Black History Month will be celebrated with seven programs in February at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. All events are open to the public.
Kaba Hiawatha Kamene, will give a presentation titled “The African Presence in America Before 1492,” 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in SIU’s South Auditorium (second floor), 801 N. Rutledege St. Kamene is chief executive officer and principal facilitator of an African-centered science academy, Per Ankh (House of Life), which he established in 2001. He also is staff developer at the Harriet Tubman Charter School in Bronx, N.Y.
Kamene earned master’s degrees in educational administration and supervision from City College of New York and in art history from Hunter College in New York. He earned his bachelor’s in international politics from New York University.
The program and reception that follows are hosted by SIU’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). SNMA is composed of medical and premedical students focused on the needs of minority students across the nation. Jeffrey Hubbard and Vance Washington, fourth-year medical students, are co-chairs for Black History Month.
Additional activities planned by SIU medical students and the Office of Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs:
• Monday, February 4, 6 - 8 p.m. – Runoko Rashidi will present “The Global African Presence: African Contributions to the World” in SIU’s South Auditorium, (second floor) 801 North Rutledge St.
Rashidi is an historian, research specialist, writer, world traveler and lecturer. His travels have focused on the African presence globally and the African foundations of world civilizations. Rashidi authored “Introduction to the Study of African Classical Civilizations” and has written and edited numerous publications about the African community. He was granted an honorary doctor of divinity degree by the Amen-Ra Theological Seminary in Los Angeles.
Four movies about Black history topics will be shown on the dates listed below from 4:40 – 7 p.m. in SIU’s Dirksen Conference Room, (fourth floor), 801 N. Rutledge St.
• Wednesday, February 6
• Tuesday, February 12
• Friday, February 22
• Wednesday, February 27
For more information about SIU’s Black History Month programs, contact Dr. McNeese, Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs, at 217-545-7334 weekdays.
