Black History Month is set to begin across the country on Feb. 1, and USC, along with Black organizations, has developed a wide array of events for students to enjoy. This year’s theme is “Reclamation through Resistance, Rebirth through Reconciliation.” Other groups on campus such as the Daily Trojan have begun preparations for special Black History Month edition papers, newsletters, meetings and ceremonies.
The university is kicking off the month with a commencement address from President Carol Folt as well as faculty, staff and students on the first at 12:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to join in person or via zoom, with a watch party being held at Tommy’s Place. Notable individuals set to speak at the event include U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and USC football linebacker Shane Lee.
But it’s not just USC’s administration that’s initiating upcoming large-scale events—Alexandria Gee, a junior majoring in communications and a cultural ambassador for the Center for Black Culture and Student Affairs (CBCSA) and a leader for the club initiative Siblings in Solidarity, explained what organizations like hers are doing to celebrate Black history.
“This semester we’re getting really into it…We’re having the Black Career Fair, the first one ever; it’s held by BSA [Black Student Assembly],” said Gee.
BSA, CBCSA, as well as other prolific Black clubs and organizations are hosting a plethora of events. For example, FRO Fest, which stands for ‘films representing ourselves,’ is holding discussions about Black identity and Black history. Other events include yard shows, a Divine Nine—historically Black fraternities and sororities—performance at half-time for an upcoming basketball game, and even a pageant hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (a Black fraternity) called the “Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant.”
Students on campus are also preparing for the list of events and opportunities that are set to be hosted. Christian Bipat, a sophomore studying business administration and a member of the Black Student Assembly and the USC organization Brothers Breaking Bread (BBB)—a group designated for Black men—talked about the importance of USC taking the initiative to celebrate Black History Month.
“I feel like it’s important because we don’t often see our race represented on campus that much,” said Bipat. “I don’t often see Black people that much in my classes or on campus except for at the BSA room.”
According to a report released by the school, the Fall 2022 undergraduate class had a ‘Black/African American’ population of less than 6%.
There are other non-Black student organizations that are also launching new aspects for the month. The Daily Trojan, USC’s student-run newspaper, has a special issue set to come out this Friday.
“The biggest thing we’re going to be doing across all the sections is focusing our coverage on Black organizations, Black movements, Black students and Black art,” said Sage Wheeler, a junior studying chemical engineering and English literature and the paper’s Editor-in-Chief. “We’re also going to be platforming a little bit more intentionally some of our Black staffers. That includes staff writers, but then also photographers and artists.”
Students should look out for upcoming emails, newsletters, newspaper copies and press coverage for the upcoming Black student events that are soon to take center stage.