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Below are the Events Scheduled for the Spring 2008 School Year

January

January 9-February 1
Life in the Village: The Art of Steven Babalola
Exhibit Monday - Friday 8am-5pm
A 27-year-old Vanderbilt Ph.D. candidate, Steven Babalola paints richly colorful impressionistic celebrations of life as it is lived in the village of Idi-ogun, home of the Yoruba Triba, in Nigeria, West Africa

January 14, Monday
Steven Babalola Exhibit Reception
4pm
Please join us with student artist Steven Babalola to kick off his wonderful wxhibit. Co-sponsored with OBGAPS. Refreshments Served.

MLK Commemorative Series Lecture - Harry Belafonte
5pm Reception, 6pm Lecture, Student Life Ballroom

January 21, Monday
Martin Luther King Jr. Candelight Vigil - Touré
4pm Reception, Black Cultural Center 6pm Lecture, Benton Chapel

January 23, Wednesday
Standing On My Sister' Shoulders
11:30am, Black Cultural Center
The award-winning documentary Standing On My Sisters' Shoulders takes on the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi in the 1950's and 60's from the point of view of the courageous women who lived it. Constance Slaughter-Harvey, one of the women featured in the documentary, will be present for Q and A. Lunch will be served. Co-sponsored with the Vanderbilt Law School Social Justice Program.

"A Recipe for Equal Justice in Today's Society"
3:30pm Lecture, Flynn Auditorium, Vanderbilt Law School
Constance Slaughter-Harvey was the first African-American woman to receive a law degree from the University of Mississippi Law School, where she faced intense prejudice and discrimination from the all-white, all-male law students. A successful attorney, she now runs her own law firm specializing in civil rights cases.

January 26, Saturday
MLK Jr. Oratorical and Essay Contest Winners' Recital and Luncheon
Noon, Black Cultural Center
The second annual MLK Jr. Recital Luncheon for students and families participating in the essay contest. Winners will recite their work for the luncheon audience.

January 26-27, Saturday and Sunday
Rhythm and Roots Performance "Make Me Wanna Holla"
7pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday - Martha Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music
This year's performance is a collaborative effort between many talented individuals both on and off campus including Mathew Britain and the Steel Drum Ensemble from Blair, Erin Law and Keith Fitzpatrick from the Vanderbilt Dance Program, Dr. Rosevelt Nobel from the Sociology Departments, the Restoration Dancers and Tennessee State University Dance Ensemble. The performance will be directed by Cindy Young. Tickets are $6.00 and available through Sarratt Student Center or at the door.

 

February

February 4, Monday
Little Rock Nine Commemoration
6pm Reception, 6:30pm Program
Using footage form the documentary Eyes on the Prize the event will explore the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. A question and answer session will follow the screening.

February 11-29
On The Shoulders of Ancestors:The Art of Willis "Bing" Davis
4pm Reception, Exhibit Monday-friday 8am,-5pm Black Cultural Center
The work of Willis "Bing" Davis speaks of African ancestry - even as it articulates a contemporary message. Davis' work has been exhibited throughout the United States and the world, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Field Museum in Chicago, in Israel, Ghana and Guinea, West Africa. Clearly, Bing Davis is a Master Artist, whose work the Bishop Johnson Center is proud to present to Vanderbilt and to Nashville.

February 13, Wednesday
International Lens Film Series All About Darfur
7pm Sarratt Cinema
While documenting the atrocities taking place in Darfur, Sudanese filmaker Taghreed Elsanhouri investigates how notiions of race and ethnicity are constructed in Sudan.

February 18, Monday
International Lens Film Series Yesterday
7pm Sarratt Cinema
Set against the awe-inspiring, harsh landscapes of South Africa, Yesterday is an eloquent, heart-rending film about a spirited and happy mother and daughter whose lives are suddenly affected by AIDS, which is an epidemic in Africa. A must-see film for those who wish to put a more dramatic and personal face on the African AIDS crisis.

February 20, Wednesday
The Role of Blacks in Media: Yesterday and Today
11:30am Receptions, Noon Progam - Black Cultural Center
Representation, reportage, and reality: this panel discussion by prominent members of the Nashville media will address the historical and contemporary challenges faced by black journalists. A brief screening of portions of the documentary, The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords will precede the discussion. Lunch will be provided. Co-sponsored by the Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

February 23, Saturday
Vanderbilt Spoken Word Showcase
7pm Student Life Center
The first spoken word showcase will feature performances utilizing elements of emceeing, free-verse poetry, rhythm and theatre to create and electrifying on-stage performance of words.

February 28, Thursday
Still Black at Yale
6:45pm Dinner, 7:30 Documentary
Documentary feature - Still Black At Yale, Back by popular deman, this excellent and award-winning documentary examines Black student life at Yale. Discussion following with filmmakers Andia Winslow and Monique Walton.

March

March 3-31,
Sole Parenting: An Exhibition of Love
4pm Reception - Monday March 10, Photography Exhibit Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Black Cutural Center
Valerie Taylor's inaugural exhibit is one of images of family from the perspectice of the single, or solo, parent. Striking, candid images of parents, children, mothers and fathers, young and old - mark this show by an up and coming black female photographer.

 

April

April 1-15
Lost in the Ivy: Brown Bag Discussion Series
Black Cutural Center
Dr. Rosevelt L. Noble and Stephanie K. Crews have worked extensively on a film documentary series entitled "Lost in the Ivy." The series chronicles the experience of African-Americans at Vanderbilt University from a variety of perspectives.

    April 1, Tuesday
    Censorship of Blackness at VU: "Don't Scare the
    White People"
    Noon
    Light refreshments will be served.

    April 8, Tuesday
    No Place Like Home: Creating Black Places and
    Spaces at Vanderbilt
    Noon
    Light Refreshments will be served.

    April 15, Tuesday
    United We Stand: The State of Black Unity at
    Vanderbilt
    Noon
    Light Refreshments will be served.

April 4-5, Friday and Saturday
We Speak for Ourselves: A Poet, a Prophet, and Voices for Change in the 21st Century
In 1964 Robert Penn Warren interviewed Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other civil rights leaders for his historic volume Who Speaks for the Negro? On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of dr. King and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities on the Vanderbilt campus, Vanderbilt and Fisk Universities are brining together scholars and activists to revisit questions raised in Warren's book and by its provocative title.

April 7-12
Hip-Hop Week
Hip Hop week will be a collaboration of events between Vanderbilt Spoken Word and VIBE that will highlight performances in the areas of dance, emceeing, graffiti and deejaying. There will be two culminating performances on Friday and Saturday nights, focusing on emceeing, spoken word and dance respectively.

May

May 8, Thursday
2008 Black Graduates Recognition Ceremony
7pm Martha Rivers Ingram Center

May 9, Friday
University Commencement
11am Olin Lawn

BCC Commencement Luncheon
Noon Black Cutural Center
 

All events are free, open to the public and located on the Vanderbilt University campus unless otherwise noted.  If you need disability-related accommodations, additional event information or campus directions/parking details, please contact the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at 615-322-2524.