BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich.—From Friday, Feb. 1, to Saturday, Feb. 23, Andrews University will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of activities, speakers and events. This year’s Black History Month focuses on Afrofuturism and the theme “Black to the Future.” Ty-Ron Douglas, PhD, the keynote speaker, will explore this topic alongside other faculty and student speakers.
Black History Month celebrates—and raises awareness of—the accomplishments of people of African descent. The Black History Month Committee noted in a statement that Afrofuturism is “a coming together of creatives, artists, imaginers and visionaries. It is the romantic union of past resilience and future triumphs. Afrofuturism is an opportunity for the dreamers and builders to combine their superpowers in order to construct a better future. It is a call for expressive inventors to begin recreating their world right now!”
Programing will begin on Friday evening, Feb. 1, with Impact Vespers at University Towers Auditorium. Then on Saturday, Feb. 2, Chaplain Michael Polite will present “Black History Month Celebration Pt. 1” in the Seminary Chapel. Throughout the month, various speakers will also share different aspects of Afrofuturism at short courses held each Tuesday in Buller Hall.
Ty-Ron Douglas, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and affiliate faculty member of the Black Studies program at the University of Missouri, will speak for Black History Chapel on Thursday, Feb. 7, at Pioneer Memorial Church. He will continue his series on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, as part of the Celebration Vespers and Sabbath programing at the Howard Performing Arts Center.
Other Black History Month events include a BSCF Book Club, Black Spirit Week from February 18–22, The Agora, and the Black Like Me Comedic Story Slam. To learn more about Black History Month and to see the full schedule, please visit the .
Founded in 1874, Andrews University is the flagship institution of higher education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offers more than 200 areas of study, including advanced degrees. Its main campus is in Berrien Springs, Michigan, but the University also provides instruction at colleges and universities in more than 19 countries around the world.
Byline: Hannah Gallant, University Communication student writer
