Main Campus - Howard Gittis Student Center
Room: the Underground

7:00pm-7:05pm: Introduction of the Orgs.
7:06pm -7:15pm: Ice Breaker
- This Ice Breaker can include an array of activities such as a crossword puzzle identifying some prominent African American leaders or a short game of trivia where attendees will identify key social, political, and scientific breakthrough and/or movements led by African American leaders. (Ice breakers can be changed if more ideas pop up).
7:16pm- 7:25pm: Discuss the Ice Breaker with the attendees, zeroing in on facts that they might not have known or found surprising.
7:26pm-7:50pm: Powerpoint Presentation on the origins of Black History Month
- This may have been done or mentioned briefly in another program by another organization, but I feel it is important to recap everything as it pertains to our central question of whether or not this month should exist.
- Powerpoint will include how Black History Month came about, who were the prominent leaders that organized this movement, who may have pushed congress and other political bodies to sanction this national holiday, and people’s reactions to the holiday in the beginning.
- If there is any video footage on this topic, we may also include that in the PPT as well.
7:55pm-8:15pm: First Discussion Question: “What does Black History Month mean to people in 2012?”
- We open the floor to the attendees to comment on the issue.
8:16pm-8:30pm: Second Discussion Question: “In your opinion, what is the greatest hindrance to racial harmony? And do holidays like Black History Month serve one of the channels with which races can be appreciated and acknowledged?” OR “Why isn’t there a White History Month?”
- Again we open the floor to the attendees for comments.
8:31pm-8:50pm: Central Question: “Should Black History Month even exist? Why?”
- During this central question the room will be split into two and given a side of the argument to defend.
- They will have about 10mins to come up with central arguments for their given viewpoint and at the end of ten minutes will engage in a debate on the Central topic. (If anyone feels as though having an open forum discussion would be more appropriate, we can change this set up).
8:51pm-9:00pm: Conclusions
- We thank everyone for coming out and clean up.