Black Heritage Banquet
The Baylor University Association of Black Students, in conjunction with the Department of Multicultural Affairs, hosts an annual Black Heritage Banquet in honor of Black History Month. This year's banquet focuses on Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)
7:00pm, Tuesday, February 12, 2012
5th Floor, Cashion
Keynote Speaker: Jasmine Guy
Actress of Stage & Screen
Performer, director, writer, and choreographer Jasmine Guy became a national sensation playing iconic southern belle "Whitley Gilbert" on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World, for which she won six consecutive NAACP Awards. Her other television roles include the mini-series Queen with Halle Berry, The Vampire Diaries, Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints, The Boy Who Painted Christ Black with Wesley Snipes, NYPD Blue, Melrose Place, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Parkers, Touched by an Angel, and Showtime's hit series Dead Like Me with Mandy Patinkin. On the big screen, Guy's first film role was in Spike Lee's School Daze. She co-starred with Eddie Murphy in Harlem Nights and also starred in several independent films including Klash, Guinevere, Diamond Men, and The Heart Specialist with Zoe Saldana.
In 2004, Guy wrote the critically acclaimed book Evolution of a Revolutionary (Atria Books), which is the story of Afeni Shakur, Black Panther and mother of slain rap artist Tupac Shakur. The book chronicles the rise and fall of Shakur's life in an uplifting tale of resilience. In the words of Afeni Shakur, "We want to tell people like me that are going through the hardest and most frightening things in their lives that they can get to the other side."
There are no medium limitations for Guy's abilities. She has performed on stage, screen, and television. She directs, writes, and has toured with her debut self-titled album, which produced three top-ten hits and music videos in the early 1990s.
It is the culmination of these experiences that Jasmine Guy loves to share with audiences all over America, at universities, conferences, and workshops, as well as corporate and other special events. In her own words, "I have been fortunate to perform in many ‘different worlds,' excuse the pun. My life is an adventure. Working with greatness is my biggest high. The creative mind intrigues me, teaches me, and inspires me to be more than I ever thought I could be on my own. I celebrate my diversity as someone who speaks several languages. Having a voice in dance, acting, music, and directing just gives me an entrée to travel more freely to miraculous places."
Guy was born in Boston and raised in Atlanta. She honed her first discipline, dance, at the Northside High School of the Performing Arts and the Atlanta Ballet before launching onto New York and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. A natural singer and actress, Guy performed on Broadway in many musicals, including "Leader of the Pack," "The Wiz," "Grease," and "Chicago" (as "Velma Kelly").
Guy directed the timeless African American classic "for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf" for Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company. She also directed and choreographed the musical opera "I Dream," a moving story of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., starring Quentin Darrington, at the Alliance Theatre. Her additional stage directorial credits include the world premiere of "Brownie Points," written by Janece Shaffer, at Theatrical Outfit; Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" at Spelman College; and "The Colored Museum" for True Colors Theater Company.
Guy most recently starred onstage in the True Colors productions of "Miss Evers' Boys," "Blues for an Alabama Sky," and "Broke-ology." She was featured in Pearl Cleage's "The Nacimera Society," directed by Susan Booth for The Alliance Theatre.
Tickets can be purchased through February 7th at 5:00PM for $10.00 for students and $20.00 for general admission. Tables can also be purchased for $90 for Baylor groups and $180 for groups from the community.