February 4, 2019
Delta College is celebrating Black History Month with a series of special events,
highlighted by a panel discussion focusing on this year’s theme, "Black Migration,"
on February 21 in the Delta Ricker Center Gym.
The Black Migration theme highlights the exodus of more than five million African Americans from rural southern states to urban areas in the north, including many cities in Michigan, between 1916 and 1970. The mass movement came out of a desire to escape oppressive economic conditions and the promise of greater prosperity in the north.
"Our goal with these events is to evolve, expose and engage our students about these migrations to places like Saginaw and other areas," says Carlos McMath, Delta Director of Diversity & Inclusion. "What were their trials and tribulations? How did they adjust to the weather? The culture? In the end, everything traces to Africa and the Caribbean, and we want students to know they can always go back to that with pride."
Among the activities planned throughout February are:
- Lift Every Voice & Sing, the second annual gospel concert filled with spiritual song and dance and featuring local talent on Friday, February 8 at 6pm at Mt. Olive Baptist Church located at 1114 N. 6th Ave. in Saginaw.
- Black History Trivia, a fun an educational way to learn about black history and win prizes on Tuesday, February 12 at 12:30pm in the Lower West Commons.
- Black Migrations, a panel discussion on African American migration from the south to the Great Lakes Bay Region on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30pm in the Delta Ricker Center Gym.
- Black Indians: An American Story, a lecture exploring issues of racial identity between the mixed-descent peoples of both Native American and African American heritage co-sponsored by the Gamma Alpha Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. of Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday, February 26 at 6pm in the Delta College Lecture Theater, G160.
All events are free. For more information about these events or other diversity and inclusion activities at Delta, contact Carlos McMath at 989-686-9117 or carlosmcmath@delta.edu.