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JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 15, 2021 — DiAnne Malone, associate dean for student and faculty services and associate professor at the Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies, will speak on “The Gospel and Discomfort” at 51����’s Black Heritage Month Celebration Feb. 18.

“Being uncomfortable is not a bad thing,” Malone said. “Rather, it is an indication that change is, or at least should be, on the horizon.”

Veronica Perry, Union’s director for university and mailing services and one of the event’s organizers, said she hopes the event will help the university community accomplish some of the goals the community has been discussing about racial reconciliation.

“We’ve been doing such a great job at facilitating discussion about what makes us uncomfortable discussing race and particularly how that relates to religion and Christianity,” Perry said. “I hope the evening reflections our intentions and our goals as a university and how we hope to move forward to bridge some of those gaps.”

Frank Anderson, director of Union’s Center for Racial Reconciliation, said the “discomfort” factor has certainly intensified, especially given national racial tensions, but the university is viewing this discomfort in the context of Jesus suffering for the salvation of his people.

“As our university community is distinctively Christian in our ethos, we feel we are called to embrace the issue of discomfort toward diversity in Christian unity,” Anderson said.

In addition to a dinner and address by Malone, the evening will feature a video of faculty, staff and students discussing their thoughts on what is uncomfortable about race and religion, music from the music department, a poetry recitation by the Black Student Union and remarks by Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver.

The Black Heritage Month Celebration is sponsored by the president’s office and Union’s Great Commandment Collaborative. The dinner event will begin at 6 p.m. in the Carl Grant Events Center. Though registration is closed due to limited seating capacity, the program will be livestreamed at .