February is Black History Awareness Month and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, along with other organizations on campus, will be hosting numerous programs to unite all races on campus and raise cultural awareness.
“We need to unite together and teach others about our different races and ethnicities,” said Laura Terry, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
On Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. in the Culp Center Ballroom, the Black History Awareness Month opening ceremony will begin the month-long celebration. ETSU president Dr. Paul Stanton will speak and Johnson City mayor Pete Paduch will read the proclamation.
African American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a national holiday, is on Sat. Feb. 7, but will be celebrated on the ETSU campus on Feb. 5 and 6.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is an estimated 886,575 people in the United States living with an HIV infection.
“We need to educate ourselves on how to prevent ourselves from becoming infected [with HIV/AIDS],” Terry said. HIV and AIDS are becoming more widespread in our population, and we do not need to keep the mentality that it could never happen to us, she said.
There will be a red ribbon giveaway on Feb. 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Atrium. On Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. in the Culp Center Forum, Keith Lindsey will speak on African American HIV/AIDS awareness. Lindsey, who is an ETSU alumnus, is from the State of Tennessee Regional Public Health Office.
Some other events during the month of February include a comedy show, semi-formal dance and a multicultural career fair.
The Black Affairs Association will be showing several documentaries, each at 7 p.m. (location TBA). The documentaries are:
“Paul Robeson: A look at the life of Paul Robeson” From New York/BFA Films – Feb. 4
“Jazz: Episode 9” From the PBS Home Video Series – Feb. 11
“Black History: Lost, stolen, or strayed” From “Of Black America Series” – Feb. 25″It is important to remember where we’ve come from and the people who have fought for us to get us here,” said Stephen Steele, president of the Black Affairs Association at ETSU.
Terry said all Black History Month activities are open to everybody on campus and encourages everyone to participate. “We want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves.”

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