February News Update

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the second issue of CLASS, the College's monthly update of news and events.

As we have come to appreciate, February is the month in which we pause to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people of African descent to American culture. When Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an eminent historian of the black experience, proposed in 1926 that we set aside a week to recognize black heritage during this month, his decision was deliberate. He knew many African Americans already set aside time during February to acknowledge the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Today, Dr. Woodson's week has turned into a month of national celebration and the month itself includes a special day for the contemplation of presidential legacies.

While we always want to acknowledge the diversity of achievements and contributions of CLASS faculty and students, February nevertheless presents us with a special opportunity to celebrate black heritage and to highlight the ongoing struggles of people of African descent, an opportunity that we embrace in this issue.

TOP STORY

Actor Charles Dutton visits campus

Charles S. Dutton did prison time for manslaughter. During those seven years, he fell in love with playwriting, acting and theater. The story of how he defied low expectations and pursued his dream is the basis of Dutton's one-man show From Jail to Yale: Serving Time on Stage.

The African American Studies program and U.S. Dream Academy have partnered to bring Dutton to Cullen Theater for a one-night-only performance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26. Dutton will also participate in a moderated conversation with students from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 in the Honors College lounge in the M.D. Anderson Library. Read more.

Learn more about the play, the U.S. Dream Academy and the African American Studies Program:

• From Jail to Yale: Serving Time on Stage on YouTube
• Houston is a one of the U.S. Dream Academy’s Dream Cities
• African American Studies at UH

HIGHLIGHTS & HEADLINES

	Liberal Arts and Social Sciences led to more than a quarter century of foreign service for one diplomat Department of Political Science
	Grammy Watch: Nominated music professor headed to Los Angeles for the big night Moores School of Music
	Music, technology, art merge in UH's 3D opera The Magic Flute Moores School of Music

RESEARCH & COLLABORATION

	Integrating Houston jazz audiences lands Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie in jail Center for Public History
	Communication students work to raise HIV awareness among Houston teens Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
	Armed with 20,000 more pencils, students visit Ghana African American Studies

EXPERTS & COMMENTATORS

	Smeltertown book deals with Mexican-American life in El Paso Department of History
	Professor sells out book about peace activist Fethullah Gülen in Turkey Department of Sociology
	Fox 26: Adults should watch 'Skins' with children Jack J. Valenti School of Communication

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