“Black History…Everyone’s History,” is the theme of Rider University’s month-long tribute to Black History Month, sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Affairs and Community Service, Black Student Union and other campus groups.  All activities are free and open to the public.

Kicking off the festivities Monday, January 31 will be Keith Beauchamp, screenwriter of  “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,”  who will show a 40-minute excerpt of his documentary at 7:30 p.m.in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater (BLC).  The film will be followed by a 30-minute talk and 20- minute question and answer period. Beauchamp’s documentary revisits the 1955 abduction and brutal murder of Emmett Louis Till, a 14-year old African American from Chicago killed while visiting family in Mississippi. 

Beauchamp was 10 years old when he saw an issue of Jet magazine and learned of the horrific story of Till’s murder.  As a result, he founded Till Freedom Come Productions LLC, a company devoted to socially significant projects.  He devoted the past nine years pursuing justice for Till an on May 10, 2004, the United States Department of Justice re-opened the 49-year old murder case citing Beauchamp’s documentary as a major factor in their decision as well as the starting point for their investigation. 

The month of February will also feature an AIDS Workshop, led by the Black Student Union, Delta Sigma Theta, and Phi Beta Sigma Thursday, February 10 at 8 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge and a Trenton Youth Conference on Saturday February 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.in the BLC.  High school students enrolled in the Mercer County Upward bound program will examine life’s paths as well as career options.

     Other events include:

• Reflections and liturgical dance in Gill Chapel, performed by Princeton Theological Seminary students and husband and wife, Colin and Imani Jones (members of Shiloh Baptist Church Praise and Worship Team) on Sunday, February 6 at 5 p.m.  The dance presentation will be followed by a soul food supper in the Wismer Room of Gill Chapel. 
  
  
• Martin Luther King Day of Service.  On Saturday, February 12 Rider’s Community Scholars and members of the University community will perform a variety of community services throughout the local area from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Programming is sponsored by the Center of Multicultural Affairs and Community Service.
  
  
• A performance by St. Benedict’s Prep Gospel Choir of Newark, NJ.  Under the direction of the Rev. William Winston, they will perform Sunday, February 20 at 7 p.m.at Gill Chapel; a reception will follow in the Wismer Room.    
  
  
• The Black Student Union’s annual Book Club event – An Evening with the Author.  This year, it is Albert French, author of Billy.  French will speak Wednesday, February 23 at 7 p.m. in the BLC Fireside Lounge;
  
  
• Bronc Buffet, Friday, February 25 at Daly’s at  10 p.m.;
  
  
• A Gospel Fest featuring area church choirs as well as choirs from colleges and universities. The event takes place Sunday, February 27 at 5 p.m. in the Cavalla Room of the BLC;  
  
  
• and a Closing Ceremony. Monday, February 28 at 7 p.m. in the BLC Theater.

For more information, contact Ty Jones, vice president of BSU, at (609) 219-3358.