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Events | FeaturedJanuary 30, 2023

妻友社区 Kicks off Black History Month Celebrations

Throughout the month of February, the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith will host a slate of events honoring and celebrating Black History.

This year鈥檚 Black History Month theme, 鈥淜eeping Hope Alive,鈥� pays homage to the social institutions that have coalesced to form the bedrock of Black hope in America. Education, government, and religion have historically been and remain integral cornerstones of African American success, said Lynette Thrower, chair of the Black History Month committee.

鈥淜eeping Hope Alive examines the history, current state, and future of these institutions for African Americans through in-depth panel discussions, such as 鈥淭rends in Education鈥� and the 鈥淚ntersection of Religion and Politics,鈥� as well as through the lenses of the 鈥淣ow and Then鈥� and 鈥淎rkansas African American Legislators 鈥� 1863-1898" exhibitions. Other areas of historical examination include a lecture on 鈥淪haping Freedom in Post-Civil War Arkansas鈥� and a multi-generational conversation on the African American barbershop as a hub for information exchange and inspiration,鈥� Thrower said.

Events kicked off with a craft talk and lecture with two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead.

The full slate of events includes:

2 - 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7
Colson Whitehead: Craft Talk
Windgate Art and Design Theatre 

6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7
An Evening with Colson Whitehead
Book Signing to Follow
Stubblefield Center

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9

River Valley Black Business Panel Center for Economic Development
The Bakery District

Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15
Walking Tour of Photo Exhibition: 鈥淣ow and Then: A Celebration of Black History in Fort Smith鈥�
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Main Hallway

1:30 - 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15
Lecture: 鈥淪haping Freedom in Post-Civil War Arkansas鈥� Dr. Kelly Jones, Assistant Professor of History
Discussion to Follow
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Reynolds Room

6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16
Film: 鈥淭he Fabric of Fort Smith鈥� with Introduction by Mayor George B. McGill
Discussion to Follow
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Reynolds Room

6 - 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17
Perspectives on Black History: The Intersection of Religion and Politics
Windgate Art and Design Theatre

6 - 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27
State of the City Address - The Honorable George B. McGill, Mayor of Fort Smith
Reception to Follow
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Reynolds Room

6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21
Panel Discussion: 鈥淧erspectives on Black History: Trends in Education and the Future of Learning鈥�
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Room 129

Noon to 1 p.m. Mon. & Tues., Feb. 27 鈥� 28
Film at the Fireplace: 鈥淭he Fabric of Fort Smith鈥� 
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Fireplace

6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28
鈥淏arbershop Talk: The Black Barbershop as a Hub for Information, Inspiration, and Intellect鈥�  
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Reynolds Room

Ongoing Events include: 

Feb. 6 鈥� 28
Photo Exhibition: 鈥淣ow and Then: A Celebration of Black History in Fort Smith鈥�
Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Main Hallway 

Feb. 16 - March 9
Traveling Exhibition: 鈥淎rkansas African American Legislators 1868-1893鈥� Boreham Library Second Floor Rotunda

Feb. 1-28
Black Lions social media profile series at the 妻友社区 Instagram and Facebook.

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