Hobart and William Smith Colleges

23 February 2009 Stories of Untold Lives

In honor of Black History Month, Sankofa will host S.O.U.L. Week, beginning Monday, Feb. 23. S.O.U.L. Week stands for stories of untold lives. Its a unique way for our campus to celebrate Black history, explains Vice President of Sankofa Innis Baah 10.

Activities begin with Soul Night at SAGA from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, featuring a tasty plethora of southern dishes and African American cuisine.

Soul Movie Night will feature the film Race, Power of Illusion in coalition with the Geneva Human Rights Commission from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday in the Office of Intercultural Affairs. Thursday, the Cellar Pub will be filled with the sounds of soulful music and Karaoke Night from 6 to 8 p.m.

S.O.U.L Week will conclude on Friday with Harlem Nights in the Barns lower level from 7 to 8:30 p.m., recreating the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. This will include a historical slideshow, as well as student poets, singers and speakers dressed in 1920s attire.

Im most looking forward to Harlem Nights, says Baah. Its a chance for HWS students to showcase their talents, and its always exciting and surprising to discover new people who can sing, dance, write and perform. Its so popular that tickets have been sold out in past years.

Why take part in S.O.U.L. Week? For self-education, says Baah. Awareness of Black history is what we strive for, to enlighten HWS students. African American culture is an integral part of American culture and part of our history as a nation.

And it doesnt end with S.O.U.L. Week. Baah encourages students to attend Sankofas Charity Ball, which will take place on Saturday, March 28. The dinner gala and dance will raise money for the Nicaragua Experience Trip, allowing students to help impoverished communities in Nicaragua. Proceeds also help fund the Henderson/Collins Scholarship Fund, which provides financial aid to Hobart and William Smith students.