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Black Lives Matter! concert planned May 4

April 28, 2016

black-lives-matterA diverse group of more than 30 students, faculty, staff and community members will come together in solidarity to present the Black Lives Matters Tribute Concert, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in Altgeld Hall.

Led by students, the concert will celebrate black movements and culture while spreading messages of equality, diversity and inclusion and social justice through the performing arts.

Performers will pay homage to the performing artists, civic leaders, activists and political movements that have shaped the history of African people in America today. Issues addressed will include racial inequality, the economic wealth gap, gentrification, the cradle-to-prison pipeline, women’s rights, LGBT rights and workers’ rights.

The structure of the concert will be broken up into historical time-frames: The Middle Passage, The Harlem Renaissance, The Civil Rights Era, The Black Power Movement and The Rodney King (Modern) Era. Concert organizers chose songs, dances, and skits that directly underscore these movements, giving historical context of the time, people involved and impact on society.

The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, call (815) 753-1709 or email CenterBlackStudies@niu.edu.