T
he Winona State University’s Women of Color Association will host “Juke Joint: A Night of Soul” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in East Hall of Kryzsko Commons.
Juke Joint will give WSU students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to indulge in African American history. There will be a soul food dinner, student musical performances, and a performance featuring the Queen of Blues, Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes.
Bettie Mae Fikes, also known as the voice of Selma, is a celebrated icon from the 1960’s civil rights movement. She has sustained her public activity by frequently performing and fronting her own blues group, B.M.F. She has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, the New Port Jazz Festival and the Library of Congress.
“Juke Joint” is an informal term that is used for these establishments operated by African Americans during the Jim Crow era. It features music, dancing, socializing, and food. Still relevant today, many restaurants that have live music performances were influenced by the atmosphere of Juke Joints.
Tickets will be sold in the lower hyphen of Kryzsko Commons everyday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are $15 and will be sold through April 19. This event is open to the public.
For more information, contact Ashlyn Crawford at ACrawford13@winona.edu.
