DSU wraps up successful African-American History Month

Tuesday night, the Office of Diversity services at Dakota State University wrapped up its tribute to African-American history month with a town hall meeting in the Trojan Center. A panel of three African-American students, (DSU freshman Aaron Rodgers, DSU alumnus Mike Anderson and Curtis Taylor) fielded questions from audience members and talked about their backgrounds to help bring awareness of their culture.

Scott Zlotak, Diversity Coordinator at DSU, said the night was a big success. “Various issues and questions were raised by the audience,” said Zlotak. “Anytime you can bring people together and enable them to have intentional and meaningful dialogues then that is a substantial achievement.”

That discussion centered on several issues including stereotypes, interracial dating and marriages, racial classifications and cultural assimilation. “I believe the panel as well as the crowd reached a level of comfort after going through several tough questions,” stated Zlotak.

The town hall meeting was one of two events that ended the celebration of African-American History month. Monday night, the diversity office sponsored a lecture series with Zlotak and Curtis Taylor, a grad student from Howard University, sharing their views on African-American history. Discussion focused on areas such as Pre-Columbian African contact in the Western Hemisphere; Various forms of African and Native American Resistance—Maroon Communities and the Black Seminoles; An Overview of European and American Slavery; the legacy of slavery and the methods of social control; and what each and every student can do to begin to adopt an antiracist mentality.

“Even if topics were covered and were not fully understood, the students still had to engage these alien ideas and thoughts,” said Zlotak about the lecture series. “Many of us are not exposed to various facets of history. This event provided an opportunity to begin to plant the images and ideas in the brains of our students.”

“I encourage each one of you to go ask your Elders, find out as much as possible about your heritage and culture,” stated Taylor during the lecture. “Our culture did not start in 1492 with Columbus and Slavery, and neither did yours… We all have a rich culture and legacy that we come from.”

Zlotak was pleased with the turn out and support students showed throughout the entire month. “Everything during the month was a success starting with the Frank Diaz Escalet Art Show and ending with the Town Hall Meeting,” Zlotak said. “I hope that throughout this month-long experience our campus community realized that African-American History Month is not just for African-Americans, it is for all Americans. We must understand that without knowing our past, we have no future.”