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(Feb. 4, 2012) The Black History Committee at North Georgia College & State University has a series of free events planned throughout February to mark Black History Month.

Michael Carty, a junior and a member of the Corps of Cadets, is the student chairman of the 2012 Black History Committee, which this year is calling the series "Shades of Grey: A Month of Perspective." With a focus on open discussion, Carty said the committee wants students and others to find more than just fun at this year's events.

On Feb. 2, some 50 students took part in a "cake walk" as part of Black History Month. Additional events are planned throughout the month.

"We host the events to provide fun and intellectually stimulating ways for people to focus a bit on black history in a different way than it is normally portrayed," Carty said. "We like to focus on the power of unity to overcome civil inequities, rather than on the damage done in less pleasant times in our history."

There are eight students on the committee, which meets in the Stewart Center conference room every Tuesday during the meeting hour. Carty encourages anyone who wants to get involved to attend one of the group's meetings.

"We have a very diverse group of committee members, including different ethnicities, males and females, civilians and cadets, residents and commuters, freshman and seniors," he said. "We welcome all different perspectives and value everyone's opinions."

This month's events feature a showing of the movie "Blood Done Sign My Name," a 2010 release staring Ricky Schroder. Based on the book by the same name written by Timothy Tyson, the movie details the 1970 slaying of Henry Marrow and the civil rights movement in North Carolina.

The movie starts and 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in Student Center South and will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Gena Trust, multicultural services coordinator at North Georgia and advisor to the Black History Committee. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided during the movie.

Two other discussions are planned, including a Feb. 9 discussion about race relations on and off campus and a Feb. 16 panel discussion featuring faculty, staff and students who have traveled abroad sharing their experiences. Other events feature a political debate and open mic night.

Two events already have been held this month -- a "freeze mob" at the dining hall on Feb. 1, and a cake walk on Feb. 2 at which 51 cakes were given away as participating students heard about events and people key to the civil rights movement.

Events remaining this month are:

• Feb. 9: Fireside Chat: Things People Say About Race. 5-6:30 p.m., Student Center South.  A panel comprised of students who attended a diversity conference at Clayton State last semester, speaking out about their thoughts and experiences with race relations both on and off campus.
• Feb. 16: Minorities Abroad Discussion Panel. 1-2 p.m., Young Hall room 202. A panel of minority students, staff, and faculty who have traveled abroad use their stories of humor and woe in regard to being a minority abroad, to encourage others to take a walk on the international side.
• Feb. 16: Movie Screening & Discussion Forum. "Blood Done Sign My Name" 7-10:30 p.m., Student Center South.  Attendees will watch the movie and participate in a discussion focused on the power of ethnic unity to surpass social conflict.
• Feb. 21: A Political Debate: Is it Really that Black and White? 1-2 p.m., Library Technology Center, Special Collections Room 382. Students will debate questions from the democratic and republican perspective. The audience will be asked to contemplate whether or not the issues are really that black and white, or are there indeed shades of grey?
• Feb. 23: Open Mic Night. 8-10 p.m., Student Center South. The Black History Committee will shut down the month by celebrating creativity and inspiration. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to come share their talents, including spoken word, dancing, comedy or music, or support those who participate.