CSUB celebrating Black History Month

Several events to be held throughout February

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 1^st, 2022

California State University, Bakersfield is celebrating Black History Month with several events being held throughout February.

The celebration begins today with a virtual kickoff event being held by the Black Faculty and Staff Association and will wrap up on Feb. 28. Nearly all events will be held virtually due to COVID-19.

“Black History Month represents an opportunity to enlighten everyone about the accomplishments of African Americans and those of African descent anywhere in the world,” said Darius Riggins, co-chair of the association and director of university outreach. “It helps break down this notion that African Americans have not made significant contributions to society. It opens up your eyes and allows you to be able to understand there are contributions from all walks of life.”

Tuesday’s kickoff event includes a Q&A session as well as presentations from CSUB faculty including President Lynnette Zelezny and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Vernon Harper. One of the goals of the event is to give students an opportunity to meet and forge relationships with Black leaders on campus.

“Our Black student population needs more support on campus,” said Tamar Anthony, fellow co-chair of the Black Faculty and Staff Association. “For them to actually meet the Black faculty and staff and have an opportunity to collaborate with them will hopefully make our African American students feel more comfortable and welcome on campus.”

Riggins said he hopes that Black students who attend this month’s events will learn more about the achievements of African Americans and that it will inspire them.

“It could serve as motivation for them to continue on with their pursuits simply because they now have a connection with a face that looks like them, someone who comes from the same community or background as them and did great things,” he said. “Many young Black men and women don’t have any positive role models in their life.”

The Black History Month events will also provide opportunities for non-Black students to learn more about a culture that’s different than theirs, Riggins said.

“If you don’t take the time to go and experience something that’s different or unique in regards to another culture or group, you may not ever get to a place where you can respect and understand that experience and where that person is coming from,” he said. “The best way to know somebody is to walk in their shoes.”

Riggins said the education that is provided through Black History Month and similar celebrations play an important role in increasing acceptance, understanding and appreciation of other groups and cultures.

“When you have the ability to recognize the accomplishments of anybody and see them for the greatness that they are, I think it’s able to break down stereotypes, it’s able to break down the differences that we have,” he said. “It just opens up your mind and provides that bridge for communication.”

Here are all the major events being held this month as part of Black History Month. Partners for these events include Campus Programming, the Black Student Union, and the African Student Association.

Feb. 1: BFSA Black History Month Kickoff, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 3: Black & Muslim, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 4: Unity Breakfast, 8 a.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 12: BHM Celebration at Colonel Allensworth State Historical Park, 10 a.m., 4011 Grant Dr. in Earlimart.

Feb. 15: Black Women Educator Panel Discussion, 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 16: Teacher Read Aloud Series: Brown Boy Joy, 5 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 17: Brown Bag Discussion: “Active Mic: Mental Health Through Music” with Kai Roberts, 12 p.m. via Zoom. Black History Month Ethics in Leadership: A Conversation with NaTesha Johnson, 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 18: Community Conversation: Divine Nine, 10 a.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 21: Blacks in Agriculture, 4 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 24: Expression Nights and Trivia, 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 25: Blacks in Space & Technology, 12 p.m. via Zoom. Drive-In Movie Night, 7 p.m. in Parking Lot I.

Feb. 28: Film screening of "Kings of Freedom" at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Film director, producer and CSUB alumnus Julian Wilson will join the screening of this film about Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. George Hardy.

Attendees will have the chance to meet Hardy, an American retired pilot and military officer. In World War II, Hardy served with the Tuskegee Airmen and flew 21 combat missions. In the Korean War, he flew 45 combat missions as the pilot of a bomber. In the Vietnam War, he flew 70 combat missions piloting an AC-119K gunship.