All month, in Volusia County, there will be numerous opportunities to learn more about African American history and its place in American history. Here's the list:
African American Museum of the Arts, DeLand
Feb. 11 -- World Slavery: The Haitian Revolution and the Rise of American Music
Lecturer and professional musician Ray Kamalay from East Lansing, Mich., will entertain with a concert lecture at the Chisholm Center at 6 p.m.
Feb. 16 -- Know Thyself Lecture Series
Mike Brown shares a lecture on various topics concerning African and African American history. 1 p.m. Free.
Feb. 16 -- HIV Mobile Art Exhibit
The Department of Health will be bringing their exhibition to the African American Museum of the Arts. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.
Feb. 23 -- There is a Future for You.
Montford Point WWII Marine Veteran, Robert E. Blanks, will share his experience and the many opportunities available to our youth today. 1-2 p.m.
Feb. 23 -- Exhibition by artist Everett Spriull Artist. There will be a talk and opening reception with renowned artist Everett Spriull. View his works. 4-7 p.m. Free Admission
For more information call the African American Museum of the Arts at (386) 736-4004.
Stetson University, DeLand
Feb. 11 -- Lunar New Year Celebration and International Festival
Sponsored by the Cross-Cultural Center and WORLD International Education, Stetson GreenLunar New Year celebration will include a fusion of musical performances, art demonstrations and food. Noon to 4 p.m. Performances by the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple will start at 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 -- Filling the Gap: Forgotten chapter of American History Docudrama and guest lecture by director Tyrone Young. Stetson Room, CUB. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 -- Love your Body Week: Dress for Success: Career Fashion Show Stetson Room, CUB, 5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 13 -- "A Pictorial History of African Americans in Volusia." Stetson University. Room CUB. Free and open to the public. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 -- Love your Body Week: ONLY LOVE Project Sponsored by Safe Zone and the Cross-Cultural Center, Cross-Cultural Center. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Feb. 19 -- The Color ME Brown Project: Conversations with Unmuted Voices Sponsored by the Cross-Cultural Center, Safe Zone and Stetson University's Gender Studies Program. Rinker Auditorium, Room 108, Lynn Business Center. 10-11:15 a.m.
Black Pride -- Negotiating triple minority status. 7-8:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Cross-Cultural Center, Safe Zone and Kaleidoscope, Stetson Room, CUB
Feb. 20 -- Black History Month Keynote Speaker: Honorable Lubbie Harper Jr., Connecticut Supreme Court Justice. Luncheon discussion: Decision on Legalized Marriage in Connecticut, 12:30-2 p.m. Faculty Lounge, CUB.
Keynote address: Social Justice -- An Ongoing Search -- A Never Ending Challenge, 7-9 p.m. Stetson Room, CUB
Justice Harper's keynote address will focus on the ongoing struggle and the never-ending challenge for people of color to achieve justice and equality in America.
Feb. 21 -- Book Feast: Arrested Justice: Black women, violence, and America's prison nation, by Beth Richie. 4:30-6 p.m.
For more information, e-mail ygonell@stetson.edu or call (386) 822-7402.
Bethune-Cookman University
All Month -- Rosewood Exhibit: Individual or group viewing, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Carl Swisher Library. Call (386) 481-2000 for more information.
Feb 21 -- African Market, 4-8 p.m., the Quad, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach
Feb. 22 -- Civil War Re-Enactment, featuring Frederick Douglass, 10:20 a.m., Wildcat Student Center, Center for Civic Engagement, 740 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.
Feb. 27 -- Roc the Mic Lecture Series: Hill Harper, film and television actor, 7 p.m. at Center for Civic Engagement, 740 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Feb. 28 -- Through His Eyes, a tribute to Mary McLeod Bethune by her 91-year-old grandson Albert Bethune, 7 p.m., President's Banquet Room, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach.
New Smyrna Beach
Feb. 8-10: 22nd Annual Black Heritage Festival, featuring music and dancing, Soul Food, arts and crafts, jewelry, African artifacts and more. Call (386) 478-1934 for details.
Ormond Beach
Feb 23: Discover Our History Lecture Series: The Long History of the Civil Rights Movement in Florida, 10-11 a.m., Anderson-Price Memorial Building, 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach. Call (386) 677-7005 for information.
Port Orange
Feb. 12 -- 10th Annual Freemanville Day Ceremony: 4 p.m., Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 941 N. Orange Ave.
Guest speakers are Dorothy R. Dobbins and Mary B. Corliss, both English faculty members at Bethune-Cookman University. They will read selections from their book, A Free Man's Dream/ The Rise and Fall of a Community: Freemanville, Fla. Also on the program is Alberta McLeod, who will share stories of living and raising children in Freemanville.
For more information, call (386) 506-5522.