To celebrate Black History Month this February, the Office of African American Affairs and several Black student organizations have partnered to offer a series of 13 events throughout the month, which include musical and dance performances, group discussions and community outreach initiatives.
Each year, the University celebrates Black History Month, a national celebration of African Americans’ achievements and a recognition of their central role in United States history, established nationwide in 1976. Hashim Davis, assistant dean of the OAAA and director of the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center, created the programming calendar this year, partnering with various student groups and focusing on the theme of “Celebrating Resilience.”
“[Each year], I try to do a theme that's going to be reflective of what I would want to examine for Black History,” Davis said. “This year is one for resilience, and our programming is going to reflect that.”
Davis explained that he aimed to produce a variety of events within this theme, which include events such as “Resilience Through Music” and “Resilience Through Motion.” Another event, “Resilience in Thought,” will involve a writing activity in which attendees share their thoughts about race, followed by a group discussion.
Davis explained that this year, he and the students he has worked with to organize events are hoping to highlight Black figures and organizations that are less well known.
“[This year] our programming is going to be a reflection of imagery and folks that we normally don't talk about, or that we don't talk about enough,” Davis said.
To start programming for the month, “Resilience Through Expressions,” will be held Tuesday evening and feature a talent show from students and community members, including musical, dance and cultural performances.
The University’s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will also host a Black History Month Gospel Concert Feb. 14, with musicians Todd Dulaney and Amber Bullock performing and a pre-show featuring the University’s Black Voices Gospel Choir. Also sponsored by the Office of DEI, the School of Education will host a Black History Month event Feb. 20, with more details to come.
In discussing the programming he is most looking forward to, Davis highlighted the penultimate event, “Resilience Through Education,” to be held Feb. 28. Black student organizations, including the Black Male Initiative, Black Presidents Council and Black Greek Organizations will visit William Monroe High School in Greene County — 40 minutes outside Charlottesville — to meet high school students and provide mentorship as they prepare for the transition to university.
“[We will] bring representatives of OAAA and Black students as a means to show students ‘you are what you see and you have aspirations,’” Davis said. “‘Look no further to see student excellence here at the University.’”
Jamaica Weaver, co-chair of the Black Presidents Council and second-year College student, was involved in organizing this event. She shared that she hopes to show high school students what university life is like for Black students and speak about mentorship and involvement opportunities at the University.
Weaver also spoke about the importance of providing representation of Black university students to high schoolers, and said that she looks forward to sharing valuable information about opportunities with students.
“I know for myself, when I was in high school and college students visited from the local university, I felt like that was very, very impactful, because I could almost see myself in them,” Weaver said. “And I was like, if I can see myself in this person, and they're at this really nice university, I can achieve anything. I hope that the kids that we meet will feel the same way.”
Black representation at the University is only around 10 percent, while the Black population composes around 20 percent of Virginia’s broader population — initiatives such as this one could support efforts to ensure that representation at the University is representative of the broader state population.
Davis also said that he looks forward to collaborating with student organizations on events, such as the one at William Monroe High School, as well as another event called “Resilience Through Strength in Sisterhood and Brotherhood.” For this event, OAAA will collaborate with Black College Women and the Black Male Initiative to host a community bonding event with games Feb. 19.
Other events include a conversation Feb. 12 with Naomi Hodge-Muse, author of the novel “Tales of Koehler Hollow: An African American Family in Rural Appalachia,” organized by the Center for Politics in partnership with OAAA, the LPJ Cultural Center and the University chapter of the NAACP. A Black History Month Keynote address will be given Feb. 26 by Darren Kelly, associate vice president and dean of OAAA.
Davis noted that this year, he hopes Black History Month programming can be an inclusive experience for the University.
“I'm looking forward to really just having the community come together and be a part of the celebration,” Davis said. “We don't turn folks away — I'm looking forward to just that kind of collaboration and that kind of open arm idea of ‘come on in and study and celebrate.’”
Weaver shared that she is looking forward to the upcoming Black History Month events, especially because of the themes they will focus on. Weaver also noted that recognizing Black history at the University is important throughout the year. Black history is an essential part of broader University history, given its past of using enslaved labor in the construction of Grounds, according to Weaver.
“It's really important to celebrate Black History Month, especially at a university like U.Va., which has been built on the backs of Black laborers throughout its full existence, even through current day,” Weaver said. “It's almost doing the community a disservice if we weren't learning about Black history, not just in Black History Month, but [throughout] the year.”
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