HATTIESBURG -- As Executive Director of Minority Affairs, Richard Johnson has been hard at work planning for Black History Month at Southern Miss.  This year’s theme is “The Future of Black America: Dynamic, Dedicated, and Determined,” and events include speakers, a movie night and a Gospel Explosion.  Assisting Johnson in the planning was a group of students.  “We actually create a committee of random students, allowing anyone who wants to participate in the opportunity to share ideas and create programs they feel will be beneficial to the Southern Miss community,” Johnson said. 

One highlighted event is a program given by Rasheed Cromwell, titled “Mastering Your Blueprint-– Visualizing and Achieving Your Goals.”  This will kick off Black History Month and will take place Feb. 2 in Bennett Auditorium at 7 p.m. 

For years Southern Miss has celebrated Black History Month with a variety of events, both informative and entertaining, and Johnson hopes faculty, staff and students will attend and to enjoy them all. “The purpose of Black History Month is to not just commemorate African-American history, but American history - all our history,” Johnson said.  “Simply put, this month is a celebration of the American spirit.”

Click here for a calendar of events for Black History Month.(pdf)

The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21^st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.