Noted activist Maggie Anderson will provide the keynote lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 8, as part of the Black History Month celebration at the University of Mary Washington.
Anderson and her family made history and dominated headlines as national media covered their year-long stand in honor of black professionals, entrepreneurs, businesses and neighborhoods. The Anderson family lived almost exclusively off black business and talent, and bought only black-made products for an entire year. This real-life case study in self-help economics was called the Empowerment Experiment (EE). Their experiment resulted in a landmark study that proved how incremental support of black businesses can improve the American economy.
Maggie, a first-generation Cuban-American, has a bachelor’s in political science from Emory University and an MBA and JD from the University of Chicago, where President Barack Obama was her law professor and mentor. Before the experiment, she was an aide to Rep. John Lewis, a political speechwriter, a corporate and legal strategy executive at McDonald’s Corp. and a strategy consultant. She uses her platform to increase awareness about economic inequalities that starve black neighborhoods and deny black businesses, and how the proactive support of black businesses can create jobs and curb crime in America.
The James Farmer Multicultural Center is hosting additional events throughout Black History Month.
On Feb. 1, Wanda Simpkins will host a lecture titled “Mammy, Sapphire, and Jezebel: Black Female Archetypes in Film & TV,” including a discussion about the roles of black women in cinematic history and how portrayals of these archetypes affect perceptions and stereotypes about this community. This event will be held in Lee Hall, Room 412, Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m.
“Colors of Africa” will take place on Friday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. in Chandler Ballroom, University Center. The event, sponsored by the African Student Union, Brothers of a New Direction, Students Educating and Empowering Diversity and Women of Color, will raise awareness and highlight Caribbean, African and traditionally African American culture through music, dance, and food.
For more information and a complete listing of events, please visit http://students.umw.edu/multicultural/programs/black-history-month-celebration/ or contact the James Farmer Multicultural Center at 540-654-1044.