PROGRAMMING IN REVIEW

KWANZAA (December 07)
Kwanzaa is the African-American cultural holiday conceived and developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga, then a professor at California State University, Long Beach.  An author and scholar-activist, Dr. Karenga stresses the need to continually revitalize, preserve, and promote African American culture. In 1966, after years of research of communal African festivals, Dr. Karenga initiated the holiday based on these practices. It was first celebrated on December 26, 1966.

LATINO HERITAGE MONTH (SEP-OCT 07)

The theme of Latino Heritage Month 2007 is Latino Identities: One Face, Many Voices.  This year's LHM offers an array of events and speakers that all shed light on the varied experiences, the rich expressive cultures, and the political and artistic import of Latinos in the Americas.
These events celebrate Latino cultures and  their varied nature challenge us to understand the relationship between the struggle of individuals to define themselves, the communal and individual creative impulse, and the fight for larger issues of social justice.

3rd ANNUAL WELCOME BACK BBQ (SEP 07)

This year the Office held a welcome back BBQ at the beginning of the semester for new and returning students, staff, and faculty. First- Year students have the opportunity to meet upper-class students and interact with different members of the community.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH (FEB 07)
Our theme for this year is "The Souls of Black Folk: Unveiling Indentity." A review of the month will be available shortly after the month of February with a summary of events and program highlights and pictures. For events, please see calendar of events.

Coordinated by the Office Intercultural Development, Lafayette College’s Black History Month 2007 celebration will explore “The Souls of Black Folk: Unveiling Identity”. Throughout this month we will explore the essence of collective and personal identity, discuss social complexities of race and self-perception and celebrate the soul of the Black Diaspora. Using the W.E.B. Dubois text, The Souls of Black Folk as a catalyst, we seek to present the essence, or soul of Black identity through a variety lenses. Dubois’ presents the concept of “double consciousness”, a “sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others,” a duality, he asserts, that has kept Blacks from developing true self-awareness.  Beginning with the solo play “James Baldwin: Down From the Mountaintop”, written and performed by Calvin Levels, we journey into the life of James Baldwin, an American writer recognized for his powerful novels on racial, sexual, and personal identity.

N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK (Oct 07)
SPEAK Theater Arts presents dangerously compelling original works of populist theater with enough laughs to ease the sting of their social commentary—while bringing divergent audiences to a much needed point of convergence. The flagship production of SPEAK Theater Arts, N*W*C: The Race Show, is a daring and hilarious look at the impact three racial slurs have had on the lives of three friends, each from a different ethnic background. Ensemble and monologue work are seamlessly woven together with slam poetry, stand-up comedy and hip-hop elements. The result is a constantly transforming, highly engaging, exceedingly accessible work with a powerful mission. Don’t miss this fast-paced, in your face, interdisciplinary performance.