Black Knowledge Bowl promotes cultural history

The annual Black Knowledge Bowl is “never boring and always exciting,” said this year’s co-moderator Ghangis Carter.\nThe Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center collaborates with student organizations, university offices and local businesses in hosting the academic competition, which will take place today. Teams comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students will compete for cash prizes and trophies. This year, something new has been added to the competition: audience parcipitation. Those who attend the event will have the chance to win prizes, as well. \nMegan Mitchell, a graduate assistant who is helping coordinate the event, said the knowledge bowl has been going on for more than 20 years. Mitchell described the event as an “IU tradition within the Bloomington community, in addition to the African-American community.” Mitchell said more than 200 people attended last year’s event, and she expects an even larger number to attend this year.\n“The questions cover a number of topical issues, but they all have the consistent theme of black history facts,” Carter said. Art, film, music, inventors and sports were some of the topics mentioned by Carter and Mitchell.\nThe team who responds the quickest with a correct answer to the questions is awarded points. At the end of each round, one team will be eliminated. The winning team this year will win a cash prize of $300, second place will receive $200 and third place will receive $100. \nThe winning team of last year’s bowl was Delta Sigma Theta, and it will be competing again this year. \n“We are very confident that we will win again, but we never know,” said LaToya Bell, president of Delta Sigma Theta. “Every team is studying just as hard as us and also believes they will win. It depends on how the questions fall.”\nBell said preparing for the event is important to her and her sorority sisters.\n“We use this as a time to bond and exchange opinions and feelings about our culture,” Bell said.\nFor Carter, the goal of the event is to share and learn facts about black history. \n“The facts are also a part of American history,” he said, and those who attend should not forget that.\nCarter feels events such as this one help to promote cultural awareness, and he hopes the event will inspire students to take classes which speak to the black experience and promote cultural and ethnic awareness.\nThe event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. today in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall. A catered reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public.