For Tarik Richardson, co-director of the Black Student Union, the recognition of black history extends well beyond the month of February.
Groups on campus, such as the Black Student Union and Black Women of Achievement, are fostering this recognition by hosting events throughout the month to recognize black history.
Two of these events are the Black Night of Achievement and a women’s empowerment luncheon, in which students’ academic and extracurricular achievements will be commended. Allies will also be recognized, including professors who have contributed to African American organizations on campus.
The Black Student Union will also be hosting discussions about Black History Month at its weekly meetings, held each Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Mills International Center.
“Black history doesn’t follow the same stream that other history does,” said Richardson. “We all celebrate the Fourth of July. We have to remember that black folks didn’t get their independence on the Fourth of July, even though we’re all Americans.”
He said during Black History Month, he hopes individuals become familiar with different cultures and their histories.
For Fnan Berhe, vice president of the UO chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black History Month is about acknowledgement.
“I hope everyone acknowledges Black History Month as a time to pay our respects to activists, artists and authors who’ve done so many amazing things in American history and acknowledging the way that they’ve transformed our history into the present,” Berhe said. “I think it’s about understanding that we wouldn’t be where we are without the historically significant people who have made our present possible.”
Beyond historical events and significant figures, members of the African American community on campus will also be addressing current events. One such topic is police brutality.
“I think the goal of Black History Month and different cultures’ history months is to make different cultures more normalized and less alien, so that when we do have tragedies or things are going on, we don’t fall back into our tropes,” Richardson said. “We start to actually think more logically and with more compassion about different groups.”
Fevean Siyoum, co-director of Black Women of Achievement, said that it’s important to be aware.
“I think the reason we talk about racism isn’t to dwell on it, but to recognize that racism still exists so we can move forward,” Siyoum said.
Berhe said that this year, groups on campus are ensuring that Black History Month is recognized, with strong organization and a variety of events being put on by groups on campus.
“This is a good way to recognize our significance in the world,” Berhe said. “We can recognize that there has been so much progress made because of activists and African Americans who’ve broken barriers and continued to do so much good in this world.”
More information concerning events being held during Black History Month can be found on the Black Student Union Facebook page.