As February draws to a close, so does the Waynesburg University Black History Month lecture series. This series was hosted in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center, and it focused on Black history and the Black experience.

The final lecture in the series will be given by Pastor Alan Hannah from the Allegheny Center Alliance Church on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m at the GPAC.

Each Tuesday in February, a new speaker was brought in to lecture. The event flier showed that these speakers were Jason Davis, the principal teacher and headmaster of the Ohana Self Defense Institute, Judge Elliot Howsie, judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Marritta Gillerease, a professional athlete and author and Hannah.

The speaker series was coordinated by the Center for Service Leadership and Cultural Diversity, Black Student Union and Student Activities Board, according to Assistant Dean of Student Development Adrienne Tharp.  

Tharp, who oversees the Office for Service Leadership and Cultural Diversity said, “Our office is responsible with coordinating with other groups on campus and student organizations on campus. The Black Student Union has partnered with the office to put together the lecture series for Black History Month, working as well with Dr. Cornelius Coleman.”

“I love when we have external speakers come to campus,” Tharp said. She also said that she hoped students walk away with new knowledge, understanding and information regarding what the speakers have to say.

For the various lectures, Tharp said, “We have different professionals that are representative of different communities that just get to share their experiences.” In addition, she shared that the speaker for “the first week is actually a former classmate of mine and a childhood friend.”

Jason Davis gave the first lecture on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. Davis shared that he holds the title of Hanshi, meaning teacher of teachers, and is the founder of the Davis Kenpo Arnis Ju Jutsu system. In addition, shared that he holds black belts in Ju Jutsu, Kenpo and Arnis and is the co-inheritor of the Debisu Ryu Ju Jutsu system. 

Davis lectured on the history of African American practitioners of the martial arts. In his lecture, he tied the practitioners to the history of martial arts and the history of America. Davis said that many of the original African American martial arts practitioners came from a military background, already having learned the discipline needed to practice martial arts.

Davis said, one of the significant practitioners of the martial arts was Grandmaster Moses Powell, a 10^th degree black belt and practitioner of Vee Jitsu Ryu, Vee Jitsu Te and Sanuces Ryu Jujutsu. According to Davis, Powell served as the bodyguard to civil rights leader Malcolm X and was a member of the Nation of Islam. In addition, Davis explained that Powell was tasked with incorporating martial arts training into the training programs for FBI operatives and members of other government agencies.

After the lecture, Davis said that he believed martial arts have had a “profound” effect on the Black community. He said the Black Panther Party and the Deacons of Defense both used martial arts to defend Black communities and set principles for their organizations to abide by. In addition, he also explained there were many Black youths who may not have achieved the rank of black belt but went on to use the principles of martial arts to better their lives.

Regarding the effect he hoped the martial arts would have on future generations, Davis said, “When I think about it, I don’t think about it in terms of Black or white. I think about it in terms of helping our youth.” He said that, “Part of our mission statement says that we’re trying to shape tomorrow’s leaders through the study of the martial sciences. We’re trying to build character with them. We’re trying to help them establish self-esteem but we’re also trying to establish an ability to take an unprejudiced look inside themselves and see their shortcomings.”

Davis shared his desire to preserve the history of African American martial artists for future generations to both learn and grow from. He said that this was one of his main career goals, in addition to teaching and practicing the martial arts.

The second speaker was Judge Elliot Howsie, who spoke on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. Howsie shared that he serves as a judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, in addition to serving on the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board as well as the Macedonia FACE Board.

Howsie told the story of his career. He explained that he came from a poor neighborhood in Wilkinsburg and grew up unaware of the opportunities available to him in his education.

In college, he said he was indecisive when in school about what educational path he should take. He said that his roommate convinced him to sign up for graduate school on a whim and he was accepted.

Howsie spoke about the beginning of his career. He explained that as an attorney, “the hardest job you can get is your first.” He said that he was the first African American chief public defender of Allegheny County. He said that when he arrived, the public defense office was one of the most corrupt in the state, but he was able to transform it into a model department over time.

Howsie addressed the issues facing poor Black communities. He said that the most important thing children can do to get out of those situations is to get educated. He stressed the importance of education, explaining that it is necessary to improve poor communities like the one he came from.

Ross Owens, the president of the Black Student Union, said that Howsie was a friend of his mother, and a personal acquaintance along with Hannah, who serves as the pastor of his church.

Owens said that for the first part of the semester, his efforts as the BSU president went towards preparing the Black History Month Lecture Series. Through the planning process, he said he reached out to over 10 people to potentially lecture, but he only received responses from his two acquaintances.

For the lecturers, Owens said, “You can only do so much research. These people are in the trenches.”  Regarding education on Black history, he also said, “I think it’s important to learn, not just from a computer, not just from books but from people actively in the field.”

Regarding Hannah’s lecture, Owens said, “I think it’ll throw people off, the fact that we’re bringing in a Hispanic American for Black History Month, but I think that’s a way to avoid tokenism.”

Ross explained the importance of including other diverse voices in the conversation of Black History Month, emphasizing how they can have important stories to tell as well. He said the reason he brought Hannah in is because, while not Black, he serves an “incredibly diverse congregation” at his church.

In addition, Gillerease spoke on Feb. 20.

For the last lecture, Hannah will be presenting on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m at the GPAC.