African American Studies Presents The Langston Hughes Project

VALDOSTA -- In the spirit of Black History Month, the African American Studies Program presents The Langston Hughes Project, to be held Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater.

The Langston Hughes Project is a multimedia concert performance of Hughes’ kaleidoscope jazz poem suite. The project includes on-screen visual imagery from the Harlem Renaissance, spoken word and scores from Dixieland, blues, boogie woogie, bee bop, cha cha, German Lieder and Jewish liturgy.

The presentation will be performed by Dr. Ron McCurdy and The Ron McCurdy Quartet. McCurdy is a professor of music and jazz studies and artistic director at Thornton School of Music University of Southern California.

The performance pays tribute to the late Langston Hughes, a poet, social activist, novelist and playwright who is recognized as a pioneer of jazz poetry. He is well known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance, a literary, cultural and artistic movement dominated by African Americans during the 1920s and 1930s.

The Langston Hughes Project is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Social Equity, Department of English, Department of Music and Division of Student Affairs.

For more information about the event, contact Dr. Shirley Hardin, director of African American Studies, at (229) 249-4843.