UW-Madison has many events planned to celebrate Black History Month, which range from small discussions and locales to large keynote speeches.
February’s theme is “In Living Color: An Exploration of Blackness & Intersectionality” and commences Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. with “WE THE 350: Stories of Poverty, Racism and Incarceration in Dane County” at the Memorial Union’s Play Circle theater.
Writer-directors T. Banks and Sara McKinnon based the performance off of interviews with activists and their experiences living in Milwaukee and Madison. The event is free and open to the public.
“Everyone is always invited to participate in these events because cultural diversity is what we have in common,” said Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Patrick J. Sims in a statement from the university. “If it isn’t shared with others, we miss the opportunity to live, celebrate and grow together.”
Sims also noted that every student should experience cultural enrichment.
“As a division, we pride ourselves on offering the cultural and learning enrichment every student should experience as part of their college growth,” Sims said in the statement. “This includes focusing on the history and impact of the social issues our students face now and may choose to get involved with, both during college and after. That’s a great Badger tradition.”
Black History Month will conclude March 13 with the production of Lydia R. Diamond’s “Smart People.”
