UNM TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL BLACK CULTURAL CONFERENCE

Sept. 5, 2003

UNM TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL BLACK CULTURAL CONFERENCE

The University of New Mexico's first annual Black Cultural Conference, sponsored by African American Student Services (AASS) and the Black Student Union (BSU), will be held Thursday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 12, in the UNM Student Union Building.

Aspects of African American life including art, music, language, dress, values, food and history will be explored.

"While people of African American descent constitute only three percent of New Mexico's population, our goal is to expose participants to African American culture in a regional context and to instill a renewed sense of pride in our heritage and contributions to the state and country," said Jocelyn Gamble Mims, AASS senior student program advisor.

The conference will feature several speakers including Bakari Kitwana, Tajuana "TJ" Butler, Steve Birdine, and Frederick Gooding, Jr., esquire.

Kitwana, author of "The Hip-Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture," will speak Friday, Oct. 10, at a noon luncheon. Former executive editor of "The Source: the magazine of hip-hop music, culture and politics," Kitwana will talk about "Translating Hip-Hop's Commercial Success into Political Power."

Gooding Jr., UNM Law School graduate, will address reparations and police misconduct Friday at 6 p.m. at a dinner banquet. He practices with the Cochran Firm in Los Angeles, Calif.

Birdine, a sought after speaker on self-reliance and affirmations, will speak Saturday, Oct. 11, at a noon luncheon about the concept: "I'm Black and I'm Proud." Butler, author of "Sorority Sisters and Hand-me-down Heartache," will speak at that evening's dinner banquet set for 6 p.m.

In conjunction with UNM Career Services, the conference will host a diversity career fair Friday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Johnson Recreation Center Auxiliary Gym.

Participants are invited to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Sunday, Oct. 12.

Advance tickets to the conference are $40 or $35 for high school students and $10 for individual lectures. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $50, $45 (high school), $10 per lecture.

For more information, contact Jocelyn Gamble-Mims or Angela Green at 505-277-5645.

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