African American Celebration Month

2021 African American Celebration Month Events

Monday, January 18 | 11:30 a.m.
KEEPER OF THE DREAM
Hosted by: Center for Multicultural Initiatives
This year’s event will be broadcast via YouTube. The link will be posted at Oakland.edu

Monday, January 25 | Noon – 1 p.m.
A DISCUSSION OF JUST MERCY
https://bit.ly/2KaOQJZ
Hosted by: Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Thursday, February 4 | Noon – 1:30 p.m.
VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION: BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVISTS
Panelists will discuss racial injustice, police brutality and the power of activism in Detroit
Register Here
Hosted by: Kresge Library

Wednesday, February 10 | 7 p.m.
IN WITH THE BLACK: BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS VIRTUAL EXPO
meet.google.com/nba-ffkm-tps
Hosted by: Residence Life Association

Thursday, February 11 | 4 – 5 p.m.
AACM: VIRTUAL PARTY
Featuring: Omar Brown-El
https://bit.ly/3agl6pE
Passcode: AACM
Hosted by: Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Tuesday, February 16 | 4 – 6:30 p.m.
EXPLORING INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE: DIVERSITY PANEL AND MIXER
http://bit.ly/3oYK9BK
Virtual event via Zoom and Handshake
Hosted by: Career Services

Thursday, February 18 | 5:30 p.m.
BLACK WOMEN ROCK
https://bit.ly/3gU30uP
Passcode: AACM
Hosted by: Center for Multicultural Initiatives
Sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives

AFRICAN AMERICAN CELEBRATION MONTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Visit @ou_cmi on Fridays throughout the month for #flashbackfriday as the campus community shares traditional family dishes, inspirational stories, and fondest memories on Instagram

**Due to COVID-19, we were unable to hold a food drive for the Golden Grizzlies Pantry as we have in past years. If you are interested in supporting the pantry, you can make donations here or you can contact the Office of Student Involvement for others ways to contribute.**

African American History Month is an annual observance for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February. 

African American History Month had its beginnings in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week". This week was chosen because it marked the birthday of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Woodson created the holiday with the hope that it eventually be eliminated when black history became fundamental to American history. 

Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday. Led by the leaders of the Black United Students at Kent State University in February of 1969 African American History week was expanded from a week to a month. The first celebration of African American History Month occurred at Kent State University in February of 1970. Six years later during the bicentennial (1976), the expansion of Negro History Week to African American History Month was recognized by the U.S. government. 

African-American History Month at Oakland University kicks off each year on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This month long celebration reflects OU’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the historical and cultural contributions that African Americans have made in the past, present and future.

Sponsored by:

• Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Co-sponsored by:

• Oakland University Credit Union
• Oakland University Student Congress
• Student Program Board