On Feb. 3, the Brandeis University community received an email from the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Lauren Haynie and Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lee Bitsóí, expressing that they are “delighted to honor the heritage, resilience, contributions and scholarship of Black people during Black History Month in February.”

Included in the email was a brief history of Black History Month, which began in 1926 when “Historian Carter G. Woodson created ‘Negro History Week’ to acknowledge the myriad of Black peoples’ contributions to our country’s history and culture.” More than four decades later, Kent State University established the first ever month-long celebration of Black History. According to KSU’s website, “Black Negro History Week was celebrated during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.” Six years later, in 1976, the holiday was nationally recognized by President Gerald Ford. 

Haynie and Bitsóí add that February 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.”

In celebrating this month, the email invites the Brandeis community to explore digital and physical collections related to African and African American Studies in the University Archives and Special Collections. Additionally, the email invites the Brandeis community to campus programs that “elevate our Black voices celebrating their communities.” The events include “Talk About It” on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center hosted by the Brandeis Black Student Organization; “Barbershop Talk: Cutting the Stigma” hosted by the Intercultural Center on Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. and CommUnity Gathering at Heller on Feb. 26, at 12:30 p.m. in the Heller Zinner Forum.