CSUB launches Black History Month celebration

Several events being held throughout February

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 5^th, 2026

California State University, Bakersfield began its Black History Month celebration with a kickoff event on Monday in the Student Union Multipurpose Room.

The event included food, music and remarks from students and campus leaders, including President Vernon B. Harper Jr. and Sociology Department Chair Dr. Rhonda Dugan. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Afrofuturism: No Limits to Our Legacy.”

Here is a list of the some of the other major Black History Month events being held on campus, in collaboration with partners including the African Student Association, Black Student Union, Associated Students Inc., Excel Scholars, Club RISE, Campus Programming and the Kegley Institute of Ethics.

Feb. 5: Black History Jeopardy, 4 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center, located in Dorothy Donahue Hall Room K103.

Feb. 6: Unity Breakfast, 7 a.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room.

Feb. 7: Fatherhood Awards Breakfast, 9 a.m. in the Stockdale Room.

Feb. 10: Eat and Greet: Meet the Black Faculty and Staff Association, 1 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 12: “Every Banner Has Its Story” with Dr. Wallace, 10 a.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 13: Frederick Douglass Day Celebration/Movie Screening, 6 p.m. in the Student Housing East Multipurpose Room.

Feb. 17: Lyrical Lounge, 3 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 18: Deep Roots, Strong Branches Family Tree Activity, 3 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 20: BSU Drip and Dress Sneaker Ball, 7 p.m. in the Student Housing East Multipurpose Room.

Feb. 24: “Your Blueprint for a Successful College Journey” with Dr. Nyakundi Michieka, 1 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 25: “The Story of My Journey” with Judge Keenan Perkins, 3 p.m. in the Stockdale Room.

Feb. 26: Vision Boarding the Future We Imagine, 3 p.m. in the Thomas D. Wallace Student Success Center.

Feb. 28: BSU and SOAR Talent Search, 5 p.m. in the Doré Theater.

Along with these events, the Walter W. Stiern Library has set up a book display on the second floor focused on Afrofuturism. The display will be available through March 31.