Dyson headlines OHIO Black History Month events

Ohio University will celebrate Black History Month 2022 with a virtual keynote talk from Dr. Michael Eric Dyson at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, and several other in-person and virtual events. The theme for this year is Black Health and Wellness.

Dyson is the centennial chair, university distinguished professor of African American and diaspora studies, and university distinguished professor of ethics and society at Vanderbilt University. He also taught at Georgetown University, Brown University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Columbia University and The University of Pennsylvania.

“Each year, OHIO celebrates Black History Month, and we embrace the national theme chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History,” Ohio University Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Gigi Secuban said. “This year’s theme is Black Health and Wellness and we are very excited to welcome Dr. Michael Eric Dyson as our featured speaker. Dr. Dyson will address the theme, as well as other salient issues in the black community.”

Along with his career in higher education, Dyson has won an American Book Award and two NAACP Image Awards. Ebony magazine cited him as one of the 100 most influential African Americans, and as one of the 150 most powerful Blacks in the nation. Dyson has written several notable books, including “Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X,” which was named one of the most important African American books of the 20th century and a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times.

Dyson extends his influence even further with appearances on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Real Time with Bill Maher,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” NPR's “All Things Considered,” “Talk of the Nation,” “The Tavis Smiley Show,” “Def Poetry Jam,” “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” “Meet the Press,” “Face the Nation,” and several other programs on ESPN.

Dyson’s speech will be held virtually. Updates will be available soon on the Black History Month website.

“I am excited about Dr. Dyson’s talk. I am also looking forward to the various campus and community events that are planned,” Winsome Chunnu, director of the Multicultural Center, said.

The other events being held this year include:

• Feb. 2: Black Jeopardy. Hosted virtually via Zoom. Hosted by Sigma Gamma Pho Sorority and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at 7 p.m
• Feb. 2: Guess the Lyrics Hip Hop Concert with Key Glock. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Black Student Cultural Programming Board (BSCPB) at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 3: Dealing with Social Media with Mike S. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Black Student Union (BSU) at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 3: African Dance Class. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Unified Sisters and OJAH Dance Team at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 4: Pink Goes Red 2022. Register to attend at ASO1930.org. Hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 4: Apollo Night. Location: Baker Ballroom. Admission: $3. Hosted by Black Student Cultural Programming Board at 8 p.m.
• Feb. 5: SIBS Weekend Hip Concert. Location: Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Admission: $25-$35. Hosted by Black Student Cultural Programming Board at 8 p.m.
• Feb. 10: Coffee Takeover. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Unified Sisters at 7 p.m.
• Feb. 12: Love, Sex and Romance. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Black Student Union (BSU) at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 17: Speed Sex Dating. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Black Student Union at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 17: Dining with Professors. Location: Walter Rotunda. Hosted by MAPS at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 17: Harriet Washington talk "Environmental Racism in the Age of COVID-19." Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams. Sponsored by African American Studies department, Division of Diversity and Inclusion, the College of Arts and Sciences’ history department, and the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Register to attend here.
• Feb. 17: Safe Sex Talk. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Unified Sisters at 7 p.m.
• Feb. 18: Black Jewish Shabbat. Location: Hillel - 21 Mill St. Hosted by Hillel, MCC and BSCPB with the service at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:45 p.m.
• Feb. 20: Harlem Nights. Location: Walter Rotunda. Hosted by Black Student Union at 5 p.m.
• Feb. 22: Third Annual History Community Celebration. Location: Athens Middle School Auditorium, Athens City School District, Andrew Jackson Davison Club. Hosted by MCC and BSCPB at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 22: A "Sneak Peak" of Black Wall Street Athens County. Location: Athens Middle School Auditorium. Hosted by Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 24: QPOC SpeakOUt. Hosted by LGBTQ Center virtually via Microsoft Teams at noon.
• Feb. 24: Historical Figures in Black History. Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by Black Student Union and Unified Sisters at 6 p.m.
• Feb. 25: LGBTQ+ Black History Month Keynote Address, Microsoft Teams, hosted by LGBT Center, MCC and BSCPB at noon.
• Feb. 26: The Black Wall Premiere w/ Liz Pah's Legacy films of Dr. Childs and Ada Woodson Adams Location: Athena Cinema. Reception to follow. Hosted by Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, MCC and BSCPB at 7 p.m.
• Feb. 28: "Versuz.” Location: Baker Center, Room 219 (MCC Multi-purpose Room). Hosted by OURS at 7 p.m.

For more information about events, visit the Black History Month website.