College celebrates Black History Month

Pellissippi State has numerous activities planned during the remainder of February for its 18th Annual Black History Month observance. This year’s theme is “Embracing Tradition—Advancing the Cause.” All events are free and open to the public.

At the Pellissippi Campus, “When the Levees Broke,” a four-hour film directed by Spike Lee about Hurricane Katrina, will air in two parts. Part 1 is February 19 at 10 a.m. and February 20 at 2 p.m. Part 2 is February 19, 1 p.m., and February 21, 9:30 a.m. All shows will be in the Goins Auditorium.

February 27 at 1 p.m., the Active Black Students Association, whose purpose is to promote minority participation in the planning and implementation of College programs and policies, will give the presentation “Celebrating the Arts” in the Goins Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Goins Student Lounge.

Elizabeth DiGangi, an anthropology instructor, will share her reflections and observations on race from an anthropologist’s perspective in the Goins Student Lounge February 28 at noon.

At the Magnolia Avenue Campus, local physician E. V. Davidson will share his experiences as a buffalo soldier and as a doctor to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. “Buffalo soldiers” is the nickname first given to African-American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army’s 10th Cavalry Regiment, formed in 1866. The last segregated buffalo soldier units were disbanded in 1951. Davidson will speak in the Community Room February 14 at 10:45 a.m.

On February 26, the Praise, Honor and Glory Gospel Choir will perform in the Community Room at Magnolia Avenue at 7 p.m.

February 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., a sampling of food from around the world will be available in the Student Lounge at Division Street during an open mic session on “Celebrating Diversity.”

The Caribbean Sounds Steel Band will perform at two campuses, first on February 22, noon-1:30, in the Goins Student Lounge on the Pellissippi Campus, then on February 28, noon-1:30, in the Community Room at the Magnolia Avenue Campus.

Throughout the month, displays will be on exhibit at all three of the campuses, including common foods that originated in Africa and black American literature. Additionally, African coffee will be served at various times at the Pellissippi, Magnolia Avenue and Division Street campuses.

To learn more about Black History Month events, please contact Gayle Wood at 539-7160 or gwood@pstcc.edu.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

For past issues, visit the Inside Pellissippi Archive.