Tufts' Africana Center was the host of an evening of dance, music and spoken word on Friday night. The reception was the first of a series of events planned for this month that will celebrate African-American history and culture.

 

There was an exhibition by the local youth dance troupe OrigiNation, which performed a musical theater show entitled "Our History." It turned out to be a combination of dance styles and music genres ranging from hip-hop to gospel, jazz and African rhythms. The audience felt like traveling through time and across borders. A Tufts literary publication, Onyx, presented a history lesson about the African-American community, introducing the second part of the show which was called "A Walk through History" and featured portrayals of major African-American figures throughout history.

 

The event also served as an opportunity to celebrate the Africana Center's 40th anniversary, kicking off the Black History Month commemorated by colleges and universities nationwide, throughout the anniversary of Black Studies in the United States with a month-long series of cultural events.

 

Nowadays, the African roots of humanity are striving to be discovered through approximately 200 Black Studies disciplines all around the United States. These courses are supposed to accomplish faculty goals through cultural grounding, academic excellence and social responsibility.

 

The Legion of Black Collegians was created by undergraduates who were interested in experiencing the total scope of American history at a college that was a truly inclusive institution. With the help of Arvarh Strickland, professor of history, and the Ethnic Minorities Committee, appeared minority representation on committees, the creation of a Black Culture Center, and the establishment of a Black Studies program 39 years ago.