UNG prepares to celebrate Black History Month

The University of North Georgia (UNG) will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of events designed to inform faculty, staff and students about African-American history as well as spark interest and conversations.

"Events such as these provide the perfect opportunity for students of all races to learn about African-American history in our nation, but they also provide an important setting where all of our university constituents can build bridges and become part of UNG's mission to create leaders for a diverse and global society," said Robert Robinson, director for UNG's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA). "It's not just about appreciation — it's also about understanding, which opens the doors to dialogue."

Events include but are not limited to:

• Jan. 24 – Oconee Campus – Spirit of King: Lunch and Lecture, noon to 1 p.m., room 522
• Feb. 1 – Gainesville Campus – MSA & Black Student Union (BSU) Annual Black History Program with keynote speaker Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery Niles, noon to 1 p.m., Student Center, Robinson Ballroom
• Feb. 8 – Gainesville Campus – MSA & BSU present The Great Debate: The Future of Black History Month, noon to 1 p.m., Student Center, Robinson Ballroom
• Feb. 15 – Gainesville Campus – BSU Members' Black History Presentations, noon to 1 p.m., Student Center, Robinson Ballroom
• Feb. 22 – Gainesville Campus – BSU Presents: Way Back Wednesday, noon to 1 p.m., Student Center, Robinson Ballroom
• Feb. 22 – Oconee Campus – Movie presentation of "Loving," noon to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., room 522
• Feb. 22 – Dahlonega Campus – MSA presents The Great Debate: The Future of Black History Month, noon to 1 p.m., location TBA
• Feb. 23 – Dahlonega Campus – Movie presentation of "Loving," 7-9:30 p.m., Hoag Auditorium
• Feb. 24 – Gainesville Campus – Movie presentation of "Loving," 12:30-2:30 p.m., Nesbitt room 4105

The movie "Loving" is a biopic about Virginian interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving, played by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga, who were sentenced to prison in 1958 for violating the state's laws against miscegenation. The Lovings decided to fight back, and their case led to a landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

"Having events like this reinforces the very core of our university in our mission to build diversity," said Sheila Caldwell, advisor to the president on diversity at UNG. Caldwell also received a Presidential Innovation Award for the Diversity Film Series, which will be presented at three UNG campuses in March. "Though many of these events take place during Black History Month, the growth from such past efforts has been a large part of why we are successfully supporting and promoting diversity year-round at UNG in a variety of events, programs and initiatives."

The Diversity Film Series will be held March 7-9, and will be shown on multiple UNG campuses. More details will be released in the upcoming weeks.