USC Upstate Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Announces Plans for Black History Month
2/12/2021 8:51:00 AM | General
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Upstate's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is pleased to reaffirm its commitment to celebrate, learn and reflect on the achievements of Black peoples in America and across the world this February.
SAAC will lead or participate in a variety of Black History Month events throughout the month in keeping with the organization's mission to promote community service and engagement, and to enhance the student-athlete experience at USC Upstate.
Sophomore Maya Timberlake, women's basketball, will lead activities sponsored by SAAC. "Black History Month is about recognizing inspirational figures that most times faced tremendous adversity but still drew the strength to impact our lives today for the better," Timberlake said. "Black History Month is American history. And American history is part of World history."
Each Friday during the month, current Spartans will share their thoughts on one influential African American leader, which will be posted on the SAAC social media pages.
SAAC was set to take part in the Talk of Discourse in the CLC Ballroom on Wednesday, Feb. 10, but the event was postponed to a date that will be announced later. The talk, which will focus on the Black family, is open to the campus community.
From Feb. 10 through 12, a station for the Homeless at Heart Valentine's Day Service Project will be set up in the Hodge Lobby. All are welcome to drop by and create Valentine's Day cards for The Haven Community Solutions, a nonprofit based in Spartanburg that provides shelter and supportive services to homeless families through programs that promote sustainable living stability. Donations for the organization can also be made at that time.
Dr. Nick Gaffney, director of USC Upstate's Center for African American Studies, will give a virtual talk to student-athletes on Monday, Feb. 15. The discussion will focus on African American culture and history. A link will be shared closer to the date.
USC Upstate will host a Black History Month festival at on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Spartan Rec Center. The festival will highlight African Americans in the community who are making history today, as well as educate about Black history and culture in the Upstate region of South Carolina. The event will feature Black-owned businesses, and political and community leaders.
On Monday, Feb. 22, CAAS will host a virtual discussion with Dr. Frank Wilderson III, chair and professor of African American Studies at the University of California Irvine. Wilderson will talk about his recent book "Afropessimism," an engaging work of creative non-fiction that offers a new and compelling interpretation of black racial identity through the lens of critical race theory, and the larger implications his ideas have on the field of African American Studies.
CAAS will also host a virtual event on Thursday, Feb. 25, with law professor and author Mehrsa Baradaran, who will discuss her book "The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap."
To cap off the month, SAAC will host a Drive-In Movie Night on Feb. 25. The 2006 film "ATL" will be shown. More details will be posted closer to the date.
"I have been so proud of our student-athletes, particularly Maya Timberlake, in organizing our celebration of Black History Month within athletics as well working with other student organizations to "I have been so proud of our student-athletes, particularly Maya Timberlake, in organizing our celebration of Black History Month within athletics as well as working with other student organization to collaborate across campus," SAAC co-advisor, Sarah Gildersleeve said. "In celebrating this month, we seek to honor Black History and thus honor the culture that so many of our student-athletes are connected to while also providing opportunities for unity through education to all of our student-athletes."
For more information on SAAC and its Black History month initiatives, contact Sarah Gildersleeve at sarahg2@uscupstate.edu, or follow Upstate SAAC on Twitter @UpstateSAAC.
