African American/Black Identity Development Resources

Black Table Talk is a monthly gathering that provides an open forum for students to engage in meaningful discussions on a variety of topics related to the experiences of Black/African American students and those within the African Diaspora. These conversations offer an opportunity for learning, connection, and shared support while exploring issues both on campus and in broader society. Welcoming students of all identities enriches discussions, fostering a sense of community, building valuable skills, and encouraging meaningful dialogue that supports personal and academic growth at Elon University and beyond.

The Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards Banquet, established in 1993, is a cherished spring tradition recognizing students who excel in academics and the Elon Experiences. While celebrating contributions that uplift and support the Black community, the event honors the achievements of all students who demonstrate academic success and meaningful engagement. It serves as a space to highlight accomplishments, foster community, and inspire continued excellence. All students are welcome to attend and take part in the celebration.

Visit the Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards page.

The Office of Alumni Engagement is committed to serving the full diversity of our alumni body in an inclusive way, as is its strong partnership with Elon Black Alumni Network (EBAN) since its founding. The Elon Black Alumni Network (EBAN) unites and represents the interests of Black alumni and strives to empower, connect, and celebrate Elon’s Black community. As an official affinity network of Elon, EBAN’s primary objectives include:

• Connecting EBAN alumni through various social, cultural, educational and community service events
• Developing and maintaining the connection between the university, students, and fellow alumni
• Providing opportunities for networking and professional development
• Promoting and sustaining general alumni contributions to the university through the Black Alumni Scholarship
• Aiding in student recruitment and retention, with a particular focus on Black students
• Developing new experiences and opportunities for all alumni, with an emphasis on Black alumni

Additionally, EBAN is involved in diversity initiatives related to Elon University, including collaborations with current students through the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, the Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards, and the Donning of the Kente Ceremony. Visit the EBAN Website.

Created as an opportunity to educate students, faculty, and staff about the major achievements of African American students and organizations that foster African American culture at Elon, the Wall of Fame is the centerpiece of Elon’s African American Resource Room. The exhibit traces the accomplishments of African Americans at the University from the first Black graduate to the first Black Greek organization, and more. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to visit and learn from this exhibit, which celebrates the rich history and contributions of African Americans at Elon.

Visit the Wall of Fame page.

Honoring the African origins of humanity, Donning of the Kente is a cultural ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating students who recognize and embrace their African heritage. Each graduate receives a kente stole, imported from West Africa, as a symbol of their hard work, perseverance, and future aspirations. Worn during commencement, the stole serves as a source of inspiration and a tribute to shared heritage, resilience, and success. This ceremony is open to all students, faculty, and staff, fostering a sense of community, reflection, and inclusivity.

A local mentoring program through the Mayco Bigelow Community Center for boys, ages 9-13. This is a weekly commitment during a portion of the fall and spring semester on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30PM.

Applications for mentors open at the beginning of each semester on Phoenix Serve.

The African Diaspora Living Learning Community (AD LLC) provides students with opportunities to explore African, African American, and Black diasporic cultures at Elon and worldwide. The AD LLC is connected with the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE) and African and African American Studies Minor at Elon University (AAASE) to support the in-depth exploration of the rich history and multi-dimensional experience of Blackness. Living in this community allows students to dive deeper into their understanding of Blackness through workshops, projects, mentorship, advocacy, and immersive programs. All students interested in learning about the African diaspora are welcome to join and participate in the AD LLC, fostering an inclusive environment that encourages learning and growth for everyone.

The Harlem Renaissance remains a testament to the resilience, creativity, and cultural contributions of the African American community, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of American art, literature, and social consciousness. The Elon Renaissance Scholars program continues this rich tradition by being a culturally enriching Living Learning Community designed for undergraduate scholars interested in exploring and celebrating the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora. This unique program aims to foster a sense of community, academic excellence, and cultural awareness among its participants. All students are welcome to join and participate in the Elon Renaissance Scholars program, promoting an inclusive environment that encourages learning and growth for everyone.

African & African American Studies at Elon (AAASE) was developed in 1994. The pedagogy, research, scholarship, service — and other experiential learning activities of our faculty and student scholars — take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of African Americans, Africa, and the rest of its diaspora. All students are encouraged to engage with AAASE, fostering an inclusive environment that promotes understanding and appreciation of the rich history and diverse experiences of African and African American communities.

Black Solidarity Day originated in 1969 through the efforts of Brooklyn College professor Dr. Carlos Russell as a demonstration of Black liberation. In 2015, Black students at Elon University established their own Black Solidarity Day as a protest, a show of unity, and a call to action for the campus community.

The Elon University Black Solidarity Conference is a multiracial convening of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to exploring Black identity, intersectionality, and solidarity. It creates a space for participants to share research, build meaningful connections, and celebrate Black culture within the Elon community.

Designed to deepen understanding of anti-Blackness, power, privilege, and allyship, the conference equips participants with tools to advocate for equity and inclusion. Open to all students, faculty, and staff, it encourages collective learning and growth in support of a more inclusive campus.

Visit the Black Solidarity Conference Page.

Our BHM Theme for 2025 was “This Is How We Do It: Honoring Blackness Through Influence, Innovation and Legacy”. It ran the entire month of February.

This theme is a powerful way to recognize how Black individuals and communities have not only shaped culture but have also led the way in fields of innovation, creativity, and social progress. It emphasizes the idea that Black people have historically been at the forefront of influence and innovation, driving change across industries like music, fashion, technology, politics, arts, and more.

If you have any questions, please contact Abdul-Malik Harrison, Assistant Director, CREDE (aharrison16@elon.edu)

Visit the Heritage Month Celebrations and Events page for more information.

Carnaval is a vibrant celebration of life, bringing together music, dance, and cultural expression to foster self-discovery and cross-cultural understanding. Long before the discovery of the New World, the Catholic Church in Italy established the tradition of hosting a lively costume festival on the eve of Lent.

Deeply rooted in Latin American culture, Carnaval blends European, African, and Indigenous influences. Originally, it marked the transition from winter to spring, symbolizing renewal and joy. At Elon, our Carnaval event embraces this rich history, offering a dynamic space to honor traditions, celebrate diversity, and build community through music, dance, and festivity.

The Elon University Black Student Union (BSU), formerly known as the Black Cultural Society is a student organization whose primary objective is to cultivate a continuous relationship with the administration, Black faculty and staff, and Black students on campus. The BSU’s mission is to center Black-identified undergraduate students and enrich student life at Elon University culturally, intellectually, and socially; to ensure the full ongoing administrative commitment of fair, equitable policies; and to strengthen and support the bonds of community between Black Elon students and the larger Elon and Burlington communities. See more information about the BSU.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) envisions an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. They are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
The Elon Chapter of the NAACP was founded on campus in the Fall 2023.

National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of 330 campus and community-based sections and 33 national women’s organizations that enlighten, inspire, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men.  Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities. It was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist, and for more than fifty years, the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height was president of NCNW. Today, the NCNW programs are grounded on a foundation of critical concerns that are now “NCNW Priorities.” The organization promotes education; encourages entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and economic stability; educates women about health and promotes healthcare access, and promotes civic engagement and advocates for sound public policy and social justice.

Melanated Melodies is a predominantly Black-identified group that performs a cappella music. Their goal is to provide opportunities on campus for Black-identified students to engage in the making of acappella music while also providing a space for students to express themselves through music.

The mission of the African Diaspora Club at Elon is to celebrate and positively portray diverse cultures of the African Diaspora, by encouraging and supporting academic excellence, building community, promoting networks, being engaged as global citizens and fostering life-long ties to the continent. By doing this, members are fostering growth, encouraging development and changing our campus one student at a time. The club’s Vision is to help to create a community both here and abroad, in which all African ethnic groups, who are members of the Diaspora experience peace, love, stability and human rights. These conditions are bridges to true liberation.

The Black Entrepreneur Initiative (BEI) at Elon was formed in the Summer of 2021 as an initiative of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. It was started by Elon students Soniyah Robinson ‘23 and Kobie Williams ‘22, along with the Doherty Center executive director Alyssa Martina. It was created following a meeting at UNC, Chapel Hill with BEI founder and chapter leader Sherrod Crum. Together BEI@UNC and BEI@Elon are developing a state-wide organization. A third chapter has been formed at Fayetteville State University. BEI leaders hope that other schools will soon form chapters of their own.

At Elon, BEI has developed a student leadership committee and has identified several Black student entrepreneurs who are part of this initiative. BEI welcomes all Black entrepreneurs including faculty, staff, and alumni. It partners with other Black student organizations and centers at Elon and hopes to develop strong ties with the university’s Black alumni.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on December 4, 1906, and is the oldest intercollegiate historically African American Fraternity. As ‘Men of Distinction’ the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated are service-driven, accomplished individuals.

The Sigma Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was chartered on Elon’s Campus on September 29,1991.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University. As the first Black Greek-Letter sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated continues to make an impact through scholarship, sisterhood, and providing “service to all mankind.”

The Omicron Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was chartered on Elon’s Campus on May 9, 1987.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on January 5, 1911 and was the first Black intercollegiate fraternity to be incorporated as a national body. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated provides service to the community through programs such as Kappa League, Room to Read, and G.L.A.D.

The Nu Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated was chartered on Elon’s Campus on December 5, 1986.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on November 11, 1911 on the campus of Howard University. The name Omega Psi Phi derived from the Greek saying “friendship is essential to the soul,” embodies the fraternity’s embodiment of manhood, scholarship, and perseverance.

The Sigma Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated was chartered on Elon’s Campus on May 18, 1984.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University, and is the first Black Greek-Letter organization to be named a Non-Governmental Organization by the United Nations. The sorority values service, and places an emphasis on giving back to the Black community.

The Omicron Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was chartered on Elon’s campus on May 9, 1981.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on January 9, 1914 on the campus Howard University. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated became the first Black Greek-Letter Fraternity to establish alumni chapters, youth mentoring clubs, a federal credit union, chapters in Africa, and a collegiate chapter outside of the United States, further emphasizing their motto, “Culture for Service, and Service for Humanity.”

The Alpha Beta Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated was charted on Elon’s campus on July 31, 2000.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University. The ‘Finer Women’ are women of service, scholarship, and sisterhood.

The Xi Omicron Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was charter on Elon’s campus on September 23,1993