Soul Food: 'What Would You Sit in For?'
Bojan Francuz
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: News
Recognizing the troubled history of the nation while honoring those who suffered the oppression and discrimination ignited the national celebration of the African-American heritage. This celebration continued at the annual Soul Food Dinner held at St. Norbert College.
"We have come far [regarding racial inclusion], but we should also look how far more can we go," said Dr. Julianne Malveaux, distinguished author, commentator, activist, economist and president of the Bennett College for Women.
Malveaux was the keynote speaker at the thirteenth annual Soul Food Dinner in celebration of Black History Month, organized by St. Norbert's Black History Month Committee with the support and the initiative by Dr. Bola Delano-Oriaran, Zambia project volunteers and many other community sponsors.
Addressing the audience at the Soul Food Dinner, Malveaux spoke about the history of the African-American economic empowerment throughout her speech entitled "From Free Frank to Billionaire Bob: The History of African-American Empowerment."
"Our nation is about the notions of opportunity;" however "African-Americans participated in the economic system which was never fair to them," she said.
The program's emcee, Robert Kramer, associate professor of history with a passion and interest in African and Middle Eastern history, addressed the racial labels and categories that are "embedded in our thinking and culture."
President Kunkel - absent because of a prior commitment - welcomed the gathered crowd via a pre-recorded video and stated, "multiculturalism is not only a good practice, but it can be delicious, too."
Dressed in traditional African garb, Mary Oling-Sisay, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, expressed her gratitude to the many involved in planning the event and called upon all present to "commemorate the history of trials and tribulations" but to also "embrace the King's dream and have equality for all."
"We have come far [regarding racial inclusion], but we should also look how far more can we go," said Dr. Julianne Malveaux, distinguished author, commentator, activist, economist and president of the Bennett College for Women.
Malveaux was the keynote speaker at the thirteenth annual Soul Food Dinner in celebration of Black History Month, organized by St. Norbert's Black History Month Committee with the support and the initiative by Dr. Bola Delano-Oriaran, Zambia project volunteers and many other community sponsors.
Addressing the audience at the Soul Food Dinner, Malveaux spoke about the history of the African-American economic empowerment throughout her speech entitled "From Free Frank to Billionaire Bob: The History of African-American Empowerment."
"Our nation is about the notions of opportunity;" however "African-Americans participated in the economic system which was never fair to them," she said.
The program's emcee, Robert Kramer, associate professor of history with a passion and interest in African and Middle Eastern history, addressed the racial labels and categories that are "embedded in our thinking and culture."
President Kunkel - absent because of a prior commitment - welcomed the gathered crowd via a pre-recorded video and stated, "multiculturalism is not only a good practice, but it can be delicious, too."
Dressed in traditional African garb, Mary Oling-Sisay, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, expressed her gratitude to the many involved in planning the event and called upon all present to "commemorate the history of trials and tribulations" but to also "embrace the King's dream and have equality for all."
Be the first to comment on this story