Black History Month: Building Community

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans in 1915. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) first celebrated national "Negro History Week" in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Following the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, every American president has designated February as "Black History Month" and endorsed a specific national theme since 1976. Today, we continue to recognize and celebrate the significant achievements made by the African Americans, who contributed to our society and the world.

Event Descriptions

Wednesday, February 1

Flag Raising: Black History Month Kickoff
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
BLC Plaza (In front of the BLC)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Please join the Black Student Union (BSU) as they express the importance of Black culture, community, and progress to start off Black History Month with the raising of the Black Lives Matter Flag in front of the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC). 
(Black Student Union)

Thursday, February 9

Silver Mics on the Silver Screen: A Discussion of Hip Hop and Movies
6:30 to 8 p.m.
RUE Auditorium (SWG 115)
Wright Seneres ‘97, Rider Alumnus and Board Trustee
Is "Do The Right Thing" the best hip hop movie of all time? Is Tupac Shakur the GOAT of hip hop movie actors? The hosts of the Hip Hop Movie Club podcast will discuss this and other big questions with some special Rider guests. All members of the Rider community are invited!  
(Hip Hop Movie Club, Center for Diversity and Inclusion)

Wednesday, February 15

Rider, TCNJ, and MCCC TALK BACK - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
12 to 1 p.m.
Register in Advance on Zoom - rider.edu/talkback

• Nicholas McLeod, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of History and Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Rider University
• Barbara Lawrence, J.D., Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Rider University
• James A. Felton, III, M.S., Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, The College of New Jersey
• Marvin Carter, M.Ed., Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Mercer County Community College

If you’ve seen, or haven’t seen, the movie, BLACK PANTHER: Wakanda Forever, you won’t want to miss this TALK BACK! So please grab a bite to eat and join us as Dr. Nicholas McLeod, assistant professor of History at Rider University, takes us on a journey, with a select panel of senior diversity officers from Rider, TCNJ, and MCCC to discuss the racial essentialism, identity, and Pan-Africanism that emerges in this movie and is discussed in Dr. McLeod’s November 7, 2022 article, A Child Who Scoffs at Tradition: Racial Essentialism, Identity, and Pan-Africanism in Black Panther. See you there! 
(Department of History and Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Rider University; Center for Diversity and Inclusion - CDI, Rider University; Mercer County Community College -  MCCC; The College of New Jersey - TCNJ)

Thursday, February 16

RASA Presents: Taste of Africa Banquet
7 p.m.
BLC NJM Room
Victor Marshall, Percussionist
Join RASA for its Taste of Africa Banquet for a night of live drumming, authentic African cuisine, a 360-Photo Booth, and more! The media often misrepresents Africa, and RASA aims to break down these narratives and bring forth new ones during this evening of fun. Everyone seems to have their own stigmas surrounding Africa and what they think Africa represents. RASA will show our community what African culture looks like through its lens. Please RSVP on Bronc Nation here. Semi-formal dress is required. See you there!
(Rider African Student Association - RASA; Center for Diversity and Inclusion - CDI)

Friday, February 17

Henry Beard, From Enslaved Man to Union Civil War Veteran
12 to 1 p.m.
WEBINAR: Register in Advance
Dustin Dumas, Author, Television Host and Producer and Tyler Weeks, High School Student
In honor of our celebration of Black History Month, the New Jersey State Library is proud to host a program surrounding the life of former enslaved Civil War veteran Henry Beard. He escaped enslavement to join the all-White regiment of the Union Army during the Civil War. Mr. Beard and his family continued to break barriers by becoming the first African American family in his small town in Illinois to voluntarily integrate the school system in the 1880s. This remarkable story of triumphing over adversity is one that continues to be recognized today in the form of the one room schoolhouse, North Grove School. North Grove School was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, in part, due to the voluntary integration of the Beard family.
(New Jersey State Library - NJSL; Center for Diversity and Inclusion - CDI)

Monday, February 20 

REAL TALK - Black at Rider: A Panel Discussion About Diversity at a Predominately White Institution (PWI)
6 to 7 p.m
Rue Auditorium (SWG 115)
Black Faculty and Staff
Join Rider University’s Black Student Union (BSU) as they host a discussion around diversity and inclusion at predominantly White institutions. Join to interact with a panel of faculty and staff to discuss diversity in academic settings.
(Black Student Union- BSU) 

Tuesday, February 21

Black Excellence Expo
5 to 7 p.m.
BLC NJM Room 
Black Student Union and Vendors
Join us as we showcase Black-owned businesses, both on and off campus, while they display their products and services. We will talk about the importance of Black-owned businesses and supporting the community.You won’t want to miss this opportunity to support the Black vendors!
(Black Student Union - BSU)

Wednesday, February 22

The Birth of HipHop: From Sugarhill Gang to Migos
5 to 7 p.m.
LAH 202
Black Student Union (BSU)
Do you know about Rap and HipHop? Rider University Black Student Union presents “The Birth of Hip Hop: From Sugarhill Gang to Migos.” Please join us as we talk about the history of rap music as we know it and face-off in trivia to win a prize!
(Black Student Union - BSU)

Thursday, February 23

From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning
12 to 1 p.m.
WEBINAR: Register in Advance
Dr. George Pruitt, President Emeritus, Thomas Edison State University (TESU) and 
Andrew Dauphinee, NJSL Instruction and Outreach Librarian
In honor of our celebration of Black History Month, we are proud to present Dr. George Pruitt’s From Protest to President, which describes an inspirational odyssey of a young, Black activist coming of age in Mississippi and Chicago in the tumultuous 60s and 70s, culminating in a notable thirty-five year presidency at Thomas Edison State University.
(New Jersey State Library - NJSL; Center for Diversity and Inclusion - CDI)

Thursday, February 23

Divine Nine: A History of Service
7 to 8 p.m. 
LAH 129
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. 
Join us to talk about the importance of Black Greek Organizations in the Black community. We will talk about the history behind the organizations and the work they have done and continue to do.
(Black Student Union - BSU, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.)

Friday, February 24

Loving Our Curly Kinky Strands:Embracing Our Roots 
3 to 4:30 p.m.
Mercer Room in Daly Dining Hall
Black Student Union (BSU)
Want to learn more about Black hair? Join Black Student Union in an open and honest discussion about Black hair and the politics surrounding it. Let’s wear our “bonnets” and “durags” all day to see how we are perceived.
(Black Student Union - BSU)

Sunday, February 26

Soul Food Sunday
4:30 p.m.
Daly Dining Hall
Rider Community
The Rider community is invited to enjoy the culinary delights of the cultural contribution of “soul food” from early African-American generations that continue to satisfy our palates today! Please join us for dinner. 
(Gourmet Dining LLC and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion)

Sunday, February 26

Gospel Fest
5:45 to 7:30 p.m.
BLC Cavalla Room
Rider Students and Neighboring Community Performers
Rider students and neighboring community performers are encouraged to unite with us for a virtual closing celebration of Black History Month through gospel song, dance, and spoken word. Experience enormous joy and excitement as performers from Rider University and surrounding areas end Black History Month on a high note! This event is free and available to the public.
(Center for Diversity and Inclusion - CDI)

Other upcoming events

Wednesday, February 8

KPMG Site Visit
For accounting students
Career Development Services

Friday, February 10

MJH Life Sciences Site Tour
For all Rider students
Career Development Services