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From the Archives: Black Culture Week 1981

  • Renee Glass
  • Jul 26, 2024
  • 4 min read

In February 1981, Drury College (now Drury University) and Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) observed Black Culture Week with two sets of activities and events. The two series were coordinated by Drury's Black United Independent Collegians, or BUIC, and by SMSU's Black Culture Week committee with the goal of celebrating Black culture and building community among Springfieldians of all races. The photographs and newspapers excerpts below offer a glimpse into the festivities.



Black students hope to publicize goals


Portrait of Rory Calhoun, a young African American man wearing a suit, with short hair, mustache, and beard, and glasses.
Rory Calhoun was as senior at Drury College in 1981 and the president of Black United Independent Collegians (BUIC). From the Springfield News-Leader Collection, Springfield-Greene County Library.

Community relations — on and off campus — is the theme of Black Culture Week which starts next week at Drury College.


"The most important thing here is community relations. For the black person, the only way to find out what is going on is to go to church or go to the Solo Market where everything is posted. Or go to the community center. Nobody knows what is happening to anybody," said Rory Calhoun, senior, who is coordinating the special week with several other students.


[...]


"The purpose of the week is to open the community's eyes to the specialness of being black..." [Donald] Griffin said.




Sharing a laugh


The Reverends Rufus Walker, Vance Jenkins, and David Hutchinson, all older African-American men, laugh together.
From left, the Reverends Rufus Walker and Vance Jenkins laugh with David Hutchinson during a dinner in Drury College's Findlay Student Center. The event was part of Drury College's 1981 Black Culture Week. Photograph by Kevin Manning. From the Springfield News-Leader Collection, Springfield-Greene County Library.

The Rev. Rufus Walker of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church and the Rev. Vance Jenkins of the Mount Eagle Baptist Church share a laugh with David Hutchinson at a dinner in Drury College's Findlay Student Center in honor of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church. The Monday evening event was part of Black Culture Week.




Framed by a 'Coil'



Sculptor Richard Hunt, Chicago, is framed by a piece of copper sculpture he calls "Coil." Hunt's work has been on display at the Springfield Art Museum in connection with Black Culture Week at Drury College.




SMSU exhibit brings black art out of hiding


Artist Harold McPherson speaks with a reporter in front of a gallery of artwork by Black children.
Artist Harold McPherson stands in front of an exhibit of Black children's paintings at Southwest Missouri State University. Photograph by Jerry Henkel. Published February 23, 1981 in the Springfield Daily News.

By Pam Maples:

Springfield has an abundance of artwork by blacks that has gone unnoticed over the years, artist Harold McPherson said Sunday.


"This part of the country has a lot of traditional black art. Lots of that has been locked away in people's cabinets and closets," McPherson said at the opening of an art exhibit that is part of Black Culture Week at Southwest Missouri State University.


[...]


"There is a lot of information about Springfield that has been obscured," [McPherson] said. "Springfield has a lot of talent that has been obscured."




Cultural exchange


Dancers and musicians perform traditional music in Carrington Auditorium at SMS for Black Culture Week.
Musicians play traditional music as a dancer performs in Carrington Hall at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) as part of Black Culture Week. Photograph by Jerry Henkel. Published February 24, 1981 in the Springfield Leader & Press.

Music from Africa and the Caribbean filled Carrington Auditorium as students from around the world performed Tuesday as part of Southwest Missouri State University's Black Culture Week. This year's observance featured visual and the performing arts.




Gospel evolution


Singers from the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church performing on stage. Three men visible; one singing into microphone and another clapping.
Singers from the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church perform as part of Black Culture Week in 1981. Photograph by Bob Linder. Published February 25, 1981 in the Springfield Daily News.

Singers from the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 2201 N. Summit, performed Tuesday night in the Carrington Hall auditorium on the Southwest Missouri State University campus as part of Black Culture Week activities. Tuesday night's production depicted spiritual and gospel music as it evolved through slavery and rural America to contemporary churches.




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Note

This blog article was originally published July 26, 2024 by Renee Glass. It was republished with edits June 20, 2026 by Brandon Broughton.


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