Black History Month 2025

Welcome!
Black History month, which started as a week to acknowledge the contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. History, has transformed into a dedicated time to recognize, honor, and celebrate the influences that the Black Diaspora has had and continues to have on the world. This is a time to acknowledge that Black History is American history; a time reflect on our past, engage in the present, and create a better future. A future where members of the Black Community can live and flourish, unapologetically.
This year’s theme, “The Fabric of Our Community" which ties into the Black Student Coalition’s theme for the academic year "Weaving with a Common Thread." Like a tapestry made up of single threads, or a quilt comprised of many unique patches and complex designs, we will explore ways in which the cultural values, traditions, and the shared experiences of the Black community have created a strong foundation that unifies us while also celebrating our unique differences. We will discuss ways we heal and tell our stories through art, while also honoring the creativity and beauty that members of the Black Community have contributed to our world.
Allies, we invite you into community, to learn what it means to be anti-racist, address and eradicate anti-Blackness, and what your role and responsibility is in creating safer spaces for Black communities to thrive. We hope that you take the time to explore, reflect, understand, and celebrate the Black experience in the array of offerings during this month-long celebration.
While Black History Month is a designated time to spotlight and highlight Blackness and the Black community, we encourage you to go a step further. Challenge yourself to advocate for the Black community every single day. We invite you to begin this journey by engaging with the Black Student Coalition; a space dedicated to centering our Black students throughout the year.
A special thank you to my amazing students that helped with the planning of our programming this year, and to my wonderful colleagues who has partnered with us in this work. I know personally that this work is a labor of love. Your love and care has been, and continues to be, healing and transformative. Thank you for all that you do.
Warmly,
Nia Gipson, Black Student Retention Specialist, Black Student Coalition
Artist statement
As a Black artist, it is always important to me that I reference other artists and other Black artists in my work. For this piece I referenced other collage pieces based around the Civil Rights Movement. I specifically looked at Robert Mars’ works, “By Any Means Necessary” and “I Am a Man” for the collage energy. I also looked at the art from Emory Douglas from the Black Panther Movement for the portrait. It was important that because it is a Black History Month flyer that I actually, incorporate pieces of Black history in the flyer. For the background, the amazing Nia Gipson, our Black Student Retention Specialist, wanted to focus on “The Fabric of Our Community” and we talked about quilting and the use of color. I incorporated stars, and the background image was to incorporate color to represent that quilting aspect. Lastly, I drew the portrait to look like a patch to hopefully again, call to a quilting aspect. Black art is something that is so important to me so to be able to have this opportunity means a lot to me. Thank you. -Tabitha Johnson
Video courtesy of Luke Hollister & Sean Patrick / WWU
Event Details
Saturday, February 01, 7:00pm
Carver Gym
Celebrate Black History Month with the BSC and WWU Athletics! Free tickets available to community members. Check out the Women's Basketball 2024-25 schedule.
Wednesday, February 05, 12:00pm
VU 735
Join Black Student Support Specialist Jevon Moore, and WWU Senior Shaena Kruse as they explore mental health in BIPOC Communities. Engage in a riveting discussion and exploration of double consciousness through personal artistic expression.
Thursday, February 06, 12:00pm
VU 735
Come share a meal with educator, author, speaker, curriculum developer, and facilitator Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul as she shares about her journey un-advancing anti-bias and anti-racist work in the classrooms. This session is intended for student club leaders.
Thursday, February 06, 7:00pm
Carver Gym
Celebrate Black History Month with the BSC and WWU Athletics! Free tickets available to community members. Check out the Men's Basketball 2024-25 schedule.
Wednesday, February 12, 11:00am
Viking Commons
Chartwells hosted lunch.
Friday, February 14, 11:00am - 2:00pm
VU 735 & MCC Kitchen
Join us for a birthday party for Frederick Douglass: A Day of Love and Collective Action for Black history! There will be a birthday cake decorating station, stations for the Transcribe–A-Thon, and lunch from Calypso Kitchen! This year’s Transcribe-A-Thon features the African American Perspectives Collection at the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, February 19, 12:00pm
VU 735
This lunch and learn will be spotlighting the intersection of disability and racial identity with an emphasis on disability, justice, and joy.
Wednesday, February 19, 6:00pm
VU MPR
Celebrate Black History Month with La Plaza and the Black Student Coalition (BSC) as we come together for a fun and interactive Bachata workshop. Learn the steps and the history of this beloved dance while connecting with peers.
Thursday, February 20, 4:00pm
Fairhaven Commons
Chartwells hosted dinner. (optimal tabling/activity time would be 5pm - 7pm)
Saturday, February 22, 6:30pm
VU MPR
Join the Black Student Union for their heritage dinner, celebrating the cultural richness and importance of music, and art created during the Harlem Renaissance.
Wednesday, February 26, 12:00pm
VU 735
Join the Black Student Coalition as we welcome Pacific Northwest African-American quilters for a special presentation on the significance of quilting in the Black community and partake in decorating patches for our BSC quilt!
Thursday, February 27, 4:00pm
Ridgeway Commons
Chartwells hosted dinner. (optimal tabling/activity time would be 5pm - 7pm)
Event Location Key
- Carver Gym
- Miller Hall
- MCC Kitchen - Multicultural Center Kitchen, 7th floor of the Viking Union
- VU - Viking Union
- VU MPR - Viking Union, Multipurpose Room, 6th floor
- TBD - To be determined
Event Accessibility
These events are intended for all participants, including those with apparent or non-apparent disabilities. For disability accommodation(s) (such as ASL interpretation, etc.) please contact the Centers. Advanced notice is appreciated and sometimes necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
Resources for Additional Learning
- Black History: Did you know why the Black National Anthem is important?
Black History Month Co-Sponsors
- Black Student Coalition
- Multicultural Student Services
- Ethnic Student Center
- La Plaza - Latine Student Center
- Disability Outreach Center
- Woodring College of Education (CEED, ESJ)
- Counseling Health and Wellness; Counseling and Wellness Center
- Douglass Day Committee
- WWU Athletics; JEDI Team
- Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Committee
Douglass Day Sponsors
- Center for Canadian-American Studies
- College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Department of Global Humanities and Religions
- Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- English Department
- History Department
- Journalism Department
- Political Science Department
- The Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity
- Sociology Department
- Western Libraries
- Woodring College