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Soul Food Thursdays

In celebration of Black History Month, Trinity is hosting four hybrid events to engage students and the campus community. Black History Month is a special time for African Americans and all who celebrate the achievements and survival of Black people. This is a moment to reflect on how they have endured and persevered against racism and other forms of oppression. “Soul Food Thursdays” will take place on February 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 1:30 -2:45 pm. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, “Father of Black History,” chose the 2023 Black History theme “Black Resistance.” “We hope ‘Soul Food Thursday’ will be an opportunity to celebrate the history, scholarship, and spirituals gifts African Americans offer to our community,” said Reverend Stephen Thorne, coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry, Culture, and Scholarship at Trinity. “We want to uplift this through presentations and discussions, concluding with “The Excellence of Trinity: A Student Showcase: Student Presentations and Celebration.”

The Soul Food Thursday programs include:

“How I Got Over: Black Spirituality and Black Resistance,” Reverend Stephen Thorne, Coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry, Culture, and Scholarship, Thursday, February 2, 2023, 1:30 pm, Payden Academic Center. A native of Philadelphia, PA, Fr. Stephen Thorne joined the Trinity community in fall 2022, bringing to campus national experience of service in the African American community. He holds degrees in philosophy, theology, and is completing a doctorate in educational leadership at Bowie State University. He serves as an instructor for a new course, “African American Spirituality,” and is a member of the Campus Ministry Team with Sr. Ann Howard.

“When and Where I Enter Black Women and Resistance,” Dr. Kimberly Monroe, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs. Thursday, February 9, 2023, 1:30 pm, Payden Academic Center. Dr. Monroe’s publications include: “Womanifesto: Historicizing the Literary Activism of Claudia Jones and Assata Shakur’” Slavery to Liberation: The African American Experience, 2nd Edition; “Gigi Lamayne Album Review,” Words Beats & Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture, Special Issue on South Africa, 2022; and “Writing Toward a Black Liberation: Claudia Jones’ Black Nationalist/Internationalist Activism,” Journal of Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey.

“A Credit to My Race: Black Celebrity and Resistance,” Dr. Joshua Wright, Associate Professor of Global Affairs. Thursday, February 16, 2023, 1:30 pm, Payden Academic Center. Dr. Wright’s publications include: The acclaimed new book: “’Wake Up, Mr. West’: Kanye West and the Double Consciousness of Black Celebrity”; “The King and Prince of Abyssinian: Reflections on Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. and Jr.,” Abernathy Magazine; “Be like Mike?: The Black Athlete’s Dilemma,” Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men; “Black Outlaws and the Struggle for Empowerment in Blaxploitation Cinema,” Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men; and “Endnotes to Jay-Z’s 4:44: Mental Health Awareness in Hip-Hop,” Abernathy Magazine. Dr. Wright is also the host of “Woke History,” a podcast series streaming on the National Public Radio app, NPR One, that is also available at WESM-FM.

The Excellence of Trinity: A Student Showcase: Student Presentations and Celebration, Thursday, February 23, 2023, 1:30 pm, Payden Academic Center.

Questions? Contact Fr. Stephen Thorne, thornest@trinitydc.edu, Coordinator of Black Catholic Ministry, Culture, and Scholarship

Media Contact: Ann Pauley, Trinity Media Relations, pauleya@trinitydc.edu 202-884-9725.