A series of events, coordinated by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, will celebrate Black History Month throughout February at Elon.
Throughout February, Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) will host a series of programs recognizing Black History Month.
The theme of the 2020 Black History Month Celebration, “Re(en)Vision: Blackness in 2020,” seeks to celebrate the ways we are all actively shaping and contributing to notions of blackness in the present, while being mindful of and honoring the historic events and figures of the past that impact us all.
The celebration will feature discussions, performances and other gatherings meant to foster learning, engagement and expression about the black experience throughout the campus community. Events will address a variety of historical, contemporary, intersectional, critical and celebratory topics.
The series is organized by the Black History Month Planning Committee and coordinated by the CREDE. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
2020 Black History Month Kick-Off
Monday, Feb. 3, 5:30 p.m.
Moseley 215
Join the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education as we kick off the 2020 celebration of Black History Month with a pop-up museum of Elon University’s Black History, sponsored by the Carol Grotnes Belk Library. Light refreshments will be served.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education and the Carol Grotnes Belk Library
2020 Black History Month Kick-Off Reception
Monday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.
The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education – Moseley 221
The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education is hosting a student-centered, Black History Month Kick-Off Reception in the CREDE. All black faculty, staff and students are welcome to join in fellowship as we begin a new semester celebrating Black History Month.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
Black History Month College Coffee
Tuesday, Feb. 4, 9:40 a.m.
Phi Beta Kappa Commons
Elon students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to celebrate and learn more about the Black History of Elon during the university’s weekly College Coffee gathering. Contact Brandon Bell at bbell5@elon.edu for more information.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education and Academic and Residential Partnerships for Dining Engagement
Black History Month Dinner
Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.
McKinnon Hall
The East and Oaks February Neighborhood Dinner will be a casual opportunity for students to engage in discussions with neighbors, faculty, staff and special guests. Discussion topics will focus on public service and community engagement. Black and African American community leaders will be present at dinner to discuss local issues and share their perspectives and journeys while shedding light on Alamance County history.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, East Neighborhood, Oaks Neighborhood and the Office of Residence Life
Race-nicity – Lessons for History: What We Can Learn from Justice Thurgood Marshall in the Pursuit of Racial Justice
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 12:30 p.m.
Elon School of Law, 201 N. Greene Street, Greensboro, NC
Lunch will be provided, RSVP here
Wendy Scott, associate dean for academic success and professor of law at the Elon university School of Law, will present her research on Justice Thurgood Marshall and social justice movements. On the occasion of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, Justice Marshall contended that the Constitution was “defective from the start” because it led to the total and intentional exclusion of African Americans from equal citizenship. His critique noted that “several amendments, a civil war, and momentous social transformation to attain the system of constitutional government, and its respect for the individual freedoms and human rights, we hold as fundamental today” had not removed these defects. Dean Scott will use Marshall’s work as a framework for discussing current issues, such as reparations, Confederate monuments and 21st-century racial politics.
Sponsored by the Elon School of Law and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education
Black Solidarity Day Conference
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 7-8
Moseley Center
Black Solidarity Day was created by historian and Brooklyn College Professor Carlos Russell in 1969 as a demonstration of black liberation. Fifty years later, Elon will host its 6th annual Black Solidarity Day Conference. The conference aims to unite Black-identifying students, faculty and staff by providing an avenue through which Black identity, intersectionality and solidarity are explored. This year’s theme, “Re(en)Vision: Blackness in 2020,” addresses Black global identity in both the intersectional and collective contexts. The conference will also offer the “Anti-Black racism, Anti-racism and Allyship” track designed specifically for non-black identifying participants. Participants will learn more about anti-blackness, oppression, power, privilege and ways in which they can be better allies with Black communities. The event is free to all Elon faculty, staff and students. Register here.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education
DEEP: The 1994 Crime Bill and the Black Community. The REAL Story.
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Moseley 215
Known as the largest crime bill in the history of United States, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 provided $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and $6.1 billion for preventive programs. This program explores the lived impacts of the Crime Bill on crime, justice and communities of color.
Sponsored by the Department of Human Service Studies and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.
Afro-Peruvian History and Culture
Thursday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m.
El Centro de Español – Carlton 114
In this interactive presentation, attendees will learn about the history of the Afro-Peruvian culture, along with its traditions and contributions to the identity of the country and its people. Emphasis will be placed on the importance and influence of Afro-Peruvian food, dance and music in culture and heritage. The audience will be treated to Peruvian food during the event.
Sponsored by El Centro de Español and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education
More Than Just a Step Show: Black Greek Lettered Organizations
Monday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.
Moseley 215
The Divine Nine. You have heard the rumors and stereotypes, but now it is time to learn the truth about Black Greek Lettered Organizations. From their founding, these organizations played a special role in the black collegiate experience, giving students a much-needed support system that turned into a lifelong commitment. This presentation will dive deeper into the history of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and teach the audience about why these organizations were founded and the ever-present need for them on college campuses today.
Sponsored by the Center Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education and the Office of Student Involvement
Afro-Latinx Cooking Class
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 12 p.m.
El Centro de Español – Carlton 114
For Black History Month, El Centro de Español will host an Afro-Latinx cooking class that highlights the intersection of black and Latinx identity. Please wear close-toed shoes and long sleeves as the cooking class involves frying. Contact Kiah Glenn at kglenn5@elon.edu for more information. Please RSVP here.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education and El Centro de Español
Black History Month Trivia Night with Colonnades, East and Historic Neighborhoods
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
The Oak House
Join us for a rousing night of trivia centering on the black history of Elon University and the United States. Gift cards will be awarded to the winning teams.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, East Neighborhood, Historic Neighborhood and the Office of Residence Life
BlackOUT
Friday, Feb. 21, 4 p.m.
The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education – Moseley 221
A celebratory gathering highlighting black LGBTQIA and queer individuals and culture. Refreshments will be provided.
Sponsored by the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education and the Gender and LGBTQIA Center
Khyati Y. Joshi, “White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equity in America”
Monday, Feb. 24, 5:30 p.m.
McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion
Khyati Y. Joshi, a scholar and thought leader in issues of race, religion, and immigration in the United States, will speak about the connections between Christian privilege and white supremacy. Joshi’s writings, speeches and coursework focus on promoting cultural and religious pluralism in the United States.
“Communion” – Black History Month Dance Performance
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.
McCrary Theater
Sharing voices, space and ideas, “Communion” seeks to build community through Black art and movement.
Sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts and the Office of Cultural & Special Programs
DEEP: The 1994 Crime Bill and the Black Community. The REAL Story.
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m.
Moseley 215
Known as the largest crime bill in the history of United States, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 provided $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and $6.1 billion for preventive programs. This program explores the lived impacts of the Crime Bill on crime, justice and communities of color.
Sponsored by the Department of Human Service Studies and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education
Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States
Thursday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.
LaRose Digital Theatre
Su’ad Abdul Khabeer will offer a lecture and performance exploring the intersections of race, religion and popular culture. Khabeer is the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States” and the founder and senior editor of Sapelo Square, an award-winning website dedicated to comprehensive analysis of the Black Muslim experience in the United States. Khabeer was named one of CNN’s “25 Influential American Muslims” in 2018. Khabeer is associate professor of American culture and director of Arab and Muslim-American studies at the University of Michigan.
Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society; Muslim Life at Elon; and the Elon Muslim Society
2020 Black History Month Planning Committee
- Brandon Bell, Chair – Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Shane Atkinson – Associate Chaplain for Muslim Life
- Becca Bishopric Patterson – Gender and LGBTQIA Center
- Adrian Carpenter – Office of Student Involvement
- Amy Chilcutt – Academic-Residential Partnerships for Dining Engagement
- Sofia Cordova ’20 – Student Coordinator. El Centro de Español
- Libby Coyner – Archivist and Assistant Librarian, Carol Grotnes Belk Library
- Stacie Dooley – Elon School of Law
- Carolina Ferreyros ’22 – Student Coordinator, El Centro de Español
- Luis Garay – Gender and LEBTQIA Center
- Eukela Little ’22 – Student Coordinator, Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Derrick Luster ’20 – Student Coordinator, Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Jennifer Gilbert Mencarini – Elon School of Law
- Kiah Glenn – Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Dr. Rebecca ‘Toddie’ Peters – Professor, Department of Religious Studies
- Diana Prieto Vinas – El Centro, Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Sandra Reid – Lecturer, Department of Human Service Studies
- Jarrod Rudd – Office of Student Involvement
- Marilyn Slade – Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education
- Trianne Smith – Housing and Residence Life, Community Director of Oaks Neighborhood
- Simone Thompson – Housing and Residence Life, Community Director of Historic Neighborhood
- Sylvia Wade – Housing and Residence Life, Community Director of East Neighborhood
- Nekeshia Wall – Assistant Professor of Dance, Department of Performing Arts
- Gabrielle ‘Paige’ Wilson ’22 – Student Coordinator, Gender and LGBTQIA Center
- Jamane Yeager – Carol Grotnes Belk Library