MU's Black Culture Center to host Black Heritage Week

COLUMBIA — MU’s Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center will host Black Heritage Week through May 9, with events taking place throughout the week to promote black culture.

The week kicks off Friday as the Black Culture Center hosts a trip to Memphis to tour the Underground Railroad and Civil Rights museums and visit the Beale Street Music Festival.

"Steppin' Set" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday. This is an opportunity for community members to learn how to step. The night will conclude with a competition for the best stepper.

Representatives from CNN will film its “Black in America 2009” series from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Black Culture Center.

The Black Culture Center will host a banquet for the graduating class at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Lasana Hotep, student success coordinator at Arizona State University, will give a lecture titled "You’re Black. Now What?" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Black Culture Center.

There will be a "Black Heritage Fest" from 2 to 6 p.m. May 8 on MU's Carnahan Quadrangle. The festival will feature the sights and sounds of Caribbean culture, including a reggae band and traditional cuisine.

The week concludes with the Black Heritage Ball on May 9 at The Tiger Hotel. The ball kicks off at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour, and guest speaker Eric Wilson will speak during the dinner at 7 p.m. Anyone attending must pick up tickets from the Black Culture Center, 813 Virginia Ave.

All events are sponsored by the Legion of Black Collegians, Four Front and the MU Alumni Association.

For more information, go to the Black Culture Center's Web site.