IU Northwest celebrates Black History Month with African acrobats, film fest, talent show and knowledge bowl

IU Northwest celebrates Black History Month with African acrobats, film fest, talent show and knowledge bowl

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Campus and community invited to join the month-long celebration

Indiana University Northwest's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (ODEMA) is proud to host a series of Black History Month events highlighting multiple facets of African American culture.

All events are free and open to the public.

February 1 • 10 a.m.
ZUZU African Acrobats
Arts & Sciences Building, Theatre

Come see the ZUZU African Acrobats, a Tanzanian troupe who base their performances on 2,000 years of history. Be amazed as the troupe performs gravity defying stunts while simultaneously displaying the beauty of the Tanzanian culture of East Africa.

This interactive 90-minute show includes human pyramids, dish spinning, stick balance, contortion, chair balance, unicycling, juggling, hand to hand balance, pole acts, hoop diving, as well as comedy and more.

February 17 • 4 p.m.
NAACP Annual Junior Image Awards
Savannah Center, Bergland Auditorium

ODEMA partners with the NAACP to host the Act-SO Talent Extravaganza. Come support local youth as they showcase their talents in STEM, humanities, entrepreneurship and performing and visual arts.

February 21 • 8 a.m.
Black Labor Week: Panel Discussion with Local Mayors
Savannah Center, Bergland Auditorium

Join in Black Labor Week discussions with empowerment workshops and a panel discussion with local mayors from Gary, East Chicago, Michigan City, Elkhart, Evansville and Lawrence.

February 22 • 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
February 23 • Noon - 8 p.m.
Black History Month Film Festival
Savannah Center, Bergland Auditorium

Seven documentary films from the 13th annual Bill Johnson Black Film Festival will be shown over two days. Films will explore the historical and contemporary experiences of the African diaspora.

Film Schedule

February 24 • 10 a.m.
Steel City Black Knowledge Bowl
Savannah Center, Bergland Auditorium

Celebrate Black History Month by attending the Steel City Black Knowledge, an academic competition where local high school teams answer questions based upon African American history, life and culture.

Competing schools include: 21st Century Charter High School; Calumet New Tech High School; Gary Lighthouse College Preparatory Campus; Steel City Academy and West Side Leadership Academy.

IU 2030: Student Success and Opportunity IU Northwest will ensure the long-term success of all students while remaining grounded in our unique identity as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and as a Minority-Serving Institution, with a commitment to meeting the needs of our entire student body.

IU 2030: Service to our State and Beyond IU Northwest will improve the lives of the people and economic vitality of Northwest Indiana and beyond by fostering and strengthening collaborative relationships that promote, build and sustain the well-being of the campus and our communities.