Campus celebrates Black History Month

Events ranging from lectures to performances have been scheduled on or near the University of Wisconsin–Madison in February in celebration of Black History Month.

A select listing follows. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Additional events will be posted at the university events calendar or at this site.

Events are sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Multicultural Student Center, the School of Music, the Dance Program, Wisconsin Union Theater, the Wisconsin Black Student Union (WBSU) and UW–Madison Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), among others.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3, 12:15 p.m.: A Freedom Journey to the Milton House, Wisconsin State Historical Society, 30 N. Carroll St. Cori Olson, director of the Milton House Museum, shares the story of Pioneer Joseph Goodrich. Discover why he built what is now the oldest concrete home in the U.S., creating a tunnel used for the Underground Railroad, part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. A donation of $2 per person is suggested. For information, call 608-264-6555.
• Monday, Feb. 9, 6 p.m.: NSBE has invited Michelle DuBose to speak about the AIDS epidemic and black health awareness. The event will be held in the Multicultural Student Center Satellite Conference Room (across from Witte Hall).
• Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m., MSC Lounge, 716 Langdon St.: NSBE will host a soul food dinner including a variety of comfort foods and light desserts. The event is open to the campus community, but an RSVP is required by Feb. 4. Contact Mia McKinney, mmckinney@wisc.edu for more.
• Friday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. Andy Bey, Wisconsin Union Theater, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.: A superb interpreter of Americana, singer and pianist Andy Bey has performed with Louis Jordan at the Apollo Theatre in New York as well as jazz icons like Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Horace Silver, Max Roach and Lonnie Liston Smith. Visit this site for ticket information.
• Sunday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.: Black History Month Experience, the On Wisconsin Room of the Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym), 716 Langdon St. The WBSU presents two poets from Milwaukee.
• Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m.: Buckwheat Zydeco, Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St. Playing piano since age 9, Buckwheat Zydeco came to the limelight in 1984 with his “Zydeco Boogaloo,” one of the genre’s signature songs. An electrifying performer and expert keyboards and accordion player, Buckwheat is an innovator who crafted a bold new sound for zydeco. Visit this site for ticket information.
• Thursday, Feb. 19, 8:30 p.m.: The School of Music presents the Black Music Ensemble, playing in Morphy Hall at the Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park St. Richard Davis directs.
• Friday, Feb. 20, 3:30 p.m.: The Dance Program will present “Moonshine” under the artistic direction of Chris Walker, assistant professor. The event will take place in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave. The event will African and African-Caribbean dance, hip hop, spoken word, poetry, drumming and chanting.
• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.: The School of Music presents the Wind Ensemble performing in Mills Hall at the Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park St. Scott Teeple directs. The program will include the First Wave spoken word group opening the concert. Other pieces included “American Guenica,” Adolphus Hailstork’s memorial to the victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” with the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ gospel choir from Milwaukee.
• Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m.: Break Dancing with Jarius King, Tripp Commons in Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., sponsored by WBSU.
• All month: Athletics will profile an African American Badger every day at this site.