“Shades of Love” will celebrate black culture, community and love Feb. 14 in Atwood Memorial Center.
The event hosted by the Council of African American Studies includes a dinner at 5 p.m. and a show at 6 p.m. in the Atwood Ballroom.
“There are many stereotypes about blacks, and we want to educate people on our culture and also learn about theirs,” said Jandeltha Paylue, Council of African American Students president. “… We will be celebrating black culture, but the event is not only for African Americans. We want to educate others about our culture and celebrate their individual love for their culture as well. It’s about promoting diversity and understanding.”
The menu features:
- Fried chicken
- Collard greens
- Macaroni and cheese
- Caesar salad
- Red velvet cake
- Chocolate covered strawberries
“We love having other cultures come and learn about us, and we enjoy learning about other cultures as well,” Paylue said. “We are a cultural organization whose goal is to educate our members on being successful on and off campus and to give them resources while in school to succeed. Our goal is to also educate the St. Cloud community about the presence of African Americans and break the stereotypes.”
The group is planning “Shades of Love” as a fun event with great food and entertainment, she said.
Tickets are $10 for students and faculty or $12 for non-students.
The event is one of several cultural events put on by student organizations throughout the school year. Cultural festivals are one way the university is providing a transformative educational experience for students to help prepare them to be global citizens at home, at work and in their communities. More than 1,000 students from 90-plus nations attend St. Cloud State, and cultural festivals give them an opportunity to share elements of their culture with the campus community.
