March 2015
Center for Multicultural Education
VOICES Newsletter
Message from the Director
Black History Month
We foster success in racial and ethnic minority students, contribute to the cultural competence of all students, and promote an appreciation of diversity in
the University community.
Center for Multicultural Education
109 Maucker Union
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613-0165
Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was an astute historian who is most famous for two accomplishments. He became a well-established researcher
in black culture and wrote the seminal work, The Mis-Education of the Negro, in 1933. Woodson, after graduating from high school at twenty years
of age, earned bachelor’s degrees from Berea College and the University
of Chicago, a master’s degree from the latter institution, and a Ph.D. from
Harvard University—the second African American to do have that distinction; W. E. B. Du Bois was the first. In 1915, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which began to issue The
Journal of Negro History.
Phone: 319-273-2250
Email: cme@uni.edu
Editor-in-chief: Dr. Michael D. Blackwell
Co-editor: Jackelin Rangel
Contributors:
Dr. Michael D. Blackwell
Priyasha Mahara
Andrew Jessip
Shakari Baker– Bruce
He became very concerned that scholars and textbook writers were not relating the history of the
United States in a comprehensive manner. Like Du Bois, he devoted his life to making people
aware of the struggles and accomplishments of African Americans through research, writing, and
lecturing. To this end, Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926. The purpose of this
week in February, honoring the lives (and birthdates) of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick
Douglass, was to try to designate a period of time when the entire nation would be focused on
the position, role, and progress of blacks in society. When 1976 rolled around, commemorating
the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence and the fiftieth anniversary of Negro History
Week, black leaders elected to pay homage to Woodson by expanding the seven-day observance into a month-long celebration. Hence, Black History Month was born!
This interactive performance brings to light the
magic, politics, and ritual of an African-American
Sunday dinner. A challenge to mass-mediated stereotypes of the Black family and Black life, "The Soul
Food Museum" invites us to laugh, eat and share.
HISPANIC LATINO STUDENT UNION
will be hosting their annual ball this year on April 11, 2015.
Commons Ball Room, Doors open at 5:30!
FREE Event! Open to students, staff& faculty
Dress to look your best!
1. What travels around the
world but stays in one spot?
2. What can you catch but not a
throw?
3. What goes up but never comes
down?
A stamp.
Abby Helgevold, department of philosophy and world religions, will present a lecture titled "Good Sex: It's About
More Than Just Pleasure." Is bad sex better than no sex
at all? Are all forms of "good" sex in fact "good?" This lecture will explore what it means to think ethically about our
sexual lives by discussing the question, "what does it
mean to have good sex?
Wesley Foundation - 2422 College Street
1.
Room 115, Seerley Hall
Friday, March 6, 2015 - 7:30 pm
A cold.
When education is partial, one’s comprehension of the world and its meaning will also be narrow
and shortsighted. When the voices of a particular culture are suppressed and their perspectives
are dismissed, society is the loser. Let us take the time to learn more about African American
history, for it will help us better to understand where we all are today.
Friday, March 6, 2015 - 4:00 pm
2.
It was George Washington Carver—who once planted his feet in the
soils of Iowa—that said, “Education is the key to unlock the golden
door of freedom.” Marian Wright Edelman averred, “Education is for
improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and
world better than you found it.” It was Malcolm X who argued,
“Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.” Martin
Luther King, Jr., asserted: “The function of education is to teach one to
think intensively and to think critically.” The educator Mary McLeod
Bethune realized, “Knowledge is the prime need of the hour.”
Douglass, the great abolitionist and advocate for women’s rights, believed, “Once you learn how
to read, you will be forever free.”
Lecture: "Good Sex: It's About More
Than Just Pleasure"
Your age.
There are many things yet to uncover regarding the history of people of African descent in this
country. The popularity of television shows such as Roots and Many Rivers to Cross reveal the
importance of continuing to research black culture. It is especially significant because the legacy of racism persists, and we are far from living in a post-racial society. People who were entertained by Django and profoundly moved by 12 Years a Slave demonstrate the need for unearthing what black people have endured as well as contributed since their forced arrival in the socalled New World.
The Soul Food Museum
3.
Many who criticize the heritage month for falling in February, the
shortest of all the twelve months, must not appreciate the history. It
was not that February was chosen, of course, because of its length;
rather, it was an expansion of the week in which Woodson simultaneously honored Douglass and Lincoln. It would have been a disservice
to the originator if it was taken out of February and established in a
different month altogether. Some, however, would go on to argue that
a month is not long enough and that lifting up black people should occur year-round. Still others would suggest that the heritage month
observance is counterproductive. These complaints have superficial validity, for they do not value the intent of the month and they belittle the fact that Woodson himself, through the Association he founded, researched, study, taught, and wrote about black history all of his life—not just
one month out of the year! He set an example for all of us to follow.
Women's History Month
By Dr. Michael D. Blackwell
April Events
April 9, 2015
It is often the case, when you think about Women’s History Month, the first vision or perception that most
individuals have is that of white women. That is the tragedy of society in the United States, because we are inaugurated into a white world at birth, and despite our cultural heritage and primary neighborhood, we cannot help
but to become solidly ensconced in the dominant ethos. Were we truly approaching a global worldview, we
would recognize the fact that women around the planet are, indeed, persons of color. Perhaps, our understanding of women’s role in society parallels, or possibly coincides with, American exceptionalism.
I long for the day when Women’s History Month in the United States would pay tribute to the women of color in this country as a regular, central part of its recognition. Because it still lags behind in this regard, the importance of the commemorative exercises weakens, in my estimation. As I was growing up in the 1960s, I bore
witness to many white girls and women who disparaged their African American counterparts. I watched as
blacks marched for their civil and human rights while white women joined their men in shouting expletives at the
nonviolent warriors. I saw white women and girls throw debris at, kick, and injure blacks alongside their white
husbands and fathers, respectively. I viewed pictures of women and girls in white mobs celebrating the lynching
of black men whose charred bodies still hung from the trees.
Many folks forget that, but I do not. I realize that the girls I
witnessed back in the 1960s while I was a boy are adults my
age today!
It still takes a lot of challenging work and discussion to
overcome this deficit. True, we live in a complex society
where there are scarce resources and rivalry over them. Competition abounds in this mixed capitalist economy that continues to champion rugged individualism and puts forth the specious claim that we live in a meritocracy. But there has to
come a time when we no longer fall prey to such drivel, and we decide to sacrifice our hackneyed view of the
hierarchy of the races and recognize that perspectives based on such racism are pernicious and unethical.
Pawan Dhingra
3:30 p.m. Book Discussion
7:00 p.m.—Asian American Culture: Past, Present & Future
Center for Multicultural Education
If Women’s History Month is to be a genuine celebration of womanhood, then we must foster and develop a
new programmatic initiative that makes an effort to broaden its scope and rewrite the history of this country in a
way that respects women’s differences as well as their similarities. Such an initiative would not distort the power dynamics that marred the pursuit of potential for many women of color. Rather, it would show that corruption and chicanery in their stark reality while lifting up the courage, resolve, and resilience of the latter as well as
the few white women who spoke out against racial discrimination and oppression. Until we make these matters
essential to the commemorative activities, we are selling short what it has meant to be a woman over the four
centuries of our occupying this land.
I welcome the 2015 national theme of Women’s History Month: “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.”
For me, it drives home the point that there are usually many dimensions to a story, and to get at the whole truth,
a lot of interweaving (of lives) must occur. This multidimensional approach allows for the inclusion of women
who have oftentimes been ignored as contributors to our society. It helps to give voice to the voiceless and finally offers a home to those in underrepresented categories who traditionally had no home.
Meet our friendly student staff!
Priyasha Mahara
Upcoming
Hi! My name is Priyasha Mahara. This is my first year here at UNI. I am from Kathmandu, Nepal. Nepal is a small country between China and India and home to the world’s tallest
mountain, Mount Everest. I am a double major in Psychology and Sociology.
I chose UNI because of the perfect blend of quality education and reputation. The class
size was also a huge factor as it enables me to interact with my professors and classmates well. UNI
has a great campus, it is large enough for abundant opportunities yet small enough to feel home
away from home. I like the liberal arts education system and the flexibility of the way teaching is
done as it is very different from my home country. Working at the CME has also enriched my college experience and my whole experience so far has been great! I look forward to many more lasting memories at UNI and the USA!!!!
Shakari Baker-Bruce
My name is Shakari Baker-Bruce. My younger sister and I were born and raised in
Waterloo, Iowa. My mom, Dawn Boone is from Cleveland, Ohio. I have a large extended family,
and I am a big-family oriented person. I love to play basketball, in high school I was voted most
valuable player. In addition, I was crowned homecoming queen.
I applied to the University of Northern Iowa because it is very close to home. Fortunately, I was admitted and received a tuition scholarship because of my high school academic
achievements.
There are some things happening in todays society that are clearly unfair to me. For
example, the death of a young black male who was shot by a police officer. I believe that the
Ferguson situation was horrible and tragic. I believe what really occurred is still undetermined.
The campus population isn’t well diverse, here at UNI. I would like to see more efforts
of collaboration. People working and coming together to help create a more inclusive environment, I need to do that as well. Ultimately, I just want everyone to have peace with each other
because life is way too short. Also we need to speak up for what is right no matter what the situation is.
Andy Jessip
Before I came to UNI, I was sure of one thing I wanted to do on this campus, and that was
get involved. Coming from Hinton, IA, having attended a school of roughly 200 students. I had little
opportunity to get involved. This is largely the reason I came to UNI, knowing that getting involved
would be something I could easily do. Being a first year student and having finished my first semester. I’ve learned that making the next 4+ years successful will depend on my being involved on campus and continuing to learn and grow through student involvement.
I initially arrived on campus ready to jump into classes and experience whatever I thought
being an English major would bring. While I enjoyed being in class and thinking about all of the
exciting things I was learning, I was waiting to find the right student organization to join. I ended up
finding my place in a variety of different organizations that have already taught me many things I
don't think I could have learned in a classroom. Whether it is meeting new people or learning new
things, being engaged in campus happenings has exposed me to an eye– opening experience. While at
first I was terrified of activities fairs, everyone pushing paper and pens at me, I understand now the importance of getting people
involved on campus. When we all put in the effort to learn and to make UNI a better place, we all end up reaping the benefits! The
extremely wide variety of ways for students to get involved is something that I think makes UNI such a neat place. No matter the interest, there is likely a way for anyone to come to UNI and experience something great and relevant!
Events
Reaching for Higher Ground
2015 Film Series
Somebody's Children: The Politics of
Transracial and Transnational Adoption by Laura Briggs
March 23, 2015
7:00 p.m.
CME
Somebody’s children examines the growth of
transracial and transnational adoption in the
United states since 1945 and challenges dominant understanding of these practices. Briggs
suggests that the popular narrative of abandons
or orphaned children being rescues by predominantly white, middle –class Americans is problematic, representing a cultural fantasy rather
than reality.
Followed by Discussion & Panel
March 26, 2015
3:30-5:00 P.M.
CME Conference Room