Black Student Union

To find the kind of stuff Kevin Harried sells -- African incense, oils and jewelry -- shoppers have to stray far from malls and department stores.For even while Afro-centric products have soared in popularity since the release of the movie "Malcolm X," such items still can be hard to find.Recognizing this, members of the Black Student Union at Anne Arundel Community College decided to sponsor the school's first black expo, to commemorate Black History Month."Celebrate Black Expo '93" opened on Feb. 5 and will re-open for a second day tomorrow.

Western Maryland College's Black Student Union will observe African-American Appreciation Day Monday as the official start of the college's celebration of African-American History Month throughout February.The free event is designed to increase awareness about black history and encourage members of the college community and area residents to meet with members of the BSU. It will take place in the lobby outside the Decker College Center Pub from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Renee M. Bartley, '95, BSU president and a political science major at Western Maryland, said members of the group will hand out green, black and red ribbons to interested persons as a show of recognition and celebration of black history.

Benjamin Karim, a longtime associate of Malcolm X during the years of his greatest popularity and the author of a new biography and memoir of the outspoken Nation of Islam leader, will speak at Western Maryland College on Feb. 16 as part of the college's observance of African-American History Month.Mr. Karim, who spent eight years working with Malcolm X in the Black Muslim movement, will discuss his experiences in a lecture at 7:30 p.m. in McDaniel Lounge. The event, like all others scheduled for the monthlong celebration, is free and open to the public.

About 50 students protesting the Rodney King verdict briefly blocked an entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards yesterday, threatening to mar an otherwise peaceful day of protests by students throughout the area.The students sat down on the concrete and linked arms, blocking the Eutaw Street entrance between the stadium and the B&O Warehouse for about five minutes shortly after 5:30 p.m. Workers had just opened the gates for last night's Orioles game.Fans could not get around the protesters.

The scene on the television commercial is all too real: A young black boy sits at the dinner table with his mother, wondering why his older brother hasn't arrived home yet."Where's Michael?" he asks.Michael won't be coming home for dinner, we find out. He's dead. He overdosed on drugs.The commercial, part of an anti-drug campaign sponsored by the Baltimore Urban League, the city state's attorney's office and the Governor's Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, was created by members of the Maryland Black Student Alliance.

Alicia Johnson of Annapolis rubbed her eyes, unhappy with the craft beads she got for a Christmas present."What's the long face about?" asked Veta Covert, director of education and recreation for the Annapolis Housing Authority. "Don't you like your present?"Johnson shook her head. "I'll get you another one," Covert said.Johnson, a Newtowne 20 resident, opened the new present. Her face beamed when she found a Barbie doll inside.Johnson was one of 70 kids whose lives were brightened Friday night at Anne Arundel Community College.