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Alumni Centers in Moldova Celebrate Black History Month

To honor Black History Month, US Embassy Alumni Resource Centers (ARCs) in Chisinau and Balti, Moldova, recently organized several events dedicated to the influence of African-Americans on US society.

On February 22, the Chisinau ARC, administered by IREX, and the American Studies Center carried out a seminar highlighting the social and cultural impact of African-Americans on the past, present, and future of US society. After opening remarks, Fulbright scholar Natalia Alhazova spoke on “Images in Black Poetry.” Some of the other topics addressed during the event included the following:

• Affirmative action in the United States
• The role of African-Americans in World War II
• The Civil Rights movement
• The historical evolution of the African-Americans’ rights to equal education opportunities
• The history of jazz

Presentations were supported with several video clips, jazz music, and photographs from the 1920s.

During the week of February 24-28, the ARC also hosted the “Louis Armstrong - King of Jazz” poster show, which was provided by the US Embassy in Moldova. Twenty posters gave insight into Louis Armstrong’s achievements in the development of jazz music. The African American History Month 2003 concluded on February 28 with the movie Amistad, shown at the ARC.

In Balti, a corresponding seminar was held, entitled “The Role of African-Americans in the Development of American Culture and Society.” Speakers included a Peace Corps volunteer, a representative of the Fulbright American Studies Institutes, and a Fulbright alumna, among others. Special attention was paid to inventions and literary achievements of African Americans. FSA FLEX alumna Stela Popa reviewed Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, which helped the participants gain a deeper appreciation for African American history.

Attendees remarked that it is essential to distribute the information received to educational institutions and libraries in order to help others gain awareness of the rich heritage of African Americans.

IREX administers Alumni Resource Centers in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova.

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