College celebrates black history month

By LaTonya Burrell
[email protected]
Staff Writer

In honor of Black History Month, Georgia Highlands College offered many events throughout the month of February for students and faculty to enjoy.

On Feb. 4, Dr. Jon Hershey and students from the Black Awareness Society (BAS) sponsored their annual African-American Poetry and Literature Reading in the student center. Student and faculty readers included Irene Bell, nursing major, Dami Aina, occupational therapy major, Larry Stevens, assistant librarian; and Hershey.

Selections for the reading included works from Langston Hughes, William Pickens and self-compositions.

"I hope all students recognize the scope of talent and experience that are revealed through the reading," said Hershey, adviser of BAS.

The evening of Feb. 5 brought actor and author Michael Fosberg to perform his theatrical presentation of "Incognito."

The play is an autobiographical account of Fosberg trying to find his biological father. "Incognito" addressed many issues such as race, family secrets and self-identity.

Following the performance, Fosberg engaged the audience in a question and answer session that covered many topics, including race in relation to school funding, the origin of racism and further details of his family.

The musical group Davis & Dow will perform in the student center on Feb. 20. Students will hear the sounds of jazz as they walk to and from class.

On Feb. 27, BAS will bring a Family Feud- style game called "Who? What? When? Where? " to the student center.

Students and faculty who participated in the events wanted to convey one important theme: diversity.

John Spranza, director of student life, worked in conjunction with BAS to book events that would ignite "another avenue for learning." Ahna Dillard, a psychology major and president of BAS said that she has experienced diversity throughout the events.

Aside from the major planned events, to commemorate Black History Month, BAS has filled its school bulletin board with influential facts and stories of African- American people. Also, before the Fosberg play, BAS sponsored a cookout during which students and faculty were encouraged to meet and greet.