Just shy of a century ago, on Feb. 7, 1926, American historian Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week to extend local gatherings honoring the deaths of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas into larger celebrations of the Black past.
Woodson believed that honoring Black history should not just honor these prolific leaders. Rather, he wanted to encourage all Americans to study and honor the Black men and women who go unseen yet contribute to the advancement of Black people and the human race overall.
Woodson's creation would evolve 50 years later, in 1976, to become Black History Month.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the federal government's recongition of Black History Month, Michigan State University will be hosting a variety of events across campus throughout February.
Among the month's events: The College of Osteopathic Medicine will continue its Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series, "Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey" for their 26th year and the African Studies Center will hold a bi-weekly "Eye on Africa" seminar on cutting-edge knowledge on the continent of Africa.
MSU will also feature four guest speakers, including Jelani Cobb, author, producer and dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, and Bob Kendrick, writer and president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Below is the full list of Black History Month events on campus:
Thursday, Feb. 5
5:30 p.m. — Annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series with Dean Jelani Cobb
Jelani Cobb is the dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York. He is the author of several books on Black culture, including "To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic." To register to attend virtually or in person, visit the College of Osteopathic Medicine website.
Tuesday, Feb. 10
3 p.m. — Book Talk Series: African American Women Scholars on Race, Racism and Living Black in America
MSU Libraries is hosting Sherri Williams to discuss her book, "Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television," moderated by Assistant Professor Christina L. Meyers from the MSU School of Journalism. This event is virtual; to learn more and register, visit the MSU Libraries website.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
6 p.m. — Speculative Futures | Afrofuturism and the Art of Stacey Robinson
Join the MSU Museum for a conversation and zine workshop with artist Stacey Robinson, moderated by MSU English Professor Julian Chambliss. Participants can also engage with graphic novelist and University of Illinois Professor Stacey Robinson, whose work reimagines Black identity and culture through visual storytelling and sound. Register at the MSU Museum’s website.
7 p.m. — Multicultural Center One-Year Anniversary Open House
The Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Advocacy will host a celebration of the first anniversary of the opening of the Multicultural Center, located in the center of campus. All are welcome to celebrate culture and build community together. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided. No registration is necessary.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Noon — "Eye on Africa" with Janet Munakamwe
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This seminar, featuring guest speaker Janet Munakamwe, will cover "Unlocking the Potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in the Just Energy Transition: Rethinking a Unified Pan-African Regulatory Framework." Read more and register for this virtual event here.
5:30 p.m. — Annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series with Bob Kendrick
As a part of their lecture series, the College of Osteopathic Medicine will host Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating African American baseball and its impact on America’s social advancement. To register to attend the lecture virtually or in person, visit the College of Osteopathic Medicine website.
Friday, Feb. 13
Noon — Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon: A Day of Collective Action for Black History
MSU Libraries is hosting its annual Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon event at the MSU Main Library. The celebration focuses on food, joy and action, oriented around a transcribe-a-thon that brings together thousands of participants at more than 100 simultaneous events around the world. To learn more and register for this event, visit the MSU Libraries website.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
3 p.m. — Book Talk Series: African American Women Scholars on Race, Racism and Living Black in America
MSU Associate Professor LaShawn Harris will discuss her book, "Tell Her Story: Eleanor Bumpurs and the Police Killing that Galvanized New York City," moderated by Associate Professor Tama Wray. To learn more and register for this in-person event, visit the MSU Libraries website.
Thursday, Feb. 19
5:30 p.m. — Made in Detroit: Carl Craig and Rodney Whitaker in Conversation
Electronic music artist Carl Craig joins jazz bassist, composer and educator Rodney Whitaker for an in-depth conversation on creativity, improvisation and artistic practice at the MSU Museum. To register and learn more about the event, visit the MSU Museum website.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Noon — "Eye on Africa" with Andrew Marshall
This seminar, featuring guest speaker Andrew Marshall, will cover "First Languages and the National Language in Politics along the Kenya-Tanzania Border." Register for this virtual event here.
5:30 p.m. — Annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series with Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway
Mary Ann and China Pettway have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces from the early 20th century to the present that have been featured across the U.S., including at the Smithsonian and at MSU. The quilting tradition in Gee’s Bend can be traced as far as the early 1800s. To register to attend virtually or in person to learn more about The Gee's Bend Quilters' Collective, visit the College of Osteopathic Medicine website.
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