Goodbye, Black History Month
A look on Black History month's importance and how the Pacific celebrated it.
As we say goodbye to another amazing Black History Month, we should reflect on everything we learned and experienced through the teachings and events that occurred during the month of February. Here at Pacific we honored Carter G. Woodson’s vision to spread awareness about Black contributions in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields and the community. We showed great movies that exemplified Black excellence: A Thousand and One, Bar Daddy the Al Jenkins Story, Big George Foreman, Straight Outta Compton, If Beale Street could Talk, Good Burger, and American Fiction. All of these films highlighted Black excellence and the struggles that the Black community have endured because of the color of their skin. These movies showed the strength and power of overcoming obstacles no matter the time period.
Pacific had different socials hosted by the Center of Identity and Inclusion through Black Student Services (BSS), where students were able to come in and participate in creative activities like creating vision boards to strive for a great future no matter their skin color. There was also a Black Greek social that gave Black students the opportunity to learn more about the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities and their impact on the Black community and the empowerment that they provide to Black students. There was also a Black student and staff luncheon hosted by BSS and an Alumni & Student Mixer hosted by the Black Alumni Club. Black students and staff were able to come together and familiarize with each other so students can have a support system throughout their academic endeavors, and staff to have opportunities to reach out to young students to guide and mentor them.
There were also different socials and workshops that allowed students to show their artistic side with Vision & Vibes: Spirituality in Black History the event and gave students a space where they could be free to express themselves. America tries to do everything it can to ensure that Black youth don't thrive or have dreams. This vision board event gave Black students a space to dream and set goals for the future. The Paint Your History event hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU) was another event where Black students could express their artistic side as well as talk about lost history in the Black community. The whole point of Black History Month is to teach the forgotten American history, and BSU was able to do this with the Paint Your History event. The IAmRemarkable was a workshop that focused on bringing out the excellence in students. Black students are already expected to fail, and not to succeed. These workshops taught Black students on how to strive for excellence, self-promotion, and self-love.
We had the opportunity to talk with Black filmmakers and government officials about being in those positions as a Black American. We had the chance to see successful people of color in roles that we as students of color are striving for. They talked about their experiences and goals they have in their respective fields. It was a great opportunity to see people of color becoming successful and not letting stereotypes stop them. Finally, we finished the month off with a fun Y2K dance hosted by BSU to celebrate Black contributions to pop culture. It provided students with the chance to dress-up and have fun. We also hailed the Black queens and kings of the culture with their music that continues to be played decades after.
I am proud to celebrate and continue the tradition of Black History Month with Carter G. Woodson’s vision. I am proud that after all these years we are continuing his vision of telling the truth behind American history and celebrating the accomplishments of the Black community. I was lucky enough to be taught this history and the amazing contributions of the Black community because of my race, but not everyone is lucky enough to be taught the truth. This month gives them that opportunity and Pacific had events and discussions to celebrate and to teach. We make Carter G. Woodson and all the Black contributors proud to have another successful Black History Month, and I hope to continue to make them proud.