Celebrating Black History Month at Converse
Converse College will celebrate Black History Month with a number of events open to the public throughout February.
Scheduled events include the Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels, Friday, February 8 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Barnet Room of the Montgomery Student Center; “An Afternoon with Phenomenal Women: Beauty and Knowledge Life, Lessons and Personal Histories,” Saturday, February 23 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Barnet Room; and “Ain’t I a Woman” Thursday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Twichell Auditorium.
The Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels, established in 1995 by Angela Jennings, was created to educate students about their history and heritage. This experience takes audiences on a trip through African American history from 1860 to present. Stories and dramatizations, noting the experiences of such figures as Ida B. Wells, the Negro Baseball League, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., are presented as a part of the traveling museum to give the audience a glimpse of the emotional strain of African American history. There is also a display of unique African American inventions, and someone will be on hand to answer questions about the museum and dramatizations.
During “An Afternoon with Phenomenal Women: Beauty and Knowledge Life, Lessons and Personal Histories,” Tiffany A. Sally will perform "I’m Every Woman," Converse II alumna Cindy Canty will showcase her artwork, and current Converse II students Juanita Murphy and Capucine Philson will join in the celebration by including, among other things, a monologue by Maya Angelou. Converse II is for adult women (24 years and older) who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree, take college-level courses for the first time, return to college for a second degree, seek specialized training or take courses for enrichment.
“Ain’t I a Woman!” celebrates the life and times of renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. All four parts will be portrayed by actress Taylore Mahogany Scott. The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by black Americans. Scott will be accompanied on stage by Tahirah Whittington, cello, Hugh Hinton, piano, and Michael Parola, percussion.
