February 01, 2016

Daughter of main plaintiff in landmark civil rights suit to speak at Millersville University for Black History Month

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – Cheryl Brown Henderson, whose father was the lead plaintiff in the landmark civil rights suit Brown vs. Board of Education, will speak at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at Millersville University of Pennsylvania as the 14 universities that comprise Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education kick off a variety of special programs in recognition of Black History Month.
Many of the programs will be free and open to the public.
Brown Henderson will deliver the keynote address as part of the Frederick Douglass Black Culture Celebration. Her father, the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown sued the Topeka, Kan., Board of Education in 1950, challenging the legality of the city’s separate public schools for blacks and whites. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled the practice unconstitutional. Her free presentation will be held in Clair Hall at the Winter Center on campus and is open to the public.
Among the other speakers scheduled to appear on the various campuses this month are Sarah J. Glover, president of the National Association of Black Journalists, who will speak on “The Changing Media Landscape,” at 7 p.m., Feb. 12, in Compton Hall at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; and Marc Lamont Hill, host of HuffPost Live and BET News and a political contributor to CNN, who will speak at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 20, in Kehr Union Ballroom at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania as part of the annual Sankofa Conference.
Food writer and chef Michael Twitty will prepare dinner and speak tomorrow at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. His program will include a meal served from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Reisner Dining Hall followed by a talk on “The African Roots of American Food” at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium. Both events are open to the public. Members of the public may purchase a dining pass at the event for the meal.
Also on tap tomorrow night at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is “Black Jeopardy,” a skit that displays the many stereotypes that people of color have to deal with every day. As the various stereotypes are brought to light there will be a discussion about increasing understanding and cultural awareness. The program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Stroud Hall.
Students at ESU will participate in a day of service Thursday, putting together care packages for homeless men, women and children in the community. A number of universities held similar programs Jan. 18, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and several more will offer students the opportunity to give back to their host communities throughout the month.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s African American Cultural Center is conducting a month-long fundraising project for the residents of Flint, Mich., who are dealing with a drinking water crisis. Donations of bottled water and/or funds can be made at the AACC during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). A service trip to deliver the water is being planned for early April.
Among the other events scheduled during Black History Month:
California University of Pennsylvania will host a panel discussion, “Academic Reflections on Race and Color,” at 11 a.m., Feb. 23, featuring faculty scholars from Cal U., Virginia Tech and the University of Pittsburgh. An African-American Arts Festival, featuring local artists, performers and vendors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 24, in Natali Student Center.
Edinboro University’s Chamber Players, in collaboration with the Erie County Public Library and the Friends of the Erie County Public Library, will present a free concert at 7 p.m., Feb. 22, in the Hirt Auditorium at Blasco Library, 160 E. Front St., Erie. The vocal performance by baritone Eugene Perry of the Music and Theatre Department faculty titled "The Color Purple" is part of the Great Books with Great Music 2015-16 concert season.
IUP will host the ZUZU Acrobats at 6 p.m., Feb. 29, in Hadley Union Building. The high-energy African acrobatics show from Mombasa, Kenya, was featured on the television program America's Got Talent! The performers use a traditional African art form set to African beats.
For more information on any of the programs listed, or on other campus events held throughout the year, go to the individual university websites. To access the university sites, go to www.passhe.edu and click on the individual logos displayed across the top of the homepage.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with about 107,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively, the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.