W&J Celebrates Black History Month with a host of activities

Created: February 6, 2019  |  Last Updated: December 20, 2019  |  Category:   |  Tagged:

Students from the Black Legends Ball Planning Committee pose for a photo during the Inaugural Black Legends Ball in 2018. The Black Legends Ball is one of many featured events that are part of W&J’s Black History Month celebration. 

WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 4, 2018)—February is Black History Month, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our community!

“Celebrating Black History Month is celebrating American and global histories of the contributions, strengths, and challenges lived by our African American students and community members,” said Coordinator of Diversity & Leadership Initiatives Sammie Walker. “We’re excited to offer a host of activities to mark this occasion as an extension of our cultural heritage month programming.”

The month will feature a host of events, including author readings, engaging group activities, and the return of the Black Legends Ball. In addition, the Commons will be offering Black History Month specials every Wednesday in February, and the library has a display featuring suggestions from the African American Read In.

See a full schedule of events below:

Feb 5—R&B & Black Love, led by Black Student Union and Charles West Scholars, Media Room at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12—“Passing the Baton: Black Student Union’s Legacy” Media Room at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13—Lecture on environment and literature led by poet Ross Gay, Allen Ballroom in Rossin Student Center at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14: “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” a poetry reading by Ross Gay, Media Room at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 15: R&B Yoga with Black Student Union, Ross Rec Center Dance Studio at 7 p.m.

Feb. 16: Kai Roberts Performance: Black community and Mental Health, Hub Alley at 6 p.m.

Feb. 19: Black Student Union study tables and informal black networking student panel, Media Room at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 23: The 2nd Annual Black Legends Ball featuring keynote speaker Mark Weir, Allen Ballroom in Rossin Student Center at 6:30 p.m. Please note that this is an RSVP required event.

Feb. 27: “The Present Life of Blasphemy: Kanye West in American Popular Culture” led by Dr. Kathryn Lofton of the religious studies program at Yale, Burnett 103 at 7 p.m.

More details on each event will be included in upcoming editions of the W&J Weekly.

About Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.