes place at 7 p.m. in Humanties Lecture Hall and is presented by UNC Asheville’s Office of Multicultural Student Programs.

February 16: “Soul Café” – This live performance by Immovable Force, featuring music, poetry and spoken word, takes place at 8 p.m. in the Highsmith University Union Grotto, and is presented by UNC Asheville’s Office of Multicultural Student Programs.

February 20: “Soul Food Junkies” – Filmmaker Byron Hurt will screen and discuss his film that explores the health advantages and disadvantages of soul food. This event begins at 7 p.m. in Highsmith University Union room 143, and is presented by UNC Asheville’s Black Student Association.

The university’s Office of Multicultural Student Programs has also organized Black History month events for students only, including a trip to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro.

For more information, please contact Lamar Hylton, UNC Asheville Office of Multicultural Student Programs director, at 828.251.6585.