Celebrating Black History Month

Dear Campus Community,

As we enter February, we join one another in celebrating Black History Month—a time to honor the profound contributions, resilience, and cultural richness of the African American community. This month serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of Black leaders, activists, and everyday individuals who have shaped our history and continue to inspire progress toward a more just and equitable society. We also acknowledge and honor the many current contributions of Black Americans to the progress of this nation in spite of recent attempts by socio-political forces to negate those contributions and erase important elements of our history.

I encourage you to take time this month to reflect, learn, and engage with the stories and achievements of the African American community. Consider exploring literature, art, music, and films that highlight Black history and culture. Reach out to your peers, colleagues, and friends to discuss the ongoing work of racial justice and equity. I invite you to use the resources listed below compiled by our Social Science Librarian Charlene Floyd. And, as always, let us strive to integrate these lessons into our daily lives and actions.

Puget Sound is dedicated to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. Even amidst challenging times, we remain dedicated to supporting all students, faculty, and staff. We believe that diversity is not only a strength but also essential for achieving excellence, justice, and leadership. We are committed to creating a campus where everyone feels seen, heard, and celebrated.

To kick off Black History Month, African American Studies and the Race & Pedagogy Institute are hosting “A Scoop of History” event on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Wheelock Student Center. There will be ice cream from Bliss Creamery, hot chocolate, and a book display in collaboration with the Logger Store. You are also invited to enter a raffle for the chance to win a free book and other prizes.

On Feb. 13, ASUPS will host political commentator Keith Boykin at 7:30 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel. Keith is a TV and film producer, a New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to former President Bill Clinton. For more Black History Month events, please check the university events page.

This month, and every month, let us reaffirm our shared values of inclusion, respect, and courage. Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present, and work toward a future where every member of our community can thrive.

Sincerely,

Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, PhD | Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity

Resources

• African American Studies Library Resource Guide
• Black Cinema Collection on Kanopy is a collection of films that highlight the contributions of African Americans and honor the Black experience across North America (access provided by Collins Memorial Library).
• Library of Congress’ African American History Collections
• The African American Literature Book Club features information on Black authors, reading lists, book reviews, and discussion lists (freely available online).
• The National Museum of African American History & Culture celebrates Black History Month with a series of public programs and immersive events that share the stories, contributions, and triumphs that have shaped the African American experience (freely available online).
• Black Thought and Culture is a collection of approximately 100,000 pages of non-fiction writings by major American black leaders—teachers, artists, politicians, religious leaders, athletes, war veterans, entertainers, and other figures—covering 250 years of history (access provided by Collins Memorial Library).
• African American Studies Center (Oxford) is a collection of full-text materials focusing on the lives and events that have shaped African and African American history and culture. Includes biographies, images, primary source documents with commentaries, maps, tables and charts, and thematic timelines (access provided by Collins Memorial Library).
• American Memory: African American Odyssey (Library of Congress) showcases the Library of Congress’s African-American collections. Includes rare books, government documents, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, plays, films, and recordings (freely available online).
• Civil Rights Digital Library (CRDL) provides historical news films and related digital collections of primary source material from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s (freely available online).
• https://guides.loc.gov/african-american-history-online/online-resources
• https://blackfreedom.proquest.com/
• BlackHistoryMonth.gov 
• BlackPast.org - African American History Timeline
• Black History Month at NYPL
• Legacy Washington’s Black History Month Celebration
• Tacoma Public Library is celebrating Black History Month with curated events, book lists, and eResources.

Events in the area

• Radiant Reflections: Celebrating the Beauty of the African Diaspora  - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Jan. 10 – Feb. 23. Admission is free
• Tacoma Art Museum will celebrate Black artists within the museum’s collection by critically engaging the collection and past exhibitions from 2019.
• Washington State History Museum - We the People and the American Dream - Discussion of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 - Feb. 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m. free with registration