Students and faculty gathered outside the German Club on Feb. 1 to kick off Black History Month with the raising of the Black Lives Matter flag and the Black American Heritage flag.
The assistant director of the Myatt Center, Kenneth Notarino-Jeffrey said, “Before we get started, it’s Black History Month y’all,” which led the crowd to clap and cheer.
“Let’s kick off Black History Month,” Notarino-Jeffery said. Student leaders from recognized student organizations (RSOs) and some faculty spoke at the podium facing the crowd.
The Black Student Union president, Aaron Brooks, was the first student speaker of the event and thanked the crowd for being in attendance. Brooks said how “This flag is more than just a piece of cloth. It is a message. It’s a commitment to standing up against racial injustices that students might face on this campus. We want every student to know their voices are not heard collectively, but also as unique individuals.”
The Black Lives Matter flag was not the only flag being honored this month. For the first time, the Black American Heritage flag will also be honored at the university throughout February.
“The addition of this representation emphasizes the diverse experiences within our community and commitment to recognizing the unique challenges faced by different people,” Brooks said.
Sadara Funches, the University of New Haven NAACP chapter president, took the crowd through the history of the Black American Heritage flag. The flag was created by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson in 1967 “to symbolize the black culture that was created in America after the Atlantic slave trade that took place between the 16th and 19th century,” said Funches. Funches also said how the yellow, red and black flag design represents resistance, power and unity.
The Muslim Student Association was in attendance and the director of public relations, Secora Chambers took to the podium.
Chambers’ speech recognized what “…the black community has done not just in America but around the globe.” Reminding the crowd that “Black History Month is a designated time to promote and educate people about black history and culture.”
Highlighting important black figures like Alexander Miles who “is the reason why our elevator doors open and close automatically.” Also, Garrett Morgan who “is the reason why we have traffic lights today” and NASA scientist Valerie Thomas is “why we can see 3D movies today.”
Barbara Lawrence, the university’s vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) was in attendance. She said to the crowd reminding them of why they were there that day, “We rest on the shoulders of so many of our ancestors who died for us to be here, who struggled through things that we can’t even imagine, we are here to honor and to continue that legacy.”
Interim president Sheahon Zenger was also in attendance for the event and said a few words before Funches and Brooks raised the two flags.
Zenger referenced Dr. Martin Luther King and how he went about his life with peace and love which is his “challenge” for students and faculty “as we go about this semester.”
The crowd cheered as the flags made it to the top of the pole signifying the start of Black History Month.
“Let’s honor this black history month, by having more conversations, learning from one another, taking actions to move our community toward and forward in solidarity toward transformational change,” Lawrence said.