Guest speakers, a prayer walk, a lecture series and several student activities are slated for February as part of Black History Month at Abilene Christian University.

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• Feb. 1 – An outdoor prayer event organized by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first Black students enrolling at Abilene Christian in 1962. The event will begin at the labyrinth east of the Hunter Welcome Center at 4:30 p.m. and continue with a walk around the Lunsford Foundation Trail. This event is open to the public.
• Feb. 2, 3 – Dr. Brandon Jones, an ACU alumnus and the associate director for student learning and development at The University of Texas at Austin, will speak about the realities of students of color and how to create experiences that engage differences. Due to the likelihood of inclement weather, his presentations will take place via livestream: Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 3 at 11:30 a.m. Use this link to attend the Feb. 2 event.

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• Feb. 21 – Kathryn Freeman, resident chaplain at Baylor University, will present on the importance of the voices of Black women in America at 7 p.m. in the Brown Library Packer Forum.
• Feb. 28 – The Carter G. Woodson Lectures Series will feature Dr. Kwame Essien, associate professor and interim director of Africana studies at Lehigh University, and Dr. Theodore Francis, assistant professor of history at Huston-Tillotson University, speaking about African, Caribbean and Black American History. Learn more and register here. This event is open to the public.

ACU’s Black Student Union has several student-focused activities planned for the month.

• Feb. 1 – Black History Month kickoff at University Park Apartments, 6-8 p.m.
• Feb. 4 – Black Student Union Chapel, Chapel on the Hill, 11 a.m. (every Thursday in February)
• Feb. 12 – Silent Disco in the Hunter Welcome Center, 7-9 p.m. Students will dance to music playing through headphones.

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• Feb. 25 – Black History Month Movie Night at the Paramount Theatre, 7 p.m. (movie to be announced later).
• Feb. 26 – Black-Owned Business Fair, Hunter Welcome Center, 5-7 p.m. This event is open to the public.
• Feb. 26 – AFRAM Fest Showcase at Hunter Welcome Center, 7-9 p.m. AFRAM Fest is a showcase of Black students’ talents through spoken word, music and other performances. This event is open to the public.
• Feb. 27 – Church service, Chapel on the Hill, 10 a.m., led by Dr. Jerry Taylor, director of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action.

In addition, the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning is offering several opportunities for ACU faculty to observe Black History Month through presentations and discussions.

• Feb. 8 – Significant Black Influences in Our Fields: various ACU faculty will highlight Black contributors to their disciplines with short, 1-2 minute presentations.
• Feb. 14 – Conversation with Student Leaders from ACU’s Black Student Groups: this session provides space for faculty to hear Black student leaders reflect on their experiences at ACU.
• Feb. 21 – “The Life and Educational Legacy of bell hooks,” presentation by Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker, dean of the College of Education and Human Services.
• Feb. 28 – Dr. Jennifer Butcher, Dr. Wilbert Baker and Dr. Bryan Patterson, the editors and contributors Addressing Issues of Systemic Racism during Turbulent Times, will speak via Zoom about the book, their work on school/church partnerships, and how institutions can consider their mission through the lens of social justice and inclusivity.

— Wendy Kilmer

Jan. 31, 2022