Top photo: This collage features photos of NAACP's Important Civil Rights Leaders and JFK Presidential Civil Rights Leaders. From left to right, first row: Julian Bonds. Second row: Mary White Ovington, Oscar Micheaux, James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. Dubois. Third row: Harriette and Harry T. Moore, Medgar Evers, Charles Hamilton Houston and John Lewis.
Black History Month had its beginnings in 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States and the Civil War came to an end. Carter G. Woodson, considered the founding father of Black History Month, started the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to further his goal of making Black history a field of academic study. The Harvard-trained historian envisioned a week of Black studies in public schools, and by 1926, the ASALH sponsored a National Black history week.
The organization chose to recognize the week between the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. By the 1960s, the week-long recognition evolved into a month despite the Civil Rights era protests. During America's bicentennial celebrations, Gerald Ford made it a national holiday calling upon all Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
USI began celebrating Black History Month in 1993 before there was the Multicultural Center (MCC). Events included a video conference focusing on women of color in higher education. In 1997, the Multicultural Center conducted its first concert as an official part of Black History Month. "With Black History Month," says Pam Hopson, Executive Director of the Multicultural Center, "you have to use the platforms you have on campus and in the community to create content."
Through the years, the MCC has brought multiple events to campus, from the Gospel Explosion to nationally-known speakers. They've hosted round tables, workshops and have sent students to participate in the national Million Man March in Washington D.C. One of the most popular events from the past was the Soul Food Extravaganza.
Oratorical Competition
The MCC hosted its fifth annual Oratorical Competition this February as part of Black History Month events. The theme for this year’s competition was “Narrating the Resistance," and its focus was to give voice to the ideas, thoughts and actions that support and explain the story of the resistance and its meaning in history through the eyes of USI students.
Emyr Boyd gave his speech on resistance complying to a standard that misunderstands or misappropriates Black culture. He also spoke on the pressure to bend to society's standards.
"As a young black man in America, it’s best I comply. I don’t want to shed blood due to the pigment of my skin. I don’t want to become a hashtag. I have the obligation to get my degree. I must speak 'proper' English. I must keep my hair 'professional.' I must comply to these standards to move throughout society with minimal complications. I must resist the narrative placed upon me before I could even crawl." — Emyr Boyd
Ian Brown spoke about how Mamie Elizabeth Till-Mobley resisted backing down when her 14-year-old son, Emmett, was kidnapped, tortured and lynched. Her refusal to give her son a closed-casket funeral and open his funeral to the public was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
"Mamie showed the world the horrific lynching of her son to illustrate the injustice and dehumanization of Black people in America. Mamie's efforts catalyzed a movement of resistance towards an unjust and racist legal system that found her son's murderers not guilty despite their admission to killing Emmett." —Ian Brown
Dr. Sukanya Gupta, Associate Professor of English, Dr. Stephanie Young, Associate Professor Communication Studies, and Dr. Brandi Neal, Director of Pathways to College, were selected to judge the oratorical competition. "We have some talented and amazing students here at USI. A lot of these students, especially if they identify with a marginalized background, are often overlooked or overshadowed until offices like the MCC, or professors like Drs. Young, Gupta, Williams, Carrol, Huggins, Burton, and so many others come along to provide them with the platform, the tools and the resources they need, Neal says. "I am inspired by students every day! They have so much talent. It takes that one event, that one person, that one conversation to bring it out of them. One of the student’s poems gave me chills. I especially remember a line in the poem that said, 'We are forced to resist our culture while we watch others enjoy it,' and I felt that!"
"I was very moved by the student presentations. By their courage to stand and vocalize their thoughts, however painful those may be," added Gupta.
"I am inspired each and every day by our students! That is why I’m here. I am definitely inspired by our orators," Young said. "As Basic Course Director who oversees public speaking, it takes courage to stand up and speak in front of an audience. It takes courage to speak one’s truth. And it takes courage to speak honestly and openly about being a Black man in America. I am so proud of these two young men and so honored to have had the opportunity to hear them speak."
Black History Month Debate Competition
Another annual event hosted by the Multicultural Center was the fifth annual Debate Competition. The event consisted of two to four teams, and teams were composed of three members who defended their position, affirmative or negative, on the topic: “60 years since Washington: Is movement progress?”
International Student Mical Hardtman said Black History Month is also celebrated in his home country of Bermuda. "In Bermuda, we already have Blacks in the top governmental positions. We've had Blacks and Black women in top levels of the government since 1971, with our first Black Prime Minister. Today, our youngest Black prime minister is leading our country. It makes me very proud to be a Bermudian," he said.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. host A Walk Through Black History
The Walk Through History event was a month in the making. Inspired by another group's living history museum, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. wanted to bring Black history to members of the Boys and Girls Club. With volunteers from Black Student Union and USI's Black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the young visitors were led through activities about the Underground Railroad to Black Lives Matter.
Judaea Hopson was inspired by a trip to the Memphis Civil Right's Museum. Children heard stories about important leaders who helped runaway slaves escape and about the quilt codes that led them north. Hopson, who is active in her community back home in Springfield, Illinois, volunteers at the Evansville Boys and Girls Club.
Learning about the secret codes hidden in quilts, children made their own quilt blocks using markers and sparkly stickers.
Students also learned about the Black Lives Matter movement. "People have a negative reaction to the movement. What you see in the media is often scary. I love what the movement is all about. I've been at many rallies and participated in many marches," said Jade Kittrell.
Students made their own miniature protest signs after learning about the marches of the Civil Rights Era and the more recent Black Lives Matter. Inspired by her own father's participation in the Black Lives Matter movement, Kittrell thought it was important to share the idea of activism with the children.
Boys and Girls Club students learned about important figures in the Civil Rights movement and significant cultural touchpoints in Black history. Kai-Lynn O'Bannon told the visitors about her favorite time period, The Harlem Renaissance. "They were far more educated about different aspects of Black history than I was at that age. Two of the elementary-aged students were telling me things I didn't know!"
Black Culture and Hair
Authentically Me, a student organization for those interested in the culture of Black hair, put on a workshop event called Rock the Wrap, where students learned about the culture of head wraps as well as watched demonstrations of how to put on a variety of head wraps. Organization members also helped students tie their own head wraps.
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Kenecia Hawley, President of Authentically Me, gave a presentation on the cultural history of head wraps. Dating from the 1700s, the first head wraps were worn in sub-Saharan Africa by Nubian queens. The color and pattern of the head wraps told people what tribe a person was from. The African tradition migrated to America where it evolved into a code used by Black slave women, as well as a way to protect their heads in the fields. Post-slavery, head wraps evolved into creole turbans decorated with jewelry and turbans. The 1970s saw turban and head wraps as a way to show Black pride. The beginning of a new century included R&B artists like Erykah Badu and Lauren Hill making head wraps into a fusion of fashion, fun and culture. Head wraps even made their way into the popular children's show, Sesame Street, as Badu explained to her new furry monster friends that head wraps were about fun and friendship.
Students in attendance also learned about Black hair care. "It takes some effort," laughed Clyde Tsianguebeni, as he explained his multi-step techniques. "I don't wake up looking this good."
Cultural Cook-Off
Soul food has a rich and important history that ties Black culture to its African roots, and this history is deeply reflected in the staple recipes and techniques. This year, the MCC connected to African roots through representatives sharing dishes from their home countries of Kenya, Ghana and the British Virgin Islands.
From the British Virgin Islands, Kenecia Hawley prepared BBQ chicken wings, macaroni pie and Johnny Cakes.
Dr. Serah Theuri, Associate Professor of Food and Nutrition, and her daughter Wanjiru shared East African pilau rice and kachumbari from Kenya.
Mariam Kenu made chicken and jollof rice, a specialty from her home country of Ghana.
Sodexho's Chef Marvin Gray and Antonine Frazier prepared chicken curry and rice, macaroni, coleslaw and fried plantains.
Mandela Social Justice Day
Rounding out Black History Month was Mandela Social Justice Day. Hosted by the Nelson Mandela Social Justice Committee in the College of Liberal Arts, and in partnership with other various USI offices and departments, the mission of Mandela Social Justice Day is to raise dialogue at USI around current issues of human and civil rights, public service, and activism through diverse, dynamic, nationally and internationally known public intellectuals and academics. This year, Dr. Rachel Hardeman was the keynote speaker, presenting on the disparity of Black reproductive rights. Other special sessions, featuring individuals from the USI community, focused on gender stereotypes and career aspirations in STEM careers, maternal mortality in Indiana, and consent and sexual safety.
Social work major Shaila Dalrymple attended the Maternal Mortality in Indiana session led by Dr. Laurel Standiford Reyes with her cohort. "It is shocking when you see the world data on the weeks of paid maternity leave. You have a huge, powerful country like the U.S. with zero, and a tiny country like Norway with 49 weeks of paid maternity leave. It's a little disheartening." Dalrymple said. "When we first started talking about the quality of healthcare in those communities, it was very shocking."
Soulful Fridays at The Loft
Soul food originated from Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. In slavery, African people were given meager food rations that were low in quality and nutritional value. Using what was provided, those who were enslaved adapted traditional African recipes with the resources available from the American South. The soul food dishes we are familiar with today, now associated with comfort, home and family, were born out of the struggle to survive.
In soul food, there are four main ingredients that tie Africa and the deep south together: rice, pork, okra and greens.
Restrictions due to COVID-19 kept Sodexo from providing food for special event menus. Campus Executive Chef Gregory Dillard said it had been a few years since Sodexo was able to participate in Black History Month. This year, the University was given the opportunity to try soul food on Fridays.
Students and employees were offered up a menu that included herb grilled chicken thighs, African Canoli, golden fried catfish, green bean casserole, Memphis ribs, barbecue baked beans, pot likker collard greens, four-cheese mac and cheese and simple roasted sweet potatoes.
Dillard said they also plan to have a special menu for Women's History Month this month, featuring recipes developed by famous women chefs.
What was once only seen on basketball courts and in parks, sneakers have evolved into an iconic symbol of culture to rank alongside blue jeans and cowboy hats. Although not as old, sneaker culture erupted with the dawning of Air Jordans in 1994. As a young Michael Jordan started to dominate the NBA, his iconic black and red Air Jordans dominated the shoe market, sending other footwear companies scrambling to catch up with Nike. Sneaker culture was born. Suddenly, streetwear and athleisurewear dominated the runways and were seen as a luxury. Brands like Louis Vuitton now sell branded gold X Nike Air Force sneakers.
Today, sneakers give the "sneakerhead" sense of identity and community for those who love fashion and shoes. The finale of Black History Month was Black Student Union's Sneaker Ball held in the Griffin Center. It was a way to honor fashion and each other as the month closed out.
Honoring Black History and Culture Moving Forward
Both Hopson (far right) and Kittrell (far left) admitted they didn't experience a formal Black History month observation until attending USI. Their high schools prepared a basic curriculum of civil rights, featuring Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and slavery. Being active participants in Black History Month was rewarding.
"Black history is American History. A lot of schools focus on the negative aspect of Black history. They skip over amazing things like the Harlem Renaissance," said Hopson.
"There are more influential members of the Civil Rights movement who don't even get mentioned. It's shocking how many people don't know who Emmett Till is," said Kittrell. "Or Black Wall Street."
In high school, O'Bannon and Tsiangeubeni confirmed they saw the same posters featuring the same people for Black History Month. As teenagers, they didn't pay attention to them. Working on Black History Month opened their eyes and gave them a sense of pride to teach people about Black history and culture. "Seeing your work come to life is the best feeling, especially when the result is people having a good time and learning," said Tsiangeubeni.
Both from Springfield, Illinois, Hopson and Kittrell plan to attend graduate school to get their Health Administration degrees. Hopson wants to work with youth and open an art therapy center eventually. Kittrell wants to be a community activist and work as a Public Health Program Specialist.
Bringing others along on the journey includes more than attending Black History Month events or any other cultural event. Bringing others along on the journey means they are intentionally and proactively educating themselves about other cultures, advocating for others in marginalized groups and continuing to be aware of their own biases.
Other ways to celebrate Black History Month all year
- Buy from local Black-owned businesses or on Etsy instead of from Amazon
- Seek out stories of other Black Leaders and historical figures beyond the traditional
- Read Antiracist literature, see Black films and films by Black directors
- Read books by Black authors
- Visit Black local and national black history museums
- Support and donate to local and national organizations that support Black culture and communities
Credits:
Barbara J. Goodwin