by Zenobia Harris

This February, the VSU African American Studies program along with the Black History Committee and a number of student organizations, have teamed up for an array of events focusing the celebration of Black History Month.

The month-long celebration titled “Refreshing the Black Essence: Celebrating Our Past, Critiquing Our Future and Moving Forward,” started off with the Black History Kickoff Program on

Thursday, where Dr. Hardin, the director of the African American Studies department, was the keynote speaker. The presentation also featured a few selections from the VSU Mass Choir, and a special tribute to NPHC by the Valdosta City All-Stars, a youth dance and step team.

This program was followed by the “What Is Black?” Art Show Thursday night, which featured pieces of photography and paintings by VSU students.

Mia Rawls, the event coordinator and creative director of the “What Is Black?” Art Show, feels that this month long celebration isn’t just important for the black community, but for the entire student body as well.

“It’s important to the black community to celebrate our heritage,” Rawls said. “It’s important to remember where we came from. At the end of the day, we are all in this together, and we need to celebrate the things that make us different. So everybody should want to celebrate each other’s culture and what makes us unique.”

Students will have quite a bit to look forward to this month, including movie nights every Friday, panel discussions, community service and a scholarship gala. The gala for the Drewnell Thomas-Robert Pierce Scholarship fund will take place at the end of the month.

The scholarship was set up to help first generation college students with at least a 3.0 GPA continue their education here at VSU. The event will feature celebrity judge Glenda Hatchett.