Throughout the month of February, Samford University will celebrate Black history and culture during its recognition of Black History Month 2022. A variety of events will honor the contributions of African Americans to our campus community and our society.
Movie Night: Respect
- February 1, 6 p.m.
- The Outlet Shops of Grand River Drive-in
- 1453 Grand River Pkwy N, Leeds, AL 35094
The Black Student Union and Samford’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives will partner to host a movie night showing the 2021 film Respect based on the life of American singer Aretha Franklin.
This event is open to campus. You must have an SUid (900#) to receive a ticket.
28th Annual Thurgood Marshall Symposium
- February 3, 6–7:30 p.m.
- Memory Leake Robinson Hall, John L. Carroll Moot Courtroom
Cumberland School of Law and its Black Law Students Association will present the 28th Annual Thurgood Marshall Symposium. This year's discussion titled, “Putting out the Fire: Creating Meaningful Reform in Alabama Prisons,” will feature keynote speaker Representative Christopher J. England of the Alabama State House of Representatives, and his brother and special guest Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge John H. England III.
The Samford community is invited to attend. Convocation credit is available for Samford undergraduate students. No registration required. The discussion will be followed by a reception.
Lunch and Learn with Niya Pickett Miller: Using the Professorate to Amplify Black Voices
- February 7, 11:30 a.m.
- Cooney Hall, Regions Community Resource Room
Join the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives for a lunch and learn featuring Niya Pickett Miller, assistant professor of communication and media in Samford’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences. Miller will address what culturally responsive teaching means in higher education and the responsibility to amplify black voices within their disciplines and classrooms.
Box lunches will be available for registrants to take with them after the discussion.
African American Ministry Emphasis Month Community Worship Services
- February 8 and 15, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Hodges Chapel
Beeson Divinity School will host its third annual African American Ministry Emphasis Month which seeks to highlight God’s continued work among African American alumni and friends and to celebrate what God is doing in and through Black churches in America.
Included in the 2022 commemoration are two special community worship services.
On February 8, the Rev. Dr. Darrell Hall will preach on the beauty and glory of God in Isaiah 6:1-6 through his sermon titled, “An Experience of a Lifetime." Hall is the campus pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Conyers, Georgia, and is a Beeson Divinity School alumnus.
On February 15, the Rev. Dr. Reginald Calvert will preach on the beauty of creation in Psalm 104 through is sermon titled, “God the Glorious Creator." Calvert is senior pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama, and is a Beeson Divinity School alumnus.
For those who cannot attend in person, a livestream of each service will be available at beesondivinity.com/live.
Jamaal Barber in the Art Gallery - Part of the Clarence Brooks Art & Design Series
- February 8–March 3
- Samford University Art Gallery
The work of Jamaal Barber, a nationally known printmaker who explores Black identity, will be on display in the Samford University Art Gallery.
SoCon Diversity Night at the Samford Men’s Basketball Game vs. Wofford
- February 9, 5:30 p.m.
- Pete Hanna Center
During this time, we will honor the “firsts” in Samford Athletics and give student organizations that center Black community and culture the opportunity to share their mission and opportunities for involvement. Contact Ashlee Fincher for more details: afincher@samford.edu.
The game is open to all with the purchase of a ticket. A step show performance will take place during the halftime show.
Reconciliation Memorial Public Dedication
- February 15, 10 a.m.
- Wright Center
In 2020, Samford University installed a memorial which honors the many contributions of African Americans who built and sustain the institution’s mission. Due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19 that have taken place since the original installation, the official dedication was postponed.
The Samford community is invited to attend this special ceremony filled with song, reflection and prayer, followed by a viewing of the memorial which sits on the quad just outside of Hodges Chapel.
Convocation credit is available for Samford undergraduate students.
Read More About the Reconciliation Memorial
Samford Black Alumni Association Greet and Grow
- February 16, 10 a.m.
- Harry’s
Samford’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives will partner with the Samford Black Alumni Association (SBAA) for this event. All students are invited to hear from Samford Black alumni and will have the opportunity to build relationships and network. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about SBAA Connects—a mentoring program that pairs underclassmen and graduate students with members of the SBAA for professional development and exposure.
Movie Screening: Race to Be Human
- February 21, 7 p.m.
- Brock Forum, Dwight Beeson Hall 131
Samford’s Office of Counseling and Wellness will partner with the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives and the Office of Greek Life to host a screening of the new INDIEFLIX documentary Race to Be Human.
This documentary film and series addresses the impact of racism on mental health and how we can move forward. The film examines the systemic inequalities of race, and how our unconscious biases continue to perpetuate the situation. It will include strategies and tips to check ourselves and others and to push for change, so that in communities and as a society we can move forward with greater, sustainable equality.
The viewing will be followed by a brief talkback. This screening is open to the Samford community.
Virtual Worship with the Samford University Alumni Association
- February 22, 11 a.m.
- Zoom
Join alumni and friends as we gather for a virtual worship service through Zoom with the Samford University Alumni Association. As we proceed through the 2022 spring semester, this will be a time for encouragement, hope and faith as we grow together in Christ.
Tracey Gholson '90 of the Samford University Alumni Association Executive Council will provide the opening prayer and Lee Dymond '92, missions pastor at Hunter Street Baptist Church will serve as the keynote speaker. They will be joined in worship by the Samford University Gospel Choir.
A Brief History of African American Music
- February 23, 3:30 p.m.
- School of the Arts, Bolding Studio
Join the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives to discuss the contributions of African Americans throughout the history of music with Assistant Professor Steven Potaczek and Associate Professor Galen Jones from Samford’s School of the Arts.
Lunch and Learn: Cultivating Partnerships in Ghana: The Water4All Project
- February 25, 11:30 a.m.
- Howard Room
Ahinee Amamoo, professor and director of graduate studies in Samford’s School of Public Health, and Kingsley Mortey, will discuss cultivating partnerships in Ghana through the Water4All Project. Box lunches will be available for registrants to take with them after the discussion.
re/vise: Samford University Annual Dance Concert
- February 25–27
- Wright Center
The Samford Dance Company will be premiering four new pieces choreographed by people of color including Gierre Godley of New York City, Kat Files, a Birmingham, Alabama, native now based in New York City, Ursula Smith of Birmingham, Alabama, and James Atkinson of Montgomery, Alabama.
Members of the Samford Dance Company will also perform pieces inspired by important historical events and influential people such as the Declaration of Human Rights, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Freedom Rides of the civil rights movement. Company members have toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in preparation for this performance and have participated in discussions around racial injustice and reconciliation to encourage empathy and education.
“re/vise” consists of dances in a wide variety of styles–classical ballet on pointe, hip hop, contemporary, jazz, modern dance, and even West African.
Community Conversation: Privilege vs. Access
- February 28, 3 p.m.
- Brock Forum (Dwight Beeson Hall 131)
As we celebrate Black History Month 2022, join the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives for a conversation with Jenée Spencer, director of diversity education and development. Spencer will differentiate between access and privilege as well as how we can use our access to advocate for ourselves and others!
In addition to these events, Beeson Divinity School will feature four African American alumni on the Beeson podcast during the month of February. And, the Davis Library’s Special Collection will continue to display its original carbon copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” first publicized on samford.edu/news on the MLK holiday, through the end of February.
