CORVALLIS - Oregon State University is celebrating Black History this month with a host of events, including presentations by noted African history and culture experts Ashra and Merira Kwesi.

February is designated Black History Month at OSU to highlight the achievements and struggles of African-Americans from the past to the present. Most Black History Month events at OSU are free and open to the public. For information and a complete schedule, contact the OSU Black Cultural Center at 541-737-4372.

Ashra Kwesi's two-hour presentation, "The African Origin of Civilization," is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at OSU's LaSells Stewart Center at 26th Street and Western Boulevard.

Kwesi has 23 years of experience on history expeditions in Africa, covering Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Ghana. His talks focus on the African origin of sciences such as medicine, astrology, astronomy, the first calendars and the number system.

Kwesi's wife, Merira, will present "Advertising the Attack on the African Image" at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10. Her two-hour presentation will be held in OSU's Milam Auditorium. Her talk focuses on what Kwesi's calls the advertising industry's assault on the African and African-American image.

A screening and discussion of Michael Moore's controversial R-rated 2004 documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" is scheduled at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17, in the OSU Black Cultural Center at 25th Street and Monroe Avenue.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, a 90-minute conversation on the writings of Cornel West will be the focus of "Western Wisdom: Race Matters-Democracy Matters." The event is scheduled at 7 p.m. in OSU Memorial Union Room 206.

West, a professor of religion at Princeton University, has tackled racial issues in his books and writings, and was a primary organizer of the Million Man March in 1995. He has organized national youth gang summits, has 20 honorary degrees and has been "Councillor West" in three "Matrix" movies.

America has observed Black History Month since 1978.

 

Source: 

Black Cultural Center 541-737-4372

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