Charlotte, N.C./Feb. 13, 2023 – Johnson C. Smith University organizations and academic programs will be debuting a number of events in celebration of Black History Month throughout February.
But I Am Black History Week, put on by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement, the JCSU Royal Court and the Golden Bulls Activity Committee (GBAC) will host daily events from Feb. 13 to 17.
“The Office of Student Life would like to highlight Black excellence – past, present and future – during the month of February,” said Anthony Brown, director of Student Leadership and Engagement.
The week of events began with “Say it Loud,” a day where students were encouraged to wear attire that represents what they stand for.
The rest of the week will include:
Tuesday, Feb. 14 – “Why I Love JC Smith” social media campaign on Instagram (@jcsustudentlife1867)
Wednesday, Feb. 15 – “For the Culture” Day, during which students, faculty and staff are invited to wear their dashikis.
Thursday, Feb. 16 – “Black Excellence” Day, during which students, faculty and staff are invited to wear their best professional attire.
Friday, Feb. 17 – “50 Shades of Melanin,” during which the campus community is encouraged to wear neutral shades that represent the diverse complexions within the Black community.
Students, faculty and staff should post photos of themselves in their outfits and tag @jcsustudentlife1867 and @gbacjcsu with the hashtag #JCSUBlackHistory.
Prior to this week, Dr. Melvin Herring, director of JCSU’s Master of Social Work Program co-moderated the 2023 Soul Food Shabbat, an event held in tandem with Queens University that aims to engage the Jewish and Black communities in meaningful conversation about the similarities in the systemic genocide and oppression of the two communities.
“The Soul Food Shabbat is designed to connect the two communities using the history of our respective foods as a conduit to meaningful conversations and immersion,” said Herring. “For example, soul food centers the Black experience in the US and embodies many of the struggles and rituals of our community.”
About 90 people ranging from 18 to 80 years old joined the conversation, which centered on the Nuremburg Laws and Jim Crow Laws.
Other events coming up this month include:
Friday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. – Councilwoman Marjorie Molina will host the sixth annual Afro-Latinos Black History Month Event in the Atrium Auditorium in New Science Center.
Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. – The Gamma Lambda Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a showing of The Woman King in the Atrium Auditorium in New Science Center. Tickets are free, but please register.
Monday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. – The School of Social Work will host social work pioneer and former congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns in Johnson-Seabrook Hall’s Luther Hodges Room. Towns was the founder and sponsor of the Social Work Reinvestment Act in the 110th Congress on Feb. 27, 2008 alongside Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
For more information on I Am Black History Week, contact Brown at abrown@jcsu.edu.
