Journalist to discuss fractures in black America–
A Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist will share his observations about black America with a University of Louisville audience Feb. 7. Eugene Robinson will give the 2012 UofL Phi Beta Kappa lecture about “Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America,” which is the title of his book about the division of African Americans into four socioeconomic sectors. The free, public talk will begin at 6 p.m. in Comstock Hall, School of Music, with a reception afterward in the University Club. After three decades with the Post, Robinson writes a twice-a-week column about politics and culture, contributes to the PostPartisan blog and hosts a weekly online chat with readers. An op-ed columnist since 2005, he won the 2009 Pulitzer for commentary for his columns about the 2008 presidential campaign that led to Barack Obama’s election. For more information, contact Tom Byers at 502-608-6103 or Jennifer Stephens at 502-852-8977.
Saturday Academy offers wide range of topics–
The Saturday Academy community outreach series on black history, culture and current issues will focus on Black History Month in February. Each session begins with an 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. talk about black Louisville by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Blaine Hudson. The discussions follow from 12:45 p.m.-2 p.m., all at the DuValle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., near Interstate 264-W and Algonquin Parkway (enter through back parking lot, middle door). For more information, contact LyShanna Cunningham at 502-852-2658 or [email protected] Here’s the February lineup:
Feb. 4: “Two Hundred Years of Black Louisville” discussion and book-signing by authors Ken Clay, Merv Aubespin and Blaine Hudson, and “The African Diaspora Series: Reconnecting Branches of the Global Family” discussion by Ian Jacobs and John Chenault.
Feb. 11: “Contemporary Trends in American Quilts: Expressionism, Storytelling and Re-interpretations of Africa,” art historian Pearlie Johnson, Pan-African studies.
Feb. 18: “The Black Leadership Series: Black Church Leadership Characteristics, Challenges and Recommendations,” Lewis Brogdon, the Rev. Kilen Gray, Debra Mumford and Elizabeth Walker, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Feb. 25: “The Disease of Addiction: Not So Black and White,” Burns Brady.
Play recalls characters from the Harlem Renaissance–
During Black History Month, the African American Theater Program will present a period drama recalling the music and flavor of the 1930s Harlem Renaissance during its Feb. 1-5 production. The Pearl Cleage play “Blues for an Alabama Sky” features characters from an earlier era contending with modern problems such as unemployment, racial issues and reproductive and gay rights. (Because of adult subject matter, the play is not recommended for younger children.) Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 1-4 with additional matinees at 3 p.m. Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, all at the Thrust Theater, 2314 S. Floyd St. For tickets, call 502-852-6814 or check http://louisville.edu/theatrearts/ For more information, call Nefertiti Burton, theater arts professor and the play’s director, at 502-852-8576 or 502-852-7802.
Institute concerts honor Harlem poets, musicians–
The Harlem Renaissance also will be the theme of the 2012 African American Music Heritage Institute Feb. 20 at UofL. The School of Music sponsors the 16th annual event to honor the musical history of African Americans through concerts, clinics, lectures and workshops for schoolchildren, university students and the public. A public concert at 8 p.m. in the School of Music’s Comstock Concert Hall will feature music and poetry of the Harlem Renaissance. The event will examine the lives of poets through the artwork of muralist Aaron Douglas and feature compositions ranging from Duke Ellington to Charles Mingus. Concert admission is $5 for the public; reserve tickets by calling 502-852-6907 or purchase at the door. The institute also will feature a 10 a.m. matinee that day for middle and high school students, along with a program to encourage them to pursue higher education. For more information, contact Jerry Tolson, institute founder and director, at 502-852-6972 or [email protected]
Million-dollar smiles: Free dental treatment marks 10th year–
The Smile Kentucky! community partnership that offers free dental treatment will mark its 10th year as it provides services Feb. 3 to more than 200 children at the UofL School of Dentistry. That Friday the program will surpass $1 million worth of free dental education, screenings and treatment for children in the Louisville metro area and surrounding counties. Dental students, faculty and alumni and some private-practice providers take part in the program that treats medically underserved children at selected schools. For more information, contact Julie Heflin at 502-852-7987 or [email protected]
Author-food activist to urge solutions–
Author-trainer Mark Winne will bring his message of community food activism to UofL in a Feb. 1 talk. Winne will discuss “Good Food for All: Food Democracy or Food Tyranny?” in a free, public lecture at 6 p.m. in Room 139, Shumaker Research Building. The UofL Sustainability Council is co-sponsoring Winne’s talk comparing the industrial food system and smaller, community-based food systems. Winne wrote the books “Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners and Smart-Cookin’ Mamas: Fighting Back in an Age of Industrial Agriculture” and “Closing the Food Gap.” The Santa Fe-based activist has worked for 40 years on projects ranging from breakfast programs for low-income children to national food policies.
More events:
Feb. 2: “Changing Bodies and Lifestyles: Lessons from the Immune System,” Meet the Professor talk by anthropology professor Fabian Crespo about how the human immune system has evolved and the role infectious disease plays in shaping immune responses, noon, University Club; to reserve a spot and $14 lunch, call 502-852-2247 or email [email protected]
Feb. 3: “Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth,” Green Economics lecture series discussion by Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor via Skype about her latest book; Schor also wrote “The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure” and “The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don’t Need,” 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m., 301 Davidson Hall
Feb. 3: Kentucky Energy Efficiency Program for Schools (KEEPS) awards banquet for school districts that have created recent successful energy-saving initiatives. Speakers will include Kentucky Energy and Environment Secretary Len Peters and Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center Director Cam Metcalf, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (awards program beginning at 6:50 p.m.), KFC Yum! Center, contact Chris Wooton, 502-852-2275 or [email protected]
Feb. 3: Gallery talk by Miami University professor and artist-anthropologist Alysia Fischer about her sculptural exhibit “Consumed” featuring recycled inner tubes, 6 p.m., Cressman Center for Visual Arts, 100 E. Main St. Reception afterward in conjunction with First Friday Trolley Hop.
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