Black History Month

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Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual February observance, celebrating past and present achievements of African Americans. In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, proposed the establishment of "Negro History Week" to honor the history and contributions of African Americans to American life. Woodson, known as the "Father of Black History," chose the second week of February because it commemorates birthdays of two men who greatly affected the African American community: Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14). Negro History Week became Black History Week in the early 1970s. In 1976, the week-long observance was expanded to a month in honor of the nation's bicentennial.

We continue to celebrate this month every year knowing that our history is a reminder of our past and honoring to our bright and well ancestors. 

2023 Events

 ***ADEI Certificate approved.

February 1
BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICK-OFF SPEAKER: DR. DAMON WILLIAMS
FEATURED PERFORMANCE BY LEE ENGLAND***
5-8 pm • Student Center Auditorium

February 2
DOCUMENTARY: PARIS IS BURNING***
Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, this 1990 documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it.
7 pm • Student Center Auditorium

February 3
LUNCH AND LEARN: BLACK WOMEN IN LAW***
Noon-1:30 pm • Student Center Kaskaskia Room

February 4
BLACK BUSINESS EXPO 2023
10 am-3 pm • Carbondale Civic Center

February 6
HIDDEN HEARTS IN CARBONDALE
5:08-7:52 pm • TBA

February 7
BLACK PAINTING NIGHT
6:30-7:30 pm • Student Center Mississippi Room

February 8
POETRY SLAM
6-7 pm • Student Center Big Muddy Room

February 9
IDA NELSON JETT HAWKINS LAW CROWN ACT***
4 pm • Morris Library Guyon Auditorium

ORATORICAL COMPETITION* (Cancelled)
6:06 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

February 10
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN CORPORATE AMERICA***
11:30 am-1 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

February 11
BLACK HEALTH WORKOUT
Noon • Trap Training Facility
Register Here

February 13
KATER 2 YOU
5:11 pm • Student Center Old Main Lounge

BLACK AND QUEER***
4:30-6 pm • Student Services Building 150/160

February 14
LUNCHEON BLACK GRADUATE STUDENT***
11 am-1 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

February 15
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: BLACK STUDENTS TRANSITIONING TO LAW SCHOOL***
11:30 am-1 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

VISION BOARDS RESILIENT BLACK INFLUENTIAL WOMEN
2-3:30 pm • Student Center Ohio Room

DISCUSSION: BLACK RESISTANCE***
6-7 pm • Student Center Mississippi Room

February 16
MOVIE: THE WOMAN KING
Set in the 1820’s, and follows the Agojie, an all female military regiment within the army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Viola Davis plays Nanisca, a general who trains a new generation of female recruits to fight against rival tribes that threaten the kingdom.***
5-7 pm • Student Center Auditorium

February 17
NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM: MEMPHIS, TN***
8 am-5 pm • Memphis, TN
Register Here

February 18
BLACK MEN HEALTH CONFERENCE
2 pm • Carbondale Civic Center

THE BLACK AS HELL SHOWCASE
7 pm • Christian H. Moe Theater

February 21
SPOKEN WORD: SEVEN THE POET***
6-8 pm • Student Center Auditorium

February 22
BLACK YOUNG WOMEN LEADERSHIPSERIES
11:30 am-1 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

LET’S TALK EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
4-6 pm • Morris Library Guyon Auditorium

February 23
BLACK STAFF AND FACULTY LUNCHEON
11:30 am-1:30 pm • Student Center Old Main Room

MAJORETTE CYPHER
5 pm • Student Center Delta Room

February 24
CANCELLED

February 25
NATIONAL TRIO DAY
10 am-2 pm • Olney, IL
Register Here

YOUNG AUTHOR’S BOOK READING
11 am-2 pm • University Mall
African American Museum

February 26
AFRO-CENTRIC FASHION SHOW***
2 pm • Student Center Auditorium

February 28
NAACP ANNUAL SCHOLAR BOWL
6-8 pm • Student Center Ballroom A