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The College of St. Scholastica concluded its Black History Month celebration with an urban music and art festival planned by the Kaleidoscope Multicultural Club. Performances included U4A dancing groups, songs from the CSS chamber choir, a comedian act by Tony K., music by the Saints steel drum band, and a presentation given by Jill Dupont, associate professor of history.

We started planning for this event about five months ago, said KeOntay Berg, vice president of the multicultural club.  We pick what events to do based on how much student and community involvement we feel we will get.  And with an event like this, we knew it would spark a lot of people's interests.

Dupont, whose teaching and research interests are rooted in African American history and culture, kicked off the night with an inspirational speech on just how R-E-S-P-E-C-T can change from when a man is singing, to a woman singing it. 

I don't know completely why people like Aretha's version better, Dupont said. Having a woman sing that at the time, when the Women's Rights movement was really taking off, might be part of it.

 For Dupont, the words -- sung by a woman -- seem much more powerful than when they were sung by Otis Redding. "Her voice is particularly strong and beautiful," Dupont said. "My overall point, though, was just to illustrate how the same words, the same song, when reinterpreted, could create a completely different interpretation and feeling.  It fit into the overall importance of improvising and re-creating, which is valued in African American culture, historically."

With song, dance, food, friends, and inspirational words, a successful urban music and art event brought the CSS community together to celebrate Black History Month.  Dupont will be giving another inspirational on African American culture and history speech April 8, in Mitchell auditorium.

"My speech in April will examine Barack Obama's autobiography, Dreams from My Father," Dupont stated.  "Most likely, I will explore how, in the quest to understand his father (whom he met only once) and the role of his father in shaping Obama's identity -- the various women he encounters in that quest also play a pivotal role in shaping who he is; while his African father plays a role in shaping his bi-racial or even 'black' identity, it is the women he meets, along with the stories they tell, who firmly 'place' him within an African American community.  I'm still working this out, so it may not make a lot of sense right now."
 
The Kaleidoscope Multicultural Club will also be hosting a dance event this April to celebrate Asian Heritage month.