February is a month of love, unity, expression, change and history.
Established in 1926, Black History Month is dedicated to recognizing and honoring Black history, and this year is the 100th anniversary.
Founder Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) initially dedicated a week to celebrating Black Americans. In 1976, former President Gerald Ford signed an executive order that expanded the observance to honor Black history for the whole month.
The university kicked off the month on Feb. 2 when the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion (MCDI) hosted its annual flag-raising ceremony at the Peterson Library.
At the ceremony, Jade Roman, assistant director of the Myatt Center, said, “Student leaders shared insights aligned with the national Black History Month theme, ‘A century of Black History Commemoration.’”
Dorian Levy, a sophomore criminal justice student and vice president of the Black Student Union (BSU), began their speech by requesting everyone to take a breath and be present.
“What we are doing is more than opening a month,” said Levy. “We are honoring people. A legacy. A history that survived because it was carried with love, even when it was met with resistance.”
Kelci Davis, a senior criminal justice student and president of the BSU, also spoke.
“The Black Student Union believes that honoring black history is more than just learning names and dates: it means standing up for equity, inclusion and creating spaces where black students feel seen, supported, and empowered,” said Davis.
The BSU, with the Myatt Center, honors Black History Month by hosting events and activities to value and share Black culture with students and faculty. This year, BSU officers said they wanted to reach students all over campus with athletics, dining services, student affairs and other cultural organizations.
“This work happened behind closed doors,” said Levy. “Late nights. Long conversations. Moments of doubt. But we stayed committed because we knew this month had to feel like belonging, not just programming.”
The athletics department plans to host both a men’s and women’s basketball game to honor the month. Musical artist Zeddy Will and DJ Wallin will perform at the Black History Month concert on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Bucknall Theater.
The BSU has also collaborated with Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) to host their Wild ’N Out event. Tickets were sold out two hours after launch and the event will be hosted by Emmanuel Hudson from the original Wild N’ Out show.
For the month of February, students can try Black-inspired dishes from the university’s dining services. Curated menus and Black-owned food trucks can be found on the university’s dining Instagram, @unewhavendining.
“I’ve enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new dishes, and I’m looking forward to continuing to explore the food offerings throughout the rest of the month,” said Deandra Merricks, a junior psychology major and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Merricks said another upcoming event hosted by the NAACP is Break the Stigma, a collaborative program that focuses on mental health at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Myatt Center.
Black History sets the foundation for these organizations. “We are excited to see our student leaders’ programs and the impact they seek to create,” said Roman.
