Landmark College recognized and celebrated Black History Month throughout the month of February. The College’s Centers for Diversity and Inclusion hosted Black History Month events every weekday in Frost Hall, bringing students and staff together for conversations to “reflect on the profound truth that Black history is American history,” said Director of the Centers for Diversity and Inclusion Marc Thurman ‘18.
“It’s important to recognize that this history connects not just celebrated figures and events,” Thurman continued, “but also the deep roots, sacrifices, and relentless pursuit of civil rights that have shaped our nation.”
Black History Month at Landmark College concluded with a Caribbean Night celebration on February 27th at the Rise Up Center. David Jenerson, a current student studying Psychology and working part-time as a coordinator at the Rise Up Center, helped to start the event, which has taken place every semester in recent years.
Jenerson and his family create traditional Caribbean dishes to share with the community for the event, and Jenerson runs an educational program about key aspects of Caribbean culture while people eat. This year, Jenerson’s family made beans and rice, and Dahl, a split-pea based dish that can be eaten as a soup, a stew, or, as Jenerson puts it, “I like to say it’s a sauce because we put it over rice.” While attendees ate, Jenerson talked about Panorama, a competition in Trinidad where people compete in playing the steel pan.
Other examples of Black History Month programming throughout the month included a discussion of the history and legacy of the Black Panther movement and conversations about how other identities – such as gender and queerness – intersect with Blackness. Across the month’s programming, Thurman described the goal as to foster increased connection across identities on campus. “When we open our minds, we discover that we are all connected,” Thurman said.
Learn more about the Centers for Diversity and Inclusion at Landmark College.