Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com
Already in the second week of February, Elizabethtown College is deep into programming for this year’s Black History Month calendar of events.
With student and campus-run initiatives abound, College community members seeking to honor significant Black figures and cultural movements won’t need to look far for informative and meaningful experiences.
The precursor to Black History Month, Negro History Week, stretched over the second week of February and was started by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926.
This week was chosen, as it happens to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Black History Month was first developed and celebrated in 1970 at Kent State University.
While its influence and practice expanded significantly in upcoming years, the celebration of Black History Month remained largely limited to the confines of academic institutions until 1976, when President Gerald Ford recognized it nationally.
Since then, every year the American government recognizes Black History Month every year and endorses specific, culturally relevant themes on which to focus.
2020’s theme is “African Americans and the Vote” in honor of the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment (which granted women the right to vote), and the sesquicentennial of the 15th amendment (which granted Black men the right to vote).
While celebrated all over the United States, Black History Month has not been without its fair share of controversy. Many argue that by confining it to a single month of the year, Black History Month restricts the study and appreciation of Black history.
Such parties argue that supporters of Black History Month should instead work to better integrate Black history into mainstream education. American film actor Morgan Freeman has famously stated, “I don’t want a Black history month. Black history is American history.”
Contrastingly, the Wall Street Journal has described Black History Month as “a time when the culture and contributions of African Americans take center stage.”
While this topic remains incredibly divisive, it is important for institutions and organizations to be aware of their own biases and limited perspectives when planning their annual Black History Month celebrations.
Having reopened this semester, the Mosaic House will be a hotspot for Black History Month events run by Noir.
Club leaders plan on organizing a karaoke night in the coming weeks to highlight Black culture and music.
Additionally, Noir will be hosting educational events in the Mosaic House, including a night dedicated to reading short stories and listening to podcasts by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a prominent Nigerian writer.
Monday, Feb. 24 the club will honor the late Kobe Bryant, a professional basketball player and renowned African American icon, who passed away in a helicopter accident in January of this year.
There will be a tribute at Elizabethtown’s Peace Garden to honor Bryant and his legacy.
Club leaders picked the date – Feb. 24 – as a homage to Bryant’s Jersey number, which many NBA players informally retired following his death.
To round out their schedule of events, at the end of the month, Noir will be hosting a party at the Mosaic House in commemoration of Black History Month and all of the work done in its honor.
Additionally, through their planned events, the club hopes to help reestablish the Mosaic House as an accessible and meaningful space for the student body.
In the end, Black History Month is very much a developing cultural celebration.
While some aspects remain in contention, what started as a small observance at a singular university has blossomed into a massive month-long effort of commemoration in nations all over the world.
With all the programming planned on-campus by students and staff, Elizabethtown remains a school dedicated to meaningful celebrations of diversity.
