Asian Cultural Month to Present Speakers, Music, Dance and Food

“Celebrating Culture and Promoting Diversity Education” is the theme of this year’s Asian Heritage Month at Illinois State University. Chinese novelist Da Chen will present the keynote address at the Asian Cultural Dinner at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Shawnee Conference Room in Linkins Center on the west side of campus.

Da’s topic will be “China’s Son: Growing Up in A Cultural Revolution.”  The ticket prices for the Chinese dinner and program is $10.95 for the general public and $4.93 for students with a meal plan.

After a childhood of poverty and political victimization (as the grandson of a “disgraced” landowner in the eyes of the Cultural Revolution), Da met a woman who taught him English.  At age 14 he was admitted to the Beijing Languages and Cultural University, from which he graduated and later taught.  He came to the United States at 23 with hardly more than the clothes on his back, but attended and graduated from Columbia University School of Law on a full scholarship. 

Da’s 1999 memoir, “Colors of the Mountain,” was compared to Frank McCourt’s “Angela’s Ashes,” and landed on the New York Times bestseller list, as well as receiving several honors.   The children’s adaptation of the book, called “China’s Son,” also received many honors.  Da continued his memoirs with “Sounds of the River,” and wrote “Wandering Warrior” for young readers as well as an adult fiction, “Brothers.”

The month’s activities begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, with an Asian Tea Ceremony in the Eleanor Kong Room in Walker Hall.  There will be information about the cultural significance of tea and a demonstration on the proper way of making a cup, as well as samples.  Admission is free.

Thursday, April 3, Chicago’s Natya Dance Theatre will perform at 7 p.m. in Braden Auditorium.  There will be a live performance of Bharatanatyam, a South Indian dance form with live traditional Indian music.  Natya promotes the values of Indian culture, preserves an ancient art form and forges links among Indian, U.S. and other cultures.

Natya Dance theatre also will offer a 3 p.m. master music class Thursday in Kemp Recital Hall and a 4 p.m. master dance class in Braden Auditorium.   Because space is limited for the classes, a space can be reserved by contacting Barry Tolchin at bstolch@ilstu.edu

Cultural anthropologist Junaid Rana of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will speak on “Islamophobia and Racism” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Old Main Room of Bone Student Center.          

The Association of Latin American Students will hold their annual formal dance at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the large Prairie Room in Bone Student Center.   Admission is free, but reservations are requested by contacting Amanda Quirarte at aquirar@ilstu.edu   The event will feature live performances, student recognition and food.

The Commitment to Diversity Recognition Ceremony will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in the Old Main Room.  Formerly known as the Minority Recognition Ceremony, the event recognizes current Illinois State University students, Registered Student Organizations, faculty and staff who have demonstrated outstanding curricular and co-curricular programming, service and research that embodies the University’s commitment to diversity.  Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

Asian Pacific-American Coalition Korean Night at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Eleanor Kong Room in Walker Hall will feature a night of authentic Korean food, culture, history, pop culture and more.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, the Asian Pacific-American Coalition Cultural Dinner, “Cherry Blossoms,” will take place in the Old Main Room.  The event will include dinner and entertainment.