Peru, Neb. – Peru State College has released a slate of virtual and on-campus activities for Black History Month. Seventeen events are scheduled from February 1 through March 2.

Virtual events are open to the public. At this time, on campus activities are open only to students, faculty and staff.

Dr. Hanson, president of Peru State College, said, “The College is excited to join Black History Month celebrations across the country. After the struggles of the last year, this February is a unique opportunity to engage in ongoing conversations about race and the African-American experience.”

“COVID-19 has created some obstacles to this endeavor, but campus leaders have worked to create a robust experience both on campus and in virtual spaces. With a limit on campus visitation, we invite our communities to join us in online activities both unique to the College and shared across our nation.”

Crystal Hutson, Director of Student Activities and Programs, writes, “This year, I’m excited we have so many internal and external groups included on our event calendar. We also have the opportunity to host virtual events that will engage friends, family, alumni and local partners - in addition to the events we host on campus.”

Hutson adds, “I am thrilled to invite the public to virtual museum tours by the Great Plains Black History Museum, Dr. Spencer Davis’ presentation on W.E.B. DuBois, and the virtual plays offered by our Peru Theatre Company.

W.E.B. DuBois and Black Studies Presentation

The first week of February, Peru State Faculty Emeritus, Dr. Spencer Davis, will present “W.E.B. DuBois and Black Studies.” The February 4 event is sponsored by the College’s Committee for Racial Reconciliation.

Davis was a professor of history at Peru State College for 33 years. He continues to present on historical topics across the state and on campus. Davis is also a part of the College’s Committee for Racial Reconciliation.

The presentation will be completely online and open to the public. More information about how to attend is presented below.

Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentations

In association with the Great Plains Black History Museum, Black History Month will feature six virtual exhibit presentations. The presentations will cover topics uniquely important to the history of African Americans in Nebraska and the region.

In 1975, Mrs. Bertha Calloway envisioned sharing the rich history of African Americans with the Omaha community. For the past 40 years, The Great Plains Black History Museum has been a striving institution dedicated to publicizing and preserving the achievements of the region’s vibrant African-American heritage.

All Virtual Exhibit Presentations will be completely online and open to the public. More information about how to attend is presented below.

Topdog/Underdog Theatrical Production

The Peru Theatre Company will present Topdog/Underdog on February 26 and 27. Topdog/Underdog is by Suzan-Lori Parks and its representation of race in America won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

From pulitizer.org, “A darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, Topdog/Underdog tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers whose names, given to them as a joke, foretell a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment. Haunted by their past, the brothers are forced to confront the shattering reality of their future.”

Peru Theatre Company is an academic club that is open to everyone. The Company’s primary goal is to work together to create original and established works of theatre for the campus community and the community at large. 

The theatrical production will be completely online and open to the public. More information about how to attend is presented below.

Full Black History Month Calendar

February 4

12:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
“W.E.B. DuBois and Black Studies” presentation by Dr. Spencer Davis.
Sponsored by the Committee for Racial Reconciliation
DuBois set the agenda for Black Studies with his 1903 work, “The Soul of Black Folk.”
Zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/94985073188 

February 5

All Day
Virtual Event
Jazz Composers - Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute
Link: https://americanhistory.si.edu/documentsgallery/exhibitions/ellington_strayhorn_5.html 

February 8 

12 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: The History of the DePorres Club
Sponsored by the Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85071295753?pwd=bmxCKzMySGhoaSsxWlgzWE43Zm0yZz09 
Meeting ID: 850 7129 5753
Passcode: 847817

February 9 

12:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: Hope Exhibit
Sponsored by the Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85071295753?pwd=bmxCKzMySGhoaSsxWlgzWE43Zm0yZz09 
Meeting ID: 850 7129 5753
Passcode: 847817

February 10

12:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: Week 24th & Glory
Sponsored by the Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85071295753?pwd=bmxCKzMySGhoaSsxWlgzWE43Zm0yZz09 
Meeting ID: 850 7129 5753
Passcode: 847817

February 11

11:45 a.m.
Virtual Event
Black History Month Trivia Competition
Instagram

February 11

12:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow
Sponsored by the Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85071295753?pwd=bmxCKzMySGhoaSsxWlgzWE43Zm0yZz09
Meeting ID: 850 7129 5753
Passcode: 847817

February 12

All Day
Virtual Event
Jazz from The Lincoln Center: The Life and Music of Dave Brubeck.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ-yXQItCGg 

February 16 

6 p.m. 
Performing Arts Center
Zuzu Acrobats: Traditional Kenyan acrobatics performance.
Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board

February 17 

7 p.m.
Jindra Black Box Theatre
Spoken Word Night 
Sponsored by the Black Student Union

February 18

11:45 a.m.
Virtual Event
Black History Month Trivia Competition
Instagram
Sponsored by the Black Student Union

February 19

All Day
Virtual Event
 Jazz from The Lincoln Center-Black, Brown & Beige and The Best of Count Basie. 
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO9O8fZFg3A 

February 26

7:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Topdog/Underdog
Sponsored by Peru Theatre Company
Zoom link: TBA

February 27

7:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Topdog/Underdog
Sponsored by Peru Theatre Company
Zoom link: TBA

 March 1

12:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: The Tuskegee Airmen Who Called Nebraska Home & African Americans Who Served
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89262741925?pwd=Ny9ZYThKZFVmNnNpSC8wejdNTnplQT09
Meeting ID: 892 6274 1925
Passcode: 494965

           

March 2

12:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Great Plains Black History Museum Virtual Exhibit Presentation: The Black Experience Through the Lens of Rudy Smith
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89262741925?pwd=Ny9ZYThKZFVmNnNpSC8wejdNTnplQT09
Meeting ID: 892 6274 1925
Passcode: 494965

 

About the Black Student Union

The purpose of the Peru State College Black Student Union is to foster a sense of community, stimulate the intellectual, social, cultural, and political growth of all Peru State College students, and provide support for students and the community. The Black Student Union is open for membership to all Peru State students of all backgrounds.

About the Committee for Racial Reconciliation

Working since the summer of 2019, the ongoing conversation about Racial Reconciliation represents Peru State’s ongoing commitment to providing every student an equal opportunity to learn, to grow and to participate.  The evidence from student reports, alumni responses, and campus survey data tells us that minority students face persisting barriers to that equal opportunity in spite of our efforts to achieve diversity and inclusion. The Committee believes the College has a unique opportunity to address these barriers and to translate ideals into reality.

About the Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The Council for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion seeks to engage the entire Peru State College community in the important work related to diversity, equality, and inclusion. Peru State College and the Council recognize that all members of the community are responsible for fostering an inclusive environment on campus and preparing our students for an increasingly diverse world.

The Council is a campus-wide leadership team made up of students, faculty and staff with a mission of providing strategic leadership in the areas of inclusion, equality, and diversity. Its goal is to create a community that is welcoming and supportive of each of its members.