Celebrating Black History Month
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By Dr. Rodmon King, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans, to reflect on the continuing struggle for justice, and to empower ourselves for the work ahead. I encourage all of you to explore the programming and events offered by the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
I also encourage you to engage with our campus community’s events during Black History Month through the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success.
On February 27th, in collaboration with our Dean’s Student Advisory Board, I will be hosting the first in what we hope will be a series of Inclusivity Talks in the Franklin Dining Commons. We'll be providing a safe space where our students can have open discussions about belonging and inclusivity within our school and university.
On February 29th, we are collaborating with the College of Humanities and Fine Arts to host a free public talk by Catherine Coleman Flowers. Coleman Flowers has dedicated her career to fighting for environmental justice, especially for Black, Latinx, indigenous and poor rural communities in the United States. She is the Vice Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and a 2020 MacArthur Fellow for Environmental Health Advocacy, as well as the Founding Director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. I encourage everyone to attend this event.
Throughout the month, I’ll be sharing additional campus events as well as Black History Month programming through the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). Check our SPHHS events calendar, newsletters, and Instagram account for details.