Celebrating Black History Month
Feb. 2, 2022
Dear Members of the Brandeis Community,
Black History Month provides us with the occasion to recognize the powerful impact African Americans have had in shaping the history of the United States. Each February is a month-long opportunity to not only celebrate the heritage, accomplishments, and cultural contributions African Americans have made to the nation but also to acknowledge the unique role the diverse and expansive Black community has played in leading the struggle toward advancing freedom, racial justice, and equality throughout the world.
The movement to recognize and celebrate Black History Month was led by the author, historian, and journalist Dr. Carter G. Woodson who founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Each year, the ASALH selects the theme for Black History Month, and this year, the theme is Black Health and Wellness. Amid the ongoing pandemic, this theme serves as a timely reminder of the remarkable breakthroughs African Americans have achieved in the fields of healthcare and wellness and a call to action for us all to address the enduring legacy of disparate healthcare as experienced by communities of color in the United States.
Brandeis is committed to recognizing and celebrating the Black community on campus and beyond. In the coming weeks, we look forward to commemorating this month-long observance, and we encourage you to participate in the variety of events, features, and learning opportunities that will be sponsored on campus. You will find a detailed list online. This list is not comprehensive, as we expect programming to evolve over the coming weeks, so we invite you to follow the Brandeis events calendar for the most up-to-date information for this month — and for the coming months as we seek to continually recognize and affirm the rich diversity of our university community through events and programming.
Sincerely,
Ron