NDSU to host annual Black History month

Written by Amelia Felz Tuesday, 03 February 2009 08:00

Black History Month provides opportunities for everyone to learn about the culture and social and health issues specific to the Black race.

“There are so many types of black people,” Malika Carter, assistant director of multicultural student services said. “It isn’t just one type of person.”

Feb. 2 kicked off the annual black history month with an opening ceremony. “Through Black History Month we hope to achieve a wide variety of representative of blacks,” Carter said. “We hope people see what it meant to be black then compared to being black now.”

Carter hopes that some of these issues will be addressed through black history month. “The recent election has made it a ‘good day to be black,’” Carter said.

To address the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS in pockets of the black community, multicultural student services and the Wallman Wellness Center in conjunction with the national campaign, will provide free HIV/AIDS testing  for all students at student health services. Space is limited so registration is required before Feb. 12 by calling 231-7331.

Carter explained that there is a chain reaction of factors that lead to increasing rates of abuse. “Earlier and more often, black women are getting raped than their white counter parts,” Carter said. The imagery seen in R&B music only escalates the problem explains Carter.

To address this imagery the documentary “Hip-Hop: beyond beats and rhymes” will be shown again at NDSU. In the past students reactions have been varied from sorrow to indecision even calls to action to stop purchasing R&B music.

“I have given the call to stop purchasing music that is degrading to any person,” Carter said. These images go beyond R&B explained Carter, “you see [these images] in almost all genres of music.”

Something new to black history month this year is different food at each event. Each day a sample of foods is served that will be available at the soul food dinner on Feb. 25.  “A student actually suggested this idea to me,” Carter said.

It is a way to bring a taste of home to students who are far from home Carter explained.

The tastes of the day include smoked turkey, apple pie, red velvet cake, pecan pie, beans and rice, mixed greens (collards/mustard) and cornbread, deviled eggs, roast beef and corn, sweet potato pie, pound cake, fried chicken, and friend fish with tarter sauce.

Carter explained that while some of this food may sound familiar to many people, the black culture prepares them in different ways.

“Soul food is a type of food prepared in the African and African American communities and is at the core of the cultures,” according to the black history month brochure. The soul food dinner will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the University Lutheran Center. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door and can be purchased at the Multicultural student service office.

“I encourage people to challenge themselves to attend black history month events,” Carter said. “Ask the nontraditional questions because this is going to be a month to remember.”