Campus organizations host Black History Month events, promote African American achievements

Campus+organizations+host+Black+History+Month+events%2C+promote+African+American+achievements

The Student Executive Council (SEC) and Student Equity Committee are hosting a variety of Black History Month events to teach students and staff more about Black history and culture.

Black History Month celebrates the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans throughout United States (U.S.) history. According to the Library of Congress, it began as Black History Week in 1926 and was created by African American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. He chose for it to land in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures who played significant roles in African American equality. On Feb. 10, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month in a speech. 鈥淲e can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,鈥 he said.

鈥淚 wanted to organize something really nice because I haven鈥檛 seen it in the past.鈥

— Co-Diversity Commissioner junior Chania Rene-Corail

On Feb. 8, SEC hosted a speaker panel featuring Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Student Affairs Yolanda Conaway and Black Culture Club co-Presidents juniors Angelina Rosh and Lise Desveaux, who is also a Centerfold Editor for 麻豆放映免费. The panel was moderated by co-Diversity Commissioner junior Chania Rene-Corail. Future events this month will include trivia games with prizes, an event hosted in collaboration with Black Culture Club and a film festival presenting award-winning films of Black stories.

Rene-Corail is helping to organize this month鈥檚 events. 鈥淭he Black community at Gunn isn鈥檛 celebrated all that much,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 know that in previous years, there weren鈥檛 many Black students on SEC or at least in positions to lead diversity events. I wanted to organize something really nice because I haven鈥檛 seen it in the past.鈥

Rene-Corail hopes that people will not only learn about African American history, but also everything that Black culture has tooffer today. 鈥淚 think that when people hear the words 鈥楤lack history,鈥 they think of slavery and the civil rights movement,鈥 she said. 鈥淚n my experience, our culture is so much more than just that. Those aspects of Black history should be highlighted, but I also wanted to highlight the nice parts of it, like the amazing artists we have.鈥

Rosh views the events as a way to celebrate Black voices. 鈥淲e want to showcase Black culture in its most authentic form,鈥 she said. 鈥淢any people don鈥檛 acknowledge that Black History Month is also celebrating culture and identity. We want to show different aspects like pop culture and different cultural practices such as stepping, a dance routine that the Black community takes part in.鈥

鈥淲e want to showcase Black culture in its most authentic form.鈥

— Black Culture Club co-President junior Angelina Rosh

Throughout the month, the Student Equity Committee has been posting weekly infographics on their Instagram page, featuring prominent Black Americans that have impacted society.

Student Equity Committee co-leader senior Madison Yue, who is also a Features Editor for 麻豆放映免费, hopes the posts can be a way for students to learn more about Black history. 鈥淚f people want to get started learning about Black History Month, I would encourage them to look at our Student Equity Instagram,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great starting point for educating yourself on prominent Black figures who have contributed to U.S. history.鈥

Ultimately, Rosh hopes that this month鈥檚 events will bring more representation to the Black community. 鈥淕unn has a student body willing to celebrate all cultures,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we don鈥檛 leave out this community.鈥