Black History Month Events Announced at ESU

students performing at MLK breakfast

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on January 29, 2020, No Comments

Photo Caption: Ahkira Hamilton and Tyrell Costen perform a scene from “Mountaintop” during the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast in January. The play will be performed on Saturday, February 29 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Both performances will be in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts on ESU’s campus.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events throughout February. This year’s theme, “Celebrating a Legacy of Resilience,” celebrates black culture, history, and hope for a greater tomorrow. A month of programming, including trivia nights, dinners, and student conferences will illuminates various elements of Black culture through art, dialogue, and advocacy. There are also three events, the MLK Day of Service, a keynote address, and Mountaintop, open to the public at no cost.

The month-long celebration kicks off with ESU’s 7th Annual MLK Day of Service on Thursday, February 6. The Day of Service provides students with the opportunity to engage in MLK’s legacy through social advocacy and volunteerism. This year ESU will collaborate with Pennsylvania Treatment and Healing (PATH), a non-profit community-based program located in East Stroudsburg. PATH offers an intensive adolescent program for students between the ages of 10-18 who meet medical necessity for mental services. The university will be collecting socks, gloves, personal hygiene items, and non-perishable, individually wrapped snacks such as cereal bars, chips, and cookies, to create care bags for adolescents in the program. Donation can be dropped off prior to February 6 at the Center for Multicultural Affairs located at 96 Normal Street, or call (570) 422-3896.

The Black History Month Keynote address will be delivered by Joseph Webb on Wednesday, February 12 at 6 p.m. in Beers Lecture Hall. Mr. Webb will expound on the theme of resilience based on his own experience of overcoming incredible odds to become the man he is today. Webb is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, trainer, coach, entrepreneur, and mentor. He specializes in keynote and motivational speeches, leadership development, talent management, and coaching services for individuals and organizations. He travels the country encouraging his audience to find their passion, execute their plans, and make personal and professional decisions that will enhance and enrich their lives.

Black History Month programming will conclude with a stage play, Mountaintop. The play, directed by Tyronn Brewington, a senior majoring in theatre from Easton, Pa., is a gripping re-imagination of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious stranger arrives with some surprising news, King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people. Mountaintop will be performed on Saturday, February 29 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Both performances will be in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition, a performance of the play Smart People will take place on February 26 – 28 at 7:30 p.m. Smart People depicts the complexity of race, identity, and societal issues for seemingly “smart people” to navigate. Showings for Smart People will begin February 26 through the 28th. The play will be performed in the Dale Snow Theatre of ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg. General admission is $12; senior citizens, faculty and staff (with ID) are $10.00; and students (with ID) are 7. Tickets are available online in advance at esu.edu/theatretickets (credit cards only online). For those wishing to pay cash, seats can also be reserved by calling 570-422-3483.

For more information on any of the events listed above, please contact Lurine Allotey, assistant director of the center for multicultural affairs and inclusive education at 570-422-3896 or email lallotey@esu.edu.