The Legion of Black Collegians will attempt to redefine love during its annual Black Love Week from April 15 to 21.
LBC’s Activities chairwoman Simone McGautha, the organization’s executive board and members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc. have been organizing this week’s events since December. This year’s Black Love Week will feature daily discussions on love, relationships and sex, and how those factors affect students’ lives.
“The importance of this week is just to get everybody together,” McGautha said. “Throughout the school year we tend to be involved in other organizations, but it comes a time when we just need to relax and be together.”
Black Love Week began with the Soul Food Dinner at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. By the time the event started at 1:30 p.m., nearly every seat in the room had been taken. More than 40 students brought their friends and family to enjoy food catered by Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, which provided a meal of corn, green beans, biscuits and fried chicken.
“I eat soul food whenever my family comes together,” McGautha said. “It’s really food from Thanksgiving (that you enjoy) with family.”
Sunday’s scheduled speaker Christine Sturns did not attend, but that did not affect the event’s turnout.
“I know that a lot of people were excited about this,” freshman Khadijah McGill said. “Usually I go to a lot of special forums and events like these, I like to get involved.”
Monday’s event took place at the Columns Ballroom in the Reynolds Alumni Center, and its theme was “redefining international love.” The event, which began at 6 p.m., showcased black history and included a discussion on art appreciation.
It also featured a screening of the short film “Kony 2012: Part II — Beyond Famous,” the follow-up to the social media phenomenon “Kony 2012.” MU’s chapter of Invisible Children co-sponsored the event, and led a discussion about Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army.
“Invisible Children (wants) to talk about their efforts on campus,” LBC communications chairwoman Jessica LeMay said. “(We want) to get Joseph Kony’s name out there.”
Tuesday’s event will focus on relationships and contemporary misconceptions between love and sex. The discussion will take place at 7 p.m. in Bengal Lair, where national stage playwright Devin T. Robinson will speak about the complexities of interpersonal relationships.
“As college students, I think sexuality is really a part of our lives,” LeMay said. “It’s important to know about healthy sexual relationships and to not always equate love with sex.”
There will be two separate discussions Wednesday, with one focusing on women and the other on men. Both events will occur at 7 p.m. The debate on the empowerment of women will take place in the Women’s Center. Men can gather in Room 203 in Memorial Union South to share their perspectives, where Clyde Ruffin will present a lecture from the male point of view.
Thursday will feature a discussion on how love has changed over time. It will take place at 7 p.m. in Chamber Auditorium, where some of MU’s African-American couples will lead a debate on society’s view on love, relationships and marriage.
In a collaborative effort with iGUIDE, members of LBC will go to Hickman High School at 2:45 p.m. Friday to do community service. Black Love Week ends on Saturday with a picnic at Cosmo-Bethel Park. The picnic, which will offer free food, will begin at 11 a.m.
