Guilford College will celebrate Black History Month in February with a theme of “We are…” An array of events are planned on campus that will honor the various identities that span the Black and African Diaspora and acknowledge the many ways members of the diaspora have helped shape the nation.
Black History Month celebrates the rich heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an integral part of our country’s history. In celebration this year, College organizations will host events and initiatives in which students, alumni, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate.
Ayesha Swinton, Director of the Office of Transformation and Inclusion, is excited about the many events scheduled, some of which are highlighted here.
“What makes these events special is that they are being curated by a number of community members who volunteered to be on the Black History Month Committee,” says Ayesha. “The ideas generated for these events have been spectacular because of the individual committee members' willingness to give of themselves to celebrate collective history. This year's theme of ‘We are…’ speaks to the multifaceted identities and numerous ways of being that we bring to our Guilford community and beyond.”
Black History Month begins Thursday, Feb. 1, at Founders Hall with Black History Bowl in the dining hall during lunch.
Later that day, the Guilford community is invited to attend a 6:30 pm live screening of the International Civil Rights Museum Speaker Series program featuring Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr., a civil rights leader, author, journalist, organic chemist and the current president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. The screening will be in the Founders East Gallery.
The official Black History Month Kickoff event will be Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 2 pm in Dana Auditorium and will feature the creative talents of students, faculty, staff and alumni.
On Thursday, Feb. 8, Charles Bolden, the first Black NASA administrator and a former Shuttle commander, will meet with Guilford students at 4 pm in Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Auditorium of Frank Family Science Center. Charles will speak in a Bryan Series program at 7:30 pm at the Tanger Center.
The central event for Guilford’s Black History Month will be the Gertrude Judd Upperman ’69 Symposium on Friday, Feb. 23. The symposium, from 10 am to 3:15 pm in Founders Hall, will explore Black cultural identity, expression, experiences, activism, challenges and resilience. It will also allow Guilford College alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community leaders to share their scholarship and creative works surrounding Black culture and Black history.
The month of celebration will conclude with Sunday Dinner and Dancing in the Community Center on campus Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 pm. The event is open to the community and will feature delicious food and fun line dancing.
More events are being planned and will be announced when they are confirmed.