WFIU to air special Black History Month features

WFIU, Bloomington's public radio station, will celebrate Black History Month with a schedule of special programming. The station, which can be found on 103.7 FM or on the Internet, has chosen eight black history-themed programs to air throughout the month of February. \nChristina Kuzmych, WFIU's station manager, said several criteria were employed to select the eight programs. \n"We tried to create a mix between music and talk programs," Kuzmych said. "We selected what we felt were the best programs that the public radio system had to offer this year."\nThe station also received input for choosing the programs from IU faculty and staff, as well as its community advisory board.\nThe programs range in topic and form, yet each will be aired with the intent of honoring a month that traces back to the 1920s. In 1926 ,Carter G. Woodson, a black historian, initiated the idea as a week-long event to recognize the contributions of black Americans. Woodson chose the month of February because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, who he believed dramatically improved the lives of black Americans. \nBy 1976, the week was extended to a month, and today Americans celebrate Black History Month throughout February.\n"We hope to draw attention to the incredibly wide array of talent exhibited by African Americans and to remind all listeners how deeply imbedded African American culture is in our society," Kuzmych said. \nWFIU's celebration kicks off at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 with a program called "Classically Black: The Creole Romantics." It features three black composers who lived in New Orleans following the Civil War and soon after had to relocate abroad in order to escape discrimination. \nKuzmych said while they are all great programs, she is especially anticipating "Jump for Joy: Duke Ellington's Celebratory Musical." Set to air at 9 p.m. Feb. 22, this program will feature music from a ground-breaking 1941 musical by Ellington that challenged many anti-black stereotypes. Produced by WFIU's David Brent Johnson, the program will also include Ellington discussing the musical and the impact it had on America.\nThroughout the month, WFIU will play the music of black composer, author and musician William Banfield, an IU faculty member who has been selected as the station's Artist of the Month, according to a WFIU press release. \nJudging from comments the station received from listeners, Kuzmych said she expects the Bloomington community to respond positively to all of the programs and added that she believes there will be a heightened interest this year.\n"Many listeners will go out of their way to tune in to specific programs that are of particular interest to them," Kuzmych said. "As always, some people will be moved, particularly by the programs that present stories from the lives of African Americans."\nSenior and historian of IU's Black Student Union Kindale Graves said she hopes that, through WFIU's celebration, people who think of February as just another month will begin to understand what it means. Graves added that the programs are very helpful but there is always more the Bloomington community can do.\n"This is a great way to bring the community and the students together," Graves said. "Hopefully their eyes will be opened even more so with the programs."\nKuzmych said celebrating Black History Month is a tradition at WFIU, as well as a way to take advantage of Black History Month to increase the radio exposure for programs featuring black artists. She said she and WFIU's staff believes it is extremely important to recognize Black History Month year after year. \n"We all become so used to experiencing African Americanism within our daily lives," Kuzmych said, "that we often forget just how rich and unusual this culture is and how much it contributes to our image as Americans."\n-- Contact staff writer Jenn Gossman at jgossman@indiana.edu.