FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC PLANS ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE               

Nikki Giovanni	Miss Virginia  Nancy Redd

DANVILLE, VA, January 29, 2004 -- Award-winning poet and author Nikki Giovanni, the reigning Miss Virginia Nancy Amanda Redd, and a look at the 50^th Anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision barring segregation in public schools are some of this highlights of Danville Community College’s 2004 African American History Month Celebration. This year’s activities during the month of February also include two book reviews, the annual sickle cell anemia trait testing; the sickle cell anemia fund raising drive; and the annual gospel fest, featuring DCC’s own Gospel Ensemble. All of the events are open to the public, and offered free of charge.

The schedule of activities is as follows:

February 10, 2004:

Mark Gibson

Book Review of “Church Folk” by Michele Andrea Bowen; two sessions at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., in the Regional Room of the Learning Resources Center (LRC). The book is reviewed by Mark T. Gibson, Director of DCC’s Upward Bound program and pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.  The novel takes a look at the African-American church life in the south during the early civil rights movement (1960s). The novel is described as” a wise, scandalously funny compassionate look at wayward shepherds and lost sheep of the Black church.”

February 13, 2004:

Sickle Cell Anemia Trait Testing for students and the community. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, in Temple Building, Room 106-D. Co-sponsored by the DCC African-American Culture Club, this annual event will feature public health nurses and representatives from the Danville Pittsylvania County Sickle Cell Anemia Association conducting the testing. The disease

Sickle Cell Anemia Fundraising Drive will be conducted throughout the day by members of the DCC African American Culture Club. All proceeds benefit the Danville Pittsylvania County Sickle Cell Anemia Association.

“Diversity as Art; Art as Diversity”, an evening with poet, author and professor Nikki Giovanni, 7:00 p.m., Oliver Hall (in Temple Building). Giovanni, currently a Professor of English and the Gloria D. Smith Professor of Black Studies at Virginia Tech, has written more than two-dozen books, including volumes of poetry, illustrated children’s books, and three collections of essays. She has received 19 honorary doctorates and a host of other awards, including “Woman of the Year” from three women’s magazines (Ebony, Mademoiselle, and Ladies Home Journal), the NAACP Image Award, for Literature in 1998; the Governors in Arts Awards from both Tennessee and Virginia; and the Langston Hughes award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters in 1996. Her newest book, “Blues: For All the Changes,” made the Los Angeles Times Bestseller’s list. It marks the first time a poet has ever been listed. Because of limited seating in Oliver Hall, free tickets reserved in advance are required for admission to Giovanni’s presentation. Tickets may be obtained by calling (434) 797-8516 or (434) 797-8513; or toll free at 800-560-4291, ext. 8516 or 9513.

February 18, 2004:

Presentation by the reigning Miss Virginia Nancy Amanda Redd, at 12:00 noon in Oliver Hall (in Temple Building). The Martinsville, Va. native is a graduate of Laurel Park High School; a cum laude graduate of Harvard University; and a $250,000 winner on ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Game show.  She was named one of Glamour magazine’s Top Ten College Women and the L’Oreal cosmetics Beauty of Giving Young Woman of the Year. At last year’s Miss America Pageant, she was a Swimsuit Winner and was a Top 10 Finalist. She is also a contributing writer to The Princeton Review.

Dr. Thomas Johnson

February 19, 2004:

Book Review of “Three Weeks in October: The Manhunt for the Serial Sniper” by Charles A. Moose, Charles Fleming; two sessions at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., in the Regional Room of the Learning Resources Center (LRC). The book is reviewed by Dr. Thomas Johnson, DCC adjunct professor and pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. This book follows former Montgomery County, MD Police Chief Charles Moose into the tense days and nights of his investigation, from the first shocking murder through the massive team efforts of law enforcement to the final break that ultimately led to the snipers’ capture. It is also Moose’s inspiring personal journey detailing his rise from a young African-American cop battling prejudice to becoming the respected police chief who would successfully lead the largest manhunt in U.S. history.

February 25, 2004:

Randy Williams

“Brown vs the Board of Education - 50th Anniversary”, a presentation by Randy Williams, Jr., Assistant Dean of Intercultural Affairs and Residence Life at Hampden Sydney College, will be held at 12:00 noon, in Oliver Hall (Temple Building). The presentation takes a look at the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision that that declared segregation illegal. Williams is a native of Prince Edward County, Va., which closed its public schools for five years from 1959 - 1964, rather than to integrate them.  The county eventually became one of the plaintiff cases in the Brown verses Board of Education decision. Williams will discuss the story of a courageous sixteen-year-old girl named Barbara Johns and how her story relates to the Brown decision. Further, the talk will explore what developed from this court case and some current obstacles for equity in education.

February 27, 2004:

Gospel Fest 2004, 7:00 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 218 Holbrook Street, in Danville.  Hosted by the DCC Gospel Ensemble, and featuring special musical guests. Join the choir for an inspirational, gospel music celebration to close out DCC’s African American History Month celebration.

For more information about these events, or to obtain the free reserved tickets to the Nikki Giovanni presentation, please contact  Paula Coleman, Public Relations Assistant, at (434) 797-8516, or Russell Scruggs, Assistant Professor of History, at (434) 797-8513, or toll free at (800) 560-4291, ext. 8516 or 8513.