By Matthew Villanueva, Features Assignment Editor
As February rolls around, we as a country celebrate Black History Month yet again. Starting in 1926 by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), they chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The association dubbed the week, “Negro History Week.”
Since 1978, when former President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, every U.S. president has officially distinguished the month of February as a month of important reflection. Also, since President Ford’s designation of the month, every year has had a specific theme. 2020’s theme is “African Americans and the Vote,” in honor of the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment, which granted women’s suffrage.
To celebrate Black History Month, St. Bonaventure is holding a multitude of events all around campus. This coming week, the Damietta Center will be transformed into a Black History Month gallery, which will highlight historic figures and moments (transformed from the current Lunar New Year decors). The gallery will be open for the whole month. The Black Student Union (BSU) is partnering up with the Damietta Center on this project. BSU is also hosting the first “Café Damietta” of the spring semester on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
SBU is also launching a poster/social media campaign this week titled, “Black History is American History,” which will focus on historical African American figures that have made significant contributions. There will be a special focus on those that have played a role in recent history, many of whom are still alive.
While there is no set date, the Damietta Center is also looking to screen, “The Blackness Project,” a feature-length documentary film about culture and race from the perspectives of African Americans and other minorities.
While these are all the current events planned, Nichole Gonzalez, dean of students, said, “There are many more events on the horizon.”
Gonzalez then described why it is important to celebrate Black History Month.
“It is important to honor Black History Month for many reasons. However, it is important during this time not to just celebrate historic moments [and people], but to tell truths about our nation’s history, even if they are uncomfortable for us to face,” Gonzalez explained.
Gonzalez continued, “Oftentimes, we want to feel good about all of the wonderful things people have done, but we do not pay enough attention to the atrocities people suffered, or the environment they were working in that they had to overcome. Those that were celebrated ‘the first’ or ‘the most celebrated’ often paid a high price for that title. We need to name and face those aspects of ‘American History’ as well.”
Admissions counselor, Dahron Wells, also weighed in on the importance of this month’s celebration.
“Since the beginning of time, black people have played the supporting role in history, that is if we’re given a role at all,” Wells said. “It’s because of our nation’s beginnings that we often feel forgotten or disregarded in society, especially in today’s political climate with even more predominantly white spaces. It makes it so much special that Bona’s recognizes the importance of celebrating this month not with just facts of black accomplishments, but with discussions, dialogues, celebrations and so much more.”
Wells closed saying, “It shows me that Bonaventure sees us, respects us believes in us and supports us.”
“This should be happening every month, not just during Black History Month,” said Gonzalez.
villanjv18@bonaventure.edu
