Honoring and Celebrating Black History Month
Feb. 1, 2024
Dear Brandeis Community,
We are delighted to honor the heritage, resilience, contributions, and scholarship of Black people during Black History Month in February. This month is designated to inspire us to pause and reflect on how communities of color are constantly striving to build an inclusive community based on mutual understanding and respect. Notably, the achievements of the African Diaspora remind us of the global nature of humanity and the vast diversity of the Black community.
In 1926, Historian Carter G. Woodson created ‘Negro History Week’ to acknowledge the myriad of Black peoples’ contributions to our country’s history and culture. The tradition exists in response to the erasure of these stories and accomplishments throughout the American educational system, which tends to divide us instead of bringing us closer as a community. In 1970, students and educators at Kent State University expanded the recognition for a month which spread to college campuses nationwide. Subsequently, Black History Month was first nationally recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial (Smithsonian National Museum of History and Culture, 23 January 2022). It is now recognized in countries globally including Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Brandeis was founded on the premise of seeking justice, and the University contributes an important piece in our nation's history of the Civil Rights Movement. The Brandeis University Archives holds a number of collections related to African and African American Studies that document Black experiences, including a recording of a speech given on campus by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1957, an online exhibit entitled Remembering Ford & Sydeman Halls, a collection of African-American Portraits by Carl Van Vechten, and a number of rare editions of works by such authors as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Wallace Thurman. We invite you to explore these materials and the University Archives and Special Collections are open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday.
We are also keenly aware of challenges that BIPOC people face in higher education, especially women of color. Accordingly, we will be hosting a thought-provoking panel discussion that will offer dialogue and practical strategies with the aim to support women of color leaders in higher education.
A Call to Action: Supporting Women of Color in Our Community
Feb. 16, 2024, 12 – 1:15 p.m.
Gellar Room, Hassenfeld Conference Center
Light refreshments will be available and there will be an option to join virtually. Please visit the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website for more information and a registration link.
In addition, please join us for the following campus programs to elevate our Black student voices celebrating their communities:
Homecoming Events with the Brandeis Black Student Organization
- Talk About It: Feb. 8, 2024, SSC Theater, 7 – 10 p.m.
- Homecoming Gala: Feb. 10, 2024, Levin Ballroom, 6:30 – 10 p.m.
- Black Homecoming Showcase: Feb. 11, 2024, Levin Ballroom, 6:30 – 10 p.m.
We look forward to you joining us in our commemoration and celebration of our diverse Black communities and populations at Brandeis and beyond.
In community,
Lauren Haynie
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
Lee Bitsóí
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion