Black History Month has been a large part of African-American culture since the 1920’s. In 1926, it was first initiated as Negro History Week.

To Kent State’s Black United Students, however, the celebration means a little bit more.

“In 1968, Black United Students at Kent State proposed that Negro History Week, founded by Carter D. Woodson, be changed to Black History Month,” said Isaac Floyd, BUS’s President. 

After the idea stuck, the first Black History Month commemoration took place at Kent State University in February of 1970. 

Since then, BUS has been confident in their efforts to recruit new members and make the most of their traditions.

“As Black United Students, we definitely encourage and try to spread pride on an annual basis. However, February is a platform and celebration of black history, identity and culture,” Floyd said. 

Events to promote Black History Month will take place until the end of the month. These events include male empowerment networking, keynote speakers and African dance workshops. 

Marquita Williams, the president of the Barefeet Dance Tribe, is raising money from these workshops to send her team to a conference in Scotland this summer. 

“I like doing traditional dance for Black History Month because it reminds me of the African culture. Since we’re an African dance team and Africa ties into Black History Month, we came in and taught modern and traditional dancing,” Williams said.

Floyd, who was present at the event, stresses how important Black History Month means to him.

“It’s an opportunity to embrace the skin that I’m in, and to give other people the opportunity to really see that, whether you’re black, white, purple, orange, or blue. Black History Month is everything,” Floyd said. 

The calendar of events for Black History Month can be seen here: https://www.kent.edu/smc/black-history-month.