LANSING - Students at Lansing Community College honored the first days of Black History Month and previewed upcoming February events with a kickoff celebration Friday.
The unity celebration, titled “Black History Is All Of Us,” included performances by students, the unveiling of the Black History Month poster and a traveling display of works produced by black inventors.
Stanley Chase, assistant dean of student and academic support and director of student relations at LCC, said the event was just a sample of what Black History Month activities are to come.
“I think in any environment one needs to be aware of the foundation of where they’re existing,” Chase said. “It’s an imperative for us to make ourselves aware of the hard blood, sweat and tears that made our community and our country the place it is today.”
The tradition of Black History Month was launched in the 1920s by Carter G. Woodson. Woodson chose February to include the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and former President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Woodson started an association to study “Negro Life and History.” In 1926 the group began promoting “Negro History Week,” which was lengthened in 1976 and titled Black History Month. Today, Black History Month is observed by schools, universities, government agencies and the media.
Leticia Villarreal, an LCC fisheries and wildlife sophomore, attended the event and helped with Black History Month activities.
Villarreal said recognizing Black History Month is important.
“Students should attend these to learn of other people’s viewpoints,” she said. “It’s important to understand the African American struggle and how they’ve gotten to where they can celebrate this event and share it with others.”
During the celebration, LCC staff, faculty, students and community leaders joined to unveil the winning Black History Month poster, which was designed by LCC graphic design senior Garth Lydeksen.
The vivid poster, which depicts an image of the American flag, shows people of different colors uniting. It was developed as part of a public service design project at LCC.
“I think the class was really excited about this project and I’m honored that this design was chosen,” Lydeksen said .
Connie Peterson, instructor of the LCC graphic design class, said the project helped her students learn more about Black History Month.
“Part of the project was the idea that students would benefit from the discussion of Black History Month and the exposure to other cultures,” Peterson said. “This was surely something that they embraced.”
Black History Month activities are free and open to the public. For more information on the Black History Month call 483-1059.
