Denison University presents a series of lectures, symposia, stage performances and films to celebrate African-American culture and history throughout Black History Month. All events are free and open to the public. The Black History Month events are a part of Denison's "The University Community" program, which commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrates Black History Month, and honors Women's History Month through January, February, and March of 2006.

The month begins and ends with symposia sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. The Ethnic "Hair" Story symposium, at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 2) in Higley Auditorium, explores the history and politics of hair culture in African-American, African, and other communities of color in the United States from the nineteenth century to the present. The History of Stepping symposium and show, facilitated by Vincent Briley, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 28) in the Welsh Hills Room, Burton Morgan Center.

Lecturers Cheryl Kirk-Duggan and Matthew Forstater join Denison's schedule of Black History month events to discuss issues of race and community in American culture.

Kirk-Duggan, a professor of women's studies and theology at Shaw University, presents a lecture on "Violence in Contemporary Society" at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 21) in Burton Morgan Lecture Hall. The author ofRefiner's Fire: A Religious Engagement With Violence, Kirk-Douglas is co-sponsored by The Center for Black Studies and the Goodspeed Lecture Fund.

Forstater, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri presents "From Civil Rights to Economic Security: The African American Struggle for Full Employment: 1945-1978" at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday (March 1) in Burton Morgan Lecture Hall. Forstater, who also is director of the Center for Full Employment and Price Stability at the University of Missouri, is co-sponsored by the Center for Black Studies, the economics department, the provost's office and the Goodspeed Lecture Fund.

To celebrate African-American culture through the arts, several performances and films will be presented throughout the month. April Berry and YouthMet!--come to Denison to perform Hip-Hop and Ballet!--at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 7) in the Welsh Hills Room, Burton Morgan Center. YouthMet!, a multicultural repertory teen dance ensemble dedicated to celebrating diverse cultural experiences through the medium of dance, is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Ain't I A Woman, a play honoring four African-American women of remarkable achievement and invincible character, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 23) in Swasey Chapel. The musical score that unifies the piece is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the jazz age, and contemporary concert music by African-American composers. The play is sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.

The Black History Month Film Series will present a different film every Monday of February at 7 p.m. in Slayter Auditorium. The first film of the month,Afro-Punk, on Monday (Feb. 6) in Slayter Auditorium, is a documentary that probes issues of loneliness, exile, interracial dating and black power through an exploration of race identity in the punk rock scene.

Martin Van Peebles'Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, (Feb. 13), is a provocative cult classic film that was financed by its writer, director, and actor Peebles after no major studio would produce the film.

OT: Our Town, (Feb. 20), is a chronicle of a teacher's mission of creating a drama department at Dominguez High and putting on the school's first play -- Thorton Wilder'sOur Town-- after more than 20 years.

School Daze, (Feb. 27), is based partly on director Spike Lee's experiences at Atlanta's Morehouse College. Fraternity and sorority students clash with other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, starring Lawrence Fishbourne.

Afro-Punk, Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, andSchool Dazeare sponsored by the Committee for Black History Month, The William Howard Doane Library, and Denison Film Society.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration presents a "History of Stepping" symposia and show, facilitated by Vincent Briley; 7:30 p.m., Tuesday (Feb. 28), Welsh Hills Room, Burton Morgan Center (150 Ridge Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6605 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration presents Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, author and professor of theology and women's studies at Shaw University to speak on "Violence in Contemporary Society"; 4:30 p.m., Tuesday (Feb. 21), Burton Morgan Lecture Hall (150 Ridge Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6594 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration presents Matthew Forstater, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri speaking on "From Civil Rights to Economic Security: The African-American Struggle for Full Employment, 1945-1978" at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday (March 1), Burton Morgan Lecture Hall (150 Ridge Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6594 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration brings April Berry and YouthMet!--to perform "Hip-Hop and Ballet!"; 7:30 p.m., Tuesday (Feb. 7), Welsh Hills Room, Burton Morgan Center (150 Ridge Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6605 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration presents the playAin't I A Woman; 7:30 p.m., Thursday (Feb. 23), Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6394 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration film series presentsAfro-Punk; 7 p.m., Monday (Feb. 6), Slayter Auditorium (200 North Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6394 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration film series continues withSweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song; 7 p.m., Monday (Feb. 13), Slayter Auditorium (200 North Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6394 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration film series continues withOT: Our Town; 7 p.m., Monday (Feb. 20), Slayter Auditorium (200 North Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6394 to confirm information.

Denison University,The Black History Month celebration film series continues withSchool Daze; 7 p.m., Monday (Feb. 27), Slayter Auditorium (200 North Road). Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6394 to confirm information.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTINGS: Denison University, Granville -- The Black History Month celebration presents the Ethnic "Hair" Story symposium; 8 p.m., Thursday (Feb. 2), Higley Auditorium. Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6605 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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Barbara Stambaugh

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(740) 587-8575