DAYTONA BEACH – Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) will host a Black History Month Assembly on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 11:15 a.m. at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, located on campus at 698 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach. The assembly is free and open to the public.
Jelani Favors, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address speaking from the topic, “The Greatest Art is the Greatest Propaganda”: The Value of the Black Aesthetic and the Legacy of HBCUs. Dr. Favors is the Henry E. Frye Distinguished Professor of History and inaugural director of the Center of Excellence for Social Justice at North Carolina A&T State University. He is the author of the 2020 Stone Book Award winner, Shelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism, which is largely recognized as resetting the narrative on the legacy of HBCUs as incubators of student activism and leadership.
“We are thrilled to host Dr. Favors on campus as the keynote speaker for our Black History Month assembly,” said Dr. Crystal A. deGregory, director of the Center for the Study of Women and Girls at B-CU and lead organizer of the Black History Month Assembly. “As we commemorate the 120th anniversary of our beloved HBCU, Dr. Favors’ timely commentary on the value and legacy of these historic institutions is sure to leave a mark on B-CU students, faculty and staff, and the broader community.”
Dr. Favors is currently working with a team of other award-winning scholars to edit a text titled “Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia”, which will document the history of all of America’s HBCUs. His research and commentary have appeared in several publications and media outlets, including CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, The Root, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Teen Vogue, The Point, and The Conversation.
“B-CU is continuing to define new standards for academic excellence and student success as we seek new ways to educate and empower learners on our campus,” said Dr. William Berry, acting president of B-CU. “By inviting speakers such as Dr. Favors to share their knowledge and spark dialogue among our campus community, we will continue to inspire all who approach these historic grounds to live up to the B-CU motto of ‘Enter to learn. Depart to serve.’”
