Organized by Trent’s Lady Eaton College to mark Black History Month, A Month of Black History and Heritage at Trent University, a special series of concerts, lectures, discussions and performances dealing with the Black experience in Canada and around the world, will be taking place at the University and in the community throughout the month of February.

“Students at Lady Eaton College have a deep appreciation of history and the light that past mistakes and successes can shed on our future,” says Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Lady Eaton College. “Being at the heart of Trent University’s Black History and Heritage Month in Peterborough this year is a natural fit for the college and I look forward to encouraging more awareness and engagement amongst Trent students and the greater Peterborough community.”

Highlights of the month-long celebration include: student displays on Black history and contemporary Black culture; an evening exploring the African-American experience through drama and song with local musician and playwright Beau Dixon; a weekly segment on Trent Radio studying the rich traditions of Black music through the years; and a lecture with Trent professor and amateur boxer Dr. David Sheinin on Boxing, Blackness and Virtue in Columbia.

In making these events a reality, the University has formed partnerships with several organizations and groups, including: the Trent African Caribbean Students’ Union (TACSU), the Trent Central Students’ Association (TCSA), Trent Radio, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) at Trent University, Local 3908.

A full schedule of events for the month is as follows:

Wednesday, February 5
12 noon to 1:30 p.m., LEC Pit
The Night They Switched Koreans on Ricardo Cardona: Boxing, Blackness, and Virtue in Colombia: A lecture with Dr. David Sheinin

Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., LEC Pit
An Evening with Beau Dixon: Exploring the African-American Experience in Drama and Song

Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, Peter Gzowski College, room 115
TACSU Debates: Contemporary Issues Facing Black Communities

Wednesday, February 12, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., LEC Pit
Student Discussions and Guest Speakers
“Why Study Black History?”, “What Does Black History Month Mean to Me?”, “Legacies and Challenges: Being Black in Canada Today”

Wednesday, February 12, 5:00 p.m., LEC Pit
Spoken Word, Poetry and Dance Performance

Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., LEC Pit
TASCU Movie Night

Wednesday, February 26, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Student Discussions and Guest Speakers (to be announced)

Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., LEC PIT
TACSU Open Mic Night

All events are free and open to the public.