SIUE To Present Black Heritage Month Activities During February
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will present its Tenth Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of Revealing Identity, Expressing Consciousness.
Goshen Lounge, Morris University Center 7-9 p.m.Kimberly Norwood, professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, will discuss the stereotypes of African Americans in today’s culture. Are blacks expected to think a certain way? Support affirmative action? If an individual does not embrace these ideas, is the person “really” black or a traitor to the race? Do blacks get to exercise choice or does being black mean you have no choices? This promises to be a provocative
discussion of these and other questions.
| Kimberly Jade Norwood |
Professor of Law
- Professor, School of Law
- Professor, Civil Justice Clinic
Expertise: civil procedure, pretrial practice, pretrial procedure, products liability, civil justice, torts
Bio: Kimberly Norwood teaches the “Litigation Strategies, Policies and Techniques” writing seminar as well as courses in civil procedure, pretrial practice and procedure, products liability, and torts. Norwood in involved in the law school’s Civil Justice Clinic.
WUSTL Contact Information:
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Education:
- B.A.at Fordham University
- J.D. at University of Missouri
Additional Background: Norwood is a member of the American Law Institute, the Eighth Circuit’s Federal Advisory Committee, the Mid-Western People of Color Scholarship Conference, Inc., and the Mound City Bar Association, the oldest African-American Bar organization St. Louis. Recent Publications
“Shopping for a Venue: The Need for More Limits on Choice,” 50 Miami Law Review 267 (1996)
“Double Forum Shopping and the Extension of Ferens to Federal Claims that Borrow State Limitations Periods,” 44 Emory Law Journal 501 (1995)
“28 U.S.C. 1658: A Limitations Period with Real Limitations,” Indiana Law Journal (1994)
What is black?
BlackThink presents WashU speaker, presentation on race classification
Whitney Tate
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As Black Heritage Month enters its final week, Campus Activities Board is presenting BlackThink, a presentation focusing on “Who is Black, and How Do You Determine Black?”
Guest speaker Kimberly Norwood, a professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, will address this issue from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge.
Norwood gave a similar speech at SIUE last year, and Steve Sperotto, director of the Kimmel Leadership Center, remembered how well it was received.
“The whole discussion was on how African-Americans are classified, when in reality, they’re as diverse as anyone else,” Sperotto said.
Something that will be offered this year that was not included last year, is the concept of “What is black?” and how it is influencing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s political campaign. Norwood said because of Obama’s mixed heritage, some members of the black community debate on whether or not Obama is black and how that can be determined.
“I wrote an editorial a year or so ago that talked about how ridiculous it was to be having this debate,” Norwood said.
Norwood said she does not believe in set standards.
“Everyone should have his or her own voice on the matter,” she said.
Still connecting the issue to politics, Norwood said race issues should have little to do with the election process. She said larger issues such as unemployment, education and health care should be dealt with.
Norwood said some people use a “checklist” when describing blacks and that certain assumptions, such as political parties and financial statuses, are made.
“I really hope people will buy into my argument that all black people are not alike,” Norwood. “I want to eliminate that checklist.”
Although this workshop is offering a number of things presented in Norwood’s previous speech, other issues are being introduced this year. As Black History Month comes to a close, BlackThink provides a final look at our nation and where it stands and whether it is, in fact, united or divided.
Political science professor Maurice Mangum said Norwood’s presentation last year was important.
“It’s a way to honor Black Heritage Month,” Mangum said. “SIUE is a poorly diversified school. Perhaps this will help the campus understand that.”
“‘A Lesson Before Dying’: The Burial of the ‘N’ Word.“
On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 1 – 2:30 p.m., the Black Heritage Month
Planning Committee will have a funeral to “bury” the N-word. Using a
funeral ceremony as the backdrop, this event will discuss the history and
social significance of the most offensive word in American culture.
Eulogies, songs, and an intellectual treatment of the N-word will precede
burial. Members of the SIUE community will bury the N-word as a symbolic gesture for improving race relations and racial sensitivity.
On behalf of the Black Heritage Month Planning Committee, I am asking for your help in creating an outstanding event. Specifically, we would like for
some of you to speak out against the n-word. Anyone willing to participate
will be asked to speak for about 1 minute. Your contribution will be
considered “remarks” in the program.
If you would be so kind as to state a few words under the remarks portion,
then please contact me using the information below. Please suggest others
you think might want to participate also. At least spread the word.
Thanks.
Please Contact Me If You Plan On Coming (using the following contact info):
Dr. Maruice Mangum
Department of Political Science
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Box 1453
Edwardsville, IL 62026
ofc: (618) 650-2908
fax: (618) 650-3509
maruman@siue.edu
