USM Gulf Park Campus to Celebrate Black History Month

Black History Month 2019 will be observed throughout February at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, recognizing the legacy of African-American achievements in our national history and culture.

Incorporating the theme #BlackHistoryMatters, Black History Month programming at USM Gulf Park will feature lectures, movies and a soul food dinner, among other activities. The complete schedule of events includes the following:

*Monday, Feb. 4: “Paint the Little Rock,” 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Eagle Plaza

*Thursday, Feb. 7: “Greek Showcase,” 5:30 – 7 p.m., Fleming Education Center (FEC). Program spotlights history of Greek Life at USM.

*Monday, Feb. 11: “Individual Release: A Harlem Presentation,” 12-1 p.m., FEC, featuring arts presentation by the Harlem Company. Lunch will be provided, and the first 25 students attending will receive a free T-shirt.

*Tuesday, Feb. 12: Movie matinee, “Daughters of the Dust,” 3-5 p.m., FEC, featuring door prizes and snacks.

*Monday, Feb. 18: “Golden Goals” free blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) screenings, Southern Miss Health Center (participants asked to fast after midnight prior to screenings).

*Monday, Feb. 18: “Hip-Hop Zumba,” 5:10-6:10 p.m., Fitness Center. Snacks and water to be provided.

*Thursday, Feb. 21: “An Evening with Dr. Gilbert Mason Jr.,” Hardy Hall, 5-6 p.m. This program, co-sponsored by the Afro-American Student Organization, will take a look back at the Gulf Coast wade-ins, a key moment in the Mississippi civil rights movement, and feature personal accounts.

*Tuesday, Feb. 26: “Soul Food Dinner,” 5:30 – 7 p.m., Hardy Hall Ballroom, featuring Dr. Sherita Johnson, associate professor of English and director of the USM Center for Black Studies, as keynote speaker. Along with dinner, door prizes and T-shirts will be available. 

Black History Month at USM Gulf Park will also feature the #BlackHistoryMatters Essay Contest Feb. 1-18. For information about this contest, or for questions about other Black History Month events at USM Gulf Park, contact its Office of Student Affairs at 228.214.3314 or email studentevents@usm.edu. For information about Black History Month events at the Hattiesburg campus, visit https://news.usm.edu/article/black-history-month-2019-program-schedule-s....