Kent State University’s Department of Pan-African Studies will host a series of events to celebrate Pan-African Studies from April 21-24. Kent State faculty, staff, students, future students and the public are invited to participate in the upcoming events at Ritchie Hall, located at 225 Terrace Dr., on the Kent Campus. All events are free and open to the public.

“This series of events offers a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in Pan-African Studies to come and see what the department has to offer, ask questions, and meet our faculty and staff,” says Cinnamon Small, outreach coordinator for the Department of Pan-African Studies. “Additionally, it is a great way to explore our new major concentrations, and students can make preparations for the upcoming fall semester or prepare for summer courses.”

Events in this series include:

Tuesday, April 21, 7-9 p.m., Room 230, Ritchie Hall
Violence and the Pan-African World: Inspiring Change: A panel discussion on physiological and psychological impact of racial violence on African-Americans and Native Americans

Wednesday, April 22, Noon-2 p.m., Room 250, Ritchie Hall
Department of Pan-African Studies open house, in collaboration with the Center of Pan-African Culture student advisory council, and networking with black business and Pan-African Studies alumni

Noon-4 p.m., First Floor, Ritchie Hall Foyer
Department of Pan-African Studies Resource Table

Thursday, April 23, noon-4 p.m., First Floor, Ritchie Hall Foyer
Department of Pan-African Studies Resource Table

Ritchie Hall Media Awareness Events:

Thursday, April 23, 6 p.m., Room 214
The Furious Force of Rhymes is a fascinating film by Joshua Litle, which looks at hip-hop as transnational protest music. Over the course of the 84-minute voyage, the viewer encounters characters as diverse as Israeli Jews, marginalized French Arabs, East German skinhead punks and West African feminists, all of whom share a common musical language. Originating from the ghettos of New York, rap has found adherents in every country in the world. Recognizing themselves in the oppression of U.S. blacks, people everywhere have adapted the American street music to their own causes. From the Bronx to Africa, this is their story.

Q&A/Talkback will include a panel of Kent State faculty and students, 8 p.m., Room 214, Ritchie Hall

Friday, April 24, 6 p.m., Room 214
Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women -- this powerful, most recent edition of Jean Kilbourne’s influential and award-winning Killing Us Softly series uncovers a consistent pattern of sexism and misogyny across a range of print and television advertisements.

Q&A/Talkback will include a panel of Kent State faculty and students, 8 p.m., Room 214, Ritchie Hall

For more information about these events, contact Kabir Syed or Cinnamon Small at 330-672-2300 or email dpas@kent.edu.

For more information about Kent State’s Department of Pan-African Studies, visit www.kent.edu/pas.