California State University, Bakersfield is celebrating Black History Month with several events being held throughout February.
The celebration begins on Wednesday with a kickoff event being held at noon on the Student Union patio. The event will include food, music, games and messages from Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Dwayne Cantrell and student leaders from the African Student Association and Black Student Union.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Celebrating Us: Our History is Your History.”
“Black History Month is the time to remind yourself and others about the value and importance of recognizing the who, what, when, where and how of the African diaspora and the impact those of African descent have had around the world as well as the United States,” said Darius Riggins, co-chair of the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA).
Highlights among this year’s events include the annual Unity Breakfast, which will be held on Feb. 2 at 7 a.m. in the Stockdale Room. A member of the campus community will be presented with the Unity Award for their contributions in promoting diversity and collaborations.
The event will also include a keynote address by Interim President Vernon Harper Jr.
Later that evening, the university will hold its annual Gospel Fest, to be held this year at Bakersfield High School.
Starting Thursday, the Walter W. Stiern Library will have a virtual Black History Month exhibit titled “Afrobeat and Its Influences” that will be available to view throughout the entire month of February.
CSUB student Minaya Valentine believes Black History Month is a great opportunity for students, faculty and staff to forge lasting connections.
“What Black History Month means to me is having recognition and proper dedication towards our community and culture,” she said. “We need to connect with our culture and our community in Black History Month and all year around.”
The celebration is also important because it can help encourage students to continue striving for success, according to fellow BFSA co-chair Tamar Anthony.
“Black History year-round is significant for our young people, especially the Black youth, to understand the triumphs and accomplishments people have made before them and for them,” she said. “Our youth needs to see themselves in these stories so they can learn to do and be whatever they see as positive examples.”
Here are the major events being held on campus this February as part of Black History Month, in collaboration with partners including Black Women on Campus, Campus Programming, Enrollment Management and the Division of Equity, Inclusion and Compliance.
Feb. 2: Unity Breakfast, 7 a.m. in the Stockdale Room; CSUB Gospel Fest, 6 p.m. in the BHS Harvey Auditorium.
Feb. 5: “Get That Job! Job Readiness: A Black Cultural Perspective,” 11 a.m. in the Stockdale Room.
Feb. 6: “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants!” by Darius Riggins, 12 p.m. in Science III Room 103.
Feb. 12: Queens of BFSA Walk and Talk, 12 p.m. at Red Brick Road.
Feb. 13: Black Trivia Fundraiser, 11 a.m. at the Student Union patio.
Feb 14: Black Valentine’s and Self-Love Day by BSU/BWOC, 11 a.m. at the Student Union patio.
Feb. 15: Brown Bag Discussion: “Because It’s Really About You, Like, Finding Your People: Black Student Experience at CSUB” with Dr. Rhonda Dugan, 12 p.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room.
Feb. 21: ASA Zumba to Afrobeats, 12 p.m. at the Student Union patio.
Feb. 23: Thrive and Strive: A Black Mental Health Empowerment Workshop, 11 a.m. in the Stockdale Room.
Feb. 27: Queens of BFSA Walk and Talk, 12 p.m. at Red Brick Road.
Feb. 28: Get to Know Your History with ASA, 12 p.m. at the Student Union patio; Divine 9 Mixer and Expression Nights, 6 p.m. in the Stockdale Room.
For a full list of Black History Month events, visit CSUB’s BHM webpage.
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