A presentation by Sheyann Webb, co-author of the memoir-turned-Disney movieSelma, Lord, Selma, underscores a week’s worth of activities coordinated by Niagara University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of the federal holiday that marks the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Webb’s public, keynote address will take place at 5 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the Castellani Art Museum. Selma, Lord, Selma depicts Webb’s experiences as a young activist interacting with the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the late Jonathan Daniels and other leaders during the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Ala., in the 1960s.
In addition to the events and initiatives listed below, Niagara faculty, staff and students will be participating in community service projects throughout the week that include a collection of school supplies for the local Boys and Girls Club, as well as a multimedia competition and a bus trip to view trip the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC.
“A unified, informed, diverse campus enriches the community,” said Averl Harbin, Niagara’s director of multicultural affairs. “In accordance with the university’s mission, we intend to create a dialogue and encourage our students and faculty to find their voices during times of social injustice.”
All Week
Community Service Project
Students are invited to donate school supplies to the local Boys and Girls Club. Collections will be received in the Office of Multicultural Affairs on the lower level of the Gallagher Center. Contributors to the community service project will be entered to win a grand prize that will be announced at halftime of a Niagara University basketball game.
Monday, January 18
7 p.m. – Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Ceremony
Niagara University is giving students an opportunity to creatively highlight and celebrate the accomplishments and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students may utilize dance, poetry/spoken word, music, and much more. Entries considered for this award must demonstrate both an intellectual and emotional element that directly connects to the mission of Niagara University. Co-sponsored by NU’s diversity committee, three prizes of $350 apiece will be awarded. Gallagher Center.
Tuesday, January 19
4:30 p.m. – Prayer & Reflection
The campus community will come together for a time of interdenominational prayer and reflection honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Alumni Chapel.
7 p.m. – Screening of Fruitvale Station
Attendees will watch the drama that’s centered on the tragic shooting of 22-year-old Oscar Grant by a subway officer in San Francisco on New Year’s Day in 2009. The shooting was captured on camera by Grant’s fellow passengers. Gallagher Center Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). (All films/videos are intended for the educational instruction of Niagara University students)
Wednesday, Jan. 20
6 p.m. – Speaker Series: Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter
The event features remarks from Dr. Paul C. Taylor, associate professor of philosophy and African-American studies at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Taylor has written three books, including Black is Beautiful: A Philosophy of Black Aesthetics and On Obama, and has provided commentary on race and politics for newspapers and radio shows on four continents. MPR.
9 p.m. – Screening of Selma
Students are invited to view this historical drama, which is set at the height of the American Civil Rights Movement. It portrays the marches from Selma, Ala., to the state capital with the goal of securing voting rights for black people. MPR. (All films/videos are intended for the educational instruction of Niagara University students)
Thursday, Jan. 21
5 p.m. – Speaker Series: Sheyann Webb
This a free, public presentation featuring the nationally known author of Selma, Lord, Selma, a critically acclaimed book that was made into a Disney movie. Castellani Art Museum.
Saturday, Jan. 23
Trip to Washington, D.C.
Niagara University students will take a trip to Washington, D.C., to view the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, among other sites. The experience is co-sponsored by NU’s Campus Programming Board.
For more information, please contact Niagara University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs at 716.286.8510 or ude.aragain@nibraha.