Campus Connection

Annual UWL Black History Month event attracts award-winning writer

An editor, award-winning writer and culture critic is this year’s keynote speaker at the Reflections of Ebony event at UW-La Crosse. Jamilah Lemieux will give the address at the annual Black History Month event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at The Bluffs, in UWL’s Student Union. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. A fierce advocate for racial equality and social justice, Lemieux, of New York City, is the vice president of News and Men’s programming for Interactive One, a digital destination for millennial and African-American audiences. UWL students in the group Black Student Unity were excited to attract Lemieux whose writing has reached national audiences in publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times and many others. She is also the former senior editor for EBONY, the magazine of record for African-Americans since 1945. “She speaks her truth” and brings a different perspective that will get the audience thinking, says Richard Sims, an advisor to Black Student Unity. BSU also set this year’s theme “All Black at The White Show,” a message they say will carry different meaning for the many attendees and organizers. For some, “All Black at the White Show” symbolizes the struggles people of color face trying to navigate in a post-racial, color-blind society. For others, it means people of color are still here and thriving despite challenges. The event is open to the public and is appropriate for all ages. The dinner menu includes fried chicken, collard greens with ham or vegetarian style, cornbread, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, green salad and peach cobbler. Tickets must be purchased by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. Tickets can be purchased at The U Information counter from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. They can be ordered by calling 608.785.8877 or purchased online at https://www.efoliotickets.com/FolioProd/Events.aspx?VId=37 Tickets are $16 for UWL students, faculty and staff with a valid campus ID; $17 for others; and free for children under age 5. The event is sponsored by UWL BSU, the Office of Multicultural Student Services and the Campus Activities Board. For more information, contact Sims at 608.785.8838 or rsims@uwlax.edu If you go — What: Reflections of Ebony, “All Black at the White Show” When: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., program at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 Where: The Bluffs, Student Union, 521 East Ave. N. Tickets: Must be purchased by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at The U Information counter from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. They can also be ordered at 608.785.8877 or at https://www.efoliotickets.com/FolioProd/Events.aspx?VId=37 Tickets are $16 for UWL students, faculty and staff with a valid campus ID; $17 for others; and free for children under age 5.