Calvin To Celebrate African American History
January 13, 2006

Calvin College will present a variety of events in early February as part of its celebration of African American History Month.

Calvin has a new minor in African and African American Diaspora Studies and professor Randal Jelks is director of that program (as well as author of the soon-to-be-released African Americans in the Furniture City: The Struggle for Civil Rights).

He says it's important for the next generation of leaders, including college students, to both prepare for the future and remember the past.

The upcoming events at Calvin will help students, and others, do both.

Titled "Five Days in the Black World," the series includes special chapels, a history of coffee, a panel discussion on Africa and the diaspora, several films, a discussion on Grand Rapids' black leaders and more (see complete schedule below).

"I think it's a good series," says Jelks. "My hope is that it will appeal not just to Calvin students, but anyone in west Michigan interested in learning more about black history."