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Black History Month 2024

Black History Month 2024 Events:

  • Morning Gathering at the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives
  • Black History Month Kickoff
  • Poetry Playground: Write to Celebrate
  • Afro-Caribbean Media Week
  • Zine Making Workshop
  • African Culinary Experience
  • Black Solidarity Dinner
  • ALANA X Library: Celebrating Black History Month
  • Black History Month 2024 Playlist

Morning Gathering

Thursday, February 1st at 10 a.m. at the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives.

In celebration of the first day of Black History Month, the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center welcomes all to join us in gathering at the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives on the morning of the BHM Kickoff. ALANA leaders will host the morning gathering.

ALANA student leaders; Fanta Wague, Krystal Matthews, Marissa Desir and Mariah Jones (from left to right) standing side by side in front of the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives.

Black History Month Kickoff

Thursday, February 1st, 5:30–7 p.m. in the Villard.

All are welcomed to join the ALANA Center in collaboration with ALANA student leaders and campus partners for a special evening celebration to kickoff Black History Month. The celebration will include lively performances/speeches from students, alums, faculty, administrators, and local community members. There will be delicious food/beverages available. The event will be in person and open to all.

Black History Month Kickoff 2024 photo gallery.

The digital Black History Month banner displayed on the large projector screen with the words, "Black History Month Kickoff 2024" in white font. The colors of the banner include green, yellow, red and green.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Mariah Jones and Marissa Desir standing at the podium. Mariah has her left hand on the mic and Marissa is standing next to Mariah on the left side.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Baba Kazi Oliver seated with drums three drums in front of him and Nick Jackson standing to his left side playing the two drums in front of him.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Shyasia Arnold standing at the podium, talking into the mic and looking into the audience.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Eric Wilson '76 standing at the podium, talking into the mic and looking into the audience.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Dr. Martin standing at the podium, talking into the mic, and facing the audience.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Harrison Brisbon-McKinnon reciting a poem with a mic in his right hand.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Olivia Sparks is standing at the podium and talking into the mic.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Dr. Ed Buie II is standing at the podium, talking into the mic and looking out into the audience.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Kate Hymes standing at the podium talking into the mic and looking out into the audience.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Mariah Jones and Marissa Desir standing at the podium. Mariah is talking into the mic and Marissa is standing to the right.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Attendees seated at tables looking at the front of the Villard.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Dr. Nicole Beveridge, ALANA Director standing at the podium speaking into the mic.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
The back side view of Dr. Ed Buie II with his left arm pointing to the slideshow facing attendees seated at tables throughout the Villard.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Attendees standing in front of the Villard listening to Baba Kazi Oliver lead a drumming activity.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Students standing parallel to attendees serving food.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Round tables with black table cloths and brown runners. Different colors of green, white, orange, red, yellow and black balloons photographed as table centerpieces.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27
Students seated at tables watching performances take place at the kickoff. Different colors of green, white, orange, red, yellow and black balloons photographed as table centerpieces.
Photo Credit by Quin Taylor ’27

Watch Kate Hymes Recite a Poem at Vassar’s Black History Month Kickoff 2024

Poetry Playground: Writing to Celebrate

Friday, February 2nd, 2–3:30 p.m. in the ALANA Community Room.

Please join the ALANA Center, EP, and UJIMA’s Poet Collective for a special Writing Unworkshop Series featuring Kate Hymes, Ulster County Poet Laureate, who will be leading a poetry writing workshop. Limited spots.

Kate Hymes seated in the ALANA Community Room with her hands open and speaking to attendees.
Students seated around the ALANA Community Room, smiling and looking at Kate Hymes.
Students seated around the ALANA Community Room listening to each other recite their poems.
Three students seated side by side in the ALANA Community Room.
Selena Hughes, seated at the round table with a writing journal in her hands and looking down to recite her poem.
Attendees seated around the ALANA Community Room listening to Kate Hymes speak.

Afro-Caribbean Media Week

Second Week of February—(Monday, Feb. 5th at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7th at 6 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 8th at 7 p.m.) in the ALANA Community Room.

All are welcome to join the Students of Caribbean Ancestry for a special media streaming week highlighting Afro-Caribbean TV and Film.

Zine Making Workshop

Wednesday, February 14th at 5 p.m. in the Class of 1951 Reading Room.

This year’s Black History Month theme is “Celebrating Blackness at Vassar.” Come to our zine workshop to create a page or two in our collaborative zine compilation meant to acknowledge, praise, and question what it means to be Black at Vassar College.

African Culinary Experience

Saturday, February 17th at 6 p.m. in the Villard.

The Vassar African Students (VAS) invites the Vassar community to “The African Culinary Experience: An unveiling of the African Continent through food.”

Black Solidarity Dinner

Sunday, February 25th at 5:30 p.m. in the Villard.

This is an annual event that celebrates students, faculty, and neighborhood leaders of the African diaspora. A night full of performances, coalition, and good food, come join BSU in this important expression of love for ourselves and the collective community in Vassar and the city of Poughkeepsie.

ALANA X Library: Celebrating Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, stop by the Vassar Library circulation desk to view the book display curated ALANA student leaders to highlight Black authors of their choice. Viewing is also available online via Vassar Libraries webpage.

Image contains a brown and orange background with thirteen book covers with purple and yellow boarders.

Black History Month 2024 Playlist

Embark on a musical journey thoughtfully curated by Sharon Parkinson, who is the Director of Multicultural and Affinity Engagement in Vassar’s Office of Advancement. Each song in this playlist is a testament to the variety and beauty of Black experiences. This collection of songs carries the stories and dreams of musical artists from different corners of the world. As we celebrate this month, let us find inspiration in its harmonious rhythms and words and take some time to discover the artists and origins of each song.

Black background image with a green, white, yellow, green, red lined grouped pattern to the left and right of the image. In the center is a green, black and gray playlist. In the top center of the playlist is a round music note with a green background.