Black History Month 2021
Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, began in 1926 when Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson and other members of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History chose the date to match both Frederick Douglass' and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays. Woodson argued "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world" and urged visibility and study of the Black experience. In 1976, Black History Month was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford and has been recognized by every sitting president since.
Numerous events are scheduled to honor Black History Month at Oklahoma State University. Nancy Randolph Davis Day (February 1), honors the civil rights activist, educator and first Black enrollee at Oklahoma State University. In addition, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Center for Africana Studies as well as various student organizations and campus units will be hosting programs.
Schedule of Events
Below is a comprehensive list of events, programs and meetings in honor of Black History Month. The University community is encouraged to send programs to be included on this list to oma@okstate.edu. The list will be updated as more information is made available.
All live streamed events can be accessed on the homepage of OState TV. Programs hosted via Zoom will be directly linked below.
Oklahoma State University-Stillwater
In collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs
The Edmon Low Library will be featuring a digital Black History Month exhibit centering Black history in Oklahoma. View the digital exhibit here.
February 1 • Nancy Randolph Davis Day
Black History Month Speaker Series
Live on OState TV • 12p
Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Center for Africana Studies
"Reflections on the Legacy of Nancy Randolph Davis: Lessons Learned" will be presented by Professor Quraysh Ali Lansana.
Featured speaker, Quraysh Ali Lansana is author of twenty books in poetry, nonfiction and children’s literature. Lansana is a Tulsa Artist Fellow, acting director of the Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, writer in residence and professor at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. He is a former faculty member of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and The Julliard School in NYC. Lansana is executive producer of KOSU’s Focus: Black Oklahoma, and his forthcoming titles include Opal’s Greenwood Oasis. He is also a member of Tri-City Collective.
Register for "Reflections on the Legacy of Nancy Randolph Davis: Lessons Learned" below:
Carrying on the Torch
Facebook Live (@okstateEHS) • 5:30p
Hosted by the College of Education and Human Sciences
Dinner with the Royals • Benefit Night
The Garage-Stillwater • 6p-8p
The Mr. and Miss Black OSU Scholarship Pageant Coordination Council invites you to join* the reigning Mr. and Miss Black OSU for dinner at The Garage-Stillwater. Ten percent of the sales from 6p-8p will benefit the pageant program. Come meet Mr. and Miss Black OSU 2020 and consider having dinner at The Garage-Stillwater!
*The royals will welcome patrons as they enter the restaurant. Indoor dining and to-go options are determined by The Garage-Stillwater and City ordinances.
February 5
Black History Spotlight • Instagram (@omaokstate)
Visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Instagram page each Friday in the month February to learn about Black Americans’ contributions in education, politics, sports, civil rights, entrepreneurship, science, the arts and more!
They Ask Me to Remember: A reading and open discussion about anti-Black racism
Zoom • 3p-4p
Hosted by the Ad Hoc Committee on Anti-Black Racism, OSU Department of English
Attendees can prepare for the discussion by reading and reflecting on the following short texts (about 5-minute reads):
- Langston Hughes, "Theme for English B" from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes. Copyright © 2002 by Langston Hughes. Reprinted by permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc. Link to reading
- Lucille Clifton, “Why people be mad at me sometimes” from The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010. Copyright © 2012 by Kevin Young and Michael S, Glaser. Link to reading
Zoom Meeting ID:
818 8339 4172
February 9
An Evening with Representative Mauree Turner
Live on OState TV • 6:30p
Hosted by the OSU Alumni Association Student Network and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
Mauree Turner, pronouns They and She, is a born and raised American-Muslim and Oklahoma community organizer. Mauree's life's work is geared towards fighting for and maintaining the civil rights and liberties for all who enter America. They are also the current Representative for Oklahoma's House District 88.
Outside of becoming a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, Turner has been doing community
organizing around justice reimaginment and rebuilding, religious freedom, LGBTQ2S+
rights, and race relations with the ACLU of OK, CAIR-OK, NAACP, Freedom Oklahoma,
and a number of college campus-based and grassroots organizations. Outside of that
Representative Turner just likes to make coffee, cook, and mind their business.
Register for "An Evening with Representative Turner" below:
February 11
Athletics Panel
Live on OState TV• 6p
Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs
Join us for a panel discussion with former athletes as they reflect on their experiences and discuss the importance of Black History Month. The program will be moderated by Andrew McGee, former OSU football player and coordinator of recruitment and communications in the OSU Center for Ethical Leadership.
Register forthe Athletics Panel below:
More about the Panel:
Marshall Moses is a 12-year, world renowned professional athlete, public speaker and personal athletic trainer. Moses is known for delivering “in your face” powerful, youthful messages. His words, past speeches and philosophies move people all around the globe to be the best version of themselves and take mental health seriously.
Ryan Simmons is an alumnus of Oklahoma State University and former football player. He currently serves as a coordinator of recruitment with OSU football.
Simmons is the husband to Ashley Simmons and father to Eli and Naava.
Yves Batoba graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2013 where he triple majored in business administration, sports management and marketing while playing defensive back for the university’s football team.
He worked on the opposite side of the table in the Miami Dolphins front office for the last 5 years. Yves has also helped develop young individuals at all levels in sport to reach their full potential on and off the field.
His background includes assistant director of player engagement for the Miami Dolphins; coordinator of student welfare and development at the University of Notre Dame; F.L.A.M.E. (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) and United States Olympic committee.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yves currently resides with his wife in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas where he grew up.
Microaggressions and Research Virtual Workshop
Virtual • 6:30p
Hosted by the McNair Scholars Program
We have noticed our students often struggle with how and when to respond to microaggressions while conducting undergraduate research. We want this workshop to serve a resource for scholars to resource as they continue their collegiate journey.
Afro-Am Meet and Greet/Black History Trivia
Zoom • 7p
The African American Student Association (Afro-Am) has remained steadfast in its mission of supporting students' academic success, campus involvement, civic engagement, cultural awareness and political action since 1968. Come learn how to get involved and become a member. Afro-Am will also host a game of Black history trivia.
Register for the Afro-Am Meet and Greet below:
February 12
Black History Spotlight • Instagram (@omaokstate)
Visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Instagram page each Friday in the month February to learn about Black Americans’ contributions in education, politics, sports, civil rights, entrepreneurship, science, the arts and more!
February 19
Black History Spotlight • Instagram (@omaokstate)
Visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Instagram page each Friday in the month February to learn about Black Americans’ contributions in education, politics, sports, civil rights, entrepreneurship, science, the arts and more!
Pace/Money/Race/Gender in the Time of COVID: Looking at the Digital Humanities
An Interview with Dr. Moya Bailey, moderated by Dr. Stacy Takacs
Zoom • 12:00p CST
The OSU Digital Humanities Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Moya Bailey, assistant professor of Africana studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern University.
Dr. Bailey is Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Northeastern University. Her work focuses on marginalized groups’ use of digital media to promote social justice as acts of self-affirmation and health promotion, and how race, gender, and sexuality are represented in media and medicine. Bailey currently curates the #transformDH Tumblr initiative in Digital Humanities and is the digital alchemist for the Octavia E. Butler Legacy Network. She is an MLK Visiting Scholar at MIT for the 2020–2021 academic year. Dr. Bailey’s new book, Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance, is coming out May 2021.
Researching Social Justice with Social Media Data
Session for undergrad and graduate students
Zoom • 2:00p CST
Register for either event below:
February 20
2021 Vision: Your Dreams Resurrected
Zoom • 9:00a
Hosted by the OSU Black Faculty and Staff Association
The OSU Black Faculty and Staff Association will host a professional development workshop on Saturday, February 20 from 9a-4p. The workshop will provide attendees with resources and information to enhance their understanding of the intersections of social justice and advocacy in the workplace and financial literacy. The workshop will also feature an alumni panel.
Black History Week 2021
Presented by members of the President’s Round Table
Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs
February 22
Black History Month Speaker Series
Live on OState TV • 12p
Hosted by the Center for Africana Studies and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
"How Long Til' Black Futures Month?" will be presented by Andrew R. Belton, Ph.D. Dr. Belton's presentation will make explicit certain connections between hip hop's cultural response to racial capitalism and the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests as part of a long Black musical history and movement towards social justice.
Dr. Belton is an assistant professor of Black diasporic literature and culture in the Department of English at Oklahoma State University. His current book project, Hip Hop Illiterate: Black Hermeneutics and the Limits of an Anti-Black World, centers the hip hop emcee as a cultural figure that updates the historic struggles to care for and protect Black Life for the twenty-first century and beyond. His writing has appeared in academic journals such as PMLA, with non-academic interests including experimental filmmaking and beat production.
The presentation title is taken from the N.K. Jemisin short story collection of a slightly different/same name.
Register for "How Long Til' Black Futures Month?" below:
1921: A Recollection of Buried History
Zoom • 6p
Co-hosted by the Association of Black Psychologists, OSU Student Chapter and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, OSU College Chapter and sponsored by the Center for Africana Studies and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
The OSU NAACP and the Association of Black Psychologists will present information about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and its implications almost 100 years later.
Register for the Tulsa Race Massacre program below:
We are the Future of Agriculture
Zoom • 6:00p
Hosted by Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture, Ms. Blayne Arthur will be speaking to students about minorities' contributions to the agricultural sector and what to expect from the future of agriculture. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) will also be offering a Covid-safe meal that can be picked up and taken home following the event. Limited in-person seating will be available in Ag Hall 002.
Zoom Meeting ID: OSUMANRRS
February 24
The Real Table Talk: A CROWNING Moment
Zoom • 6:30p
Co-hosted by Miss Black OSU and the Theta Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Join Miss Black OSU and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. for an open discussion about the legislation surrounding hair discrimination known as the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) and other topics impacting communities of color.
Register for "A CROWNING Moment" below:
February 25
Guess Who: Black History Edition
Zoom • 6p
Co-hosted by the African American Student Association and the Xi Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Join the Afro-Am and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. for a fun game night!
Zoom Meeting ID:
993 0051 9029
869545
February 26
Black History Spotlight • Instagram (@omaokstate)
Visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Instagram page each Friday in the month February to learn about Black Americans’ contributions in education, politics, sports, civil rights, entrepreneurship, science, the arts and more!
Mental Health Matters
Zoom • 4p
Co-hosted by Mr. Black OSU and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
Join Mr. Black OSU and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences as they host Jasmine Harris, Ph.D. to discuss mental health and coping skills. Dr. Harris is a Georgia-based licensed psychologist and works for the VA Medical Center.
Register for the Mental Health Matters program below:
February 27
51st Miss Black Oklahoma State University Scholarship Pageant
Live on OState TV • 4p
Sponsored by the African American Student Association, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division of Access and Community Impact
For more information visit the Miss Black OSU Scholarship Pageant webpage.
March 1
Black History Month Speaker Series
Live on OState TV• 12p
Hosted by the Center for Africana Studies and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
"Black Migrations: The movement of Afro-descendants around the globe" will be presented by Erica Townsend-Bell, Ph.D., OSU associate professor of political science and director of the Center for Africana Studies. Dr. Townsend-Bell teaches courses in race and gender politics, social movements and qualitative methods, with an expertise in intersectionality, comparative equality and Latin American politics.
Her research areas focus on the normative implementation of intersectionality, comparative racial politics, and the politics of inclusion. Her work has been published in Political Research Quarterly, Signs, The Oxford Handbook of Gender and Politics, Politics and Gender, and Palgrave's Intersectionality series, among other outlets. She is currently working on a book manuscript, Incorporating Difference: Implementing Intersectionality in Latin America.
Register for "Black Migrations: The movement of Afro-descendants around the globe" below:
March 9
Black History 101 Mobile Museum
Leadership and Campus Life Lounge • 10a-3p
Sponsored by the Center for Africana Studies, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Student Union Activities Board
The Black History 101 Mobile Museum’s collection is comprised of over 7,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to hip hop culture. Founder, CEO and curator, Dr. Khalid el-Hakim has been called the “Schomburg of the Hip Hop generation” because of his passionate commitment to carry on the rich legacy of the Black Museum Movement. The event is free and open to the public.
The LCL Lounge is located on the second floor of the Student Union.
Black History 101 Mobile Museum Lecture
French Lounge (270 SU) • 1p-2p
Dr. Khalid el-Hakim will present a lecture about the artifacts featured in the museum.
Seating is limited and will be available on first come basis.
