The Black Studies Program Open House series (Oct 13-16)  is focusing on a topic that has recently dominated the news.

Given the relentless news coverage of the NFL domestic violence allegations, the series – “Discovering the Intersection of Race, Gender and Sports Life in American Culture” – is a timely topic.

Since 2010, the Black Studies Program has offered an annual open house to educate students, faculty and community members about the program, and this year they chose to expand the open house to provide an opportunity to educate and engage more people in the community.

Black Studies partnered with the UMKC Libraries and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to expand their outreach. Ultimately, the goal is to inform the audience about Black Studies as a discipline, which can provide a perspective on current events.

The events are free and open to the public.

The program details are below:

Monday, Oct. 13

Glenn North, spoken word artist

6 p.m. reception; 7-8 p.m. presentation

Black Studies Program building, 5305 Holmes St.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Carla Wilson, UMKC athletic director, and Kenneth D. Ferguson, associate professor, School of Law

“Dialogue between Experts” in the fields of athletics and sports law

6 p.m. reception; 7:30 p.m. presentation

UMKC School of Education, Room 115

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Dr. Ray Doswell, vice president, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

6 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. presentation

Black Studies Program building, 5305 Holmes St.

Thursday, Oct. 16

Dr. James L. Conyers, author and professor

“Race in American Sports Essays”

6 p.m. reception; 6:30 presentation

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 1616 E. 18^th St., Kansas City, Mo.