UW-Madison to celebrate black history

In February the nation will embark upon its 35th Black History Month, and UW–Madison will host several events.

• Bob Marley Birthday Bash, 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, Memorial Union Rathskeller. Tony Brown and guests will perform in tribute to the superstar.
• “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasss Song,” midnight, Saturday, Feb. 5, Union South. Melvin Van Peebles’ film is about a pimp becoming a fugitive after killing racist cops.
• “Blazing the Trail for Black History,” 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25, Mills Hall, Mosse Humanities Building. The celebration from the Wisconsin Black Student Union features music, poetry, dance and trivia questions; awards also will be presented.
• The Rev. Al Sharpton, 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 7, Wisconsin Union Theater. The former presidential candidate and minister will speak as part of the Distinguished Lectures Series.

According to Yaw Boateng, of Eastern Washington University, February was chosen for the commemoration because of the pioneers born in it: Eubie Blake, W.E.B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks and Langston Hughes among them. Also, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the First Pan African Congress were established in February.

For late additions to this year’s lineup, visit http://www.today.wisc.edu/.