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Black History Month

Black History Month 2023 Events:

  • Morning Gathering at the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives
  • Black History Month Kickoff
  • STEM Connection Panel
  • Ericka Hart on Intersectionality

Morning Gathering

Wednesday, 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 you to join us in gathering at the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives on the morning of the BHM Kickoff. Leaders of the African Students’ Union (ASU), Black Students’ Union (BSU), and Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA) will host the morning gathering. 

Mahlia Neely '23, President of Students of Caribbean Ancestry, Elena Henderson-Downey '24, President of the Black Students’ Union and Fanta Wague '25, President of the African Students’ Union
Mahlia Neely '23, President of Students of Caribbean Ancestry, Elena Henderson-Downey '24, President of the Black Students’ Union and Fanta Wague '25, President of the African Students’ Union.
Mareme Fall, standing in the center of the Garden to Celebrate Black Lives, using the mic to perform a song.
Mareme Fall '25, ALANA Intern
Jasmine Syedullah, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies standing in the center of the Garden to Celebrate Black speak to the audience. Student leaders: Mahlia Neely, Elena Henderson-Downey, and Fanta Wague are standing to the back left behind Professor Syedullah.
Jasmine Syedullah,
Assistant Professor of Africana Studies

Black History Month Kickoff

Wednesday, February 1st at 6 p.m. in the Villard Room

Please join us for an evening celebration to kickoff Black History Month. The celebration will involve performances and speeches from students, faculty, and local community members. There will be food, entertainment, and giveaways! In addition, we will have stations highlighting mental health resources, artifacts, African & Afro-Caribbean cuisine recipes, and books written by Black authors. The event will be in person with Zoom webinar-style access for alums and campus participants.

The evening celebration recording is available for viewing here:

Black History Month Evening Celebration

Mustafa Alexander using a steele drum in the front of the Villard Room during the Black History Month Kick off.
Mustafa Alexander, Steele Drummer from Brooklyn
Students moderators Naomi Young and Pierangelis Valerio standing at the podium speaking into the mic while addressing the audience.
Naomi Young '24 & Pierangelis Valerio' 23
Student Moderators
Shayasia Arnold standing at the podium reciting a poem into the mic for audience members.
Shyasia Arnold '26 performing her poem, Rebound
Local artist and community member, Linda Molina standing with her arms up and head facing the ceiling of the Villard during her liturgical dance performance.
Linda Molina,
Liturgical dancer/singer from Poughkeepsie
Carl Webster standing at the podium using the mic to introduce Faculty Speaker, Kimberly Williams Brown, Assistant Professor of Education.
Carl Webster '25, ALANA Intern introducing Faculty Speaker, Kimberly Williams Brown,
Assistant Professor of Education
Nathan Johnson standing at the podium with his hand on the mic while performing his rendition of Leslie Odom Jr.'s, "Speak Now".
Nathan Johnson '23 preforming his rendition of Leslie Odom Jr.'s, "Speak Now"
Student Moderator, Pierangelis Valerio standing at the podium introducing the next artist to the stage.
Pierangelis Valerio' 23, Student Moderator
Nicole Beveridge, Jeh V. Johnson ALANA Cultural Center Director arranging the individually packaged food catered from N & J Catering.
Nicole Beveridge, Jeh V. Johnson ALANA Cultural Center Director
Favour Movel wearing a face mask, reciting a poem at the podium.
Favour Movel '25, reciting a poem

STEM Connection Panel

Tuesday, February 7th at 6 p.m. in the Class of 1951 Reading Room

A STEM panel featuring Black faculty members and alums. Featured panelists include: Leroy Cooper (Biology), Krystle McLaughlin (Chemistry), Ed Buie (Physics/Astronomy), and Deon Knights (Earth Science/Environmental Studies), Taishya Adams ’97 (Environmental Policy), Ayo Opuiyo ’22 (Computer Science), Dennis Slade ’91 (Computer Science and Technology) and three student moderators who are also STEM majors. Panelists will share their academic journeys to STEM, research and career interests, work with students, and the STEM community. The event will be in person with Zoom webinar-style access for alums and campus participants.

The STEM Connection Panel recording is available for viewing here:

STEM Connection Panel

Audience members and faculty panelists directing their attention to alum panelists who are featured on the projection screen in the Class of 1951 Reading Room.
STEM Connection Panel held in the Class of 1951 Reading Room
Faculty panelists; Krystle McLaughlin, Ed Buie and Deon Knights seated at the table speaking into their table top mics.
In-person faculty panelists: Krystle McLaughlin, Ed Buie & Deon Knights
Photo featuring virtual panelists from left to right: Ayo Opuiyo ’22, Dennis Slade ’91, & Taishya Adams ’97.
Virtual alum panelists: Ayo Opuiyo ’22, Dennis Slade ’91, & Taishya Adams ’97
Photo of eight audience members and student moderator, Favour Movel standing next to student Maedot Abate who has the mic and is asking the panelists a question.
Maedot Abate asking the panelists a question.

Liberation Through Black Expression

Thursday, February 16th at 6 p.m. in the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

An ALANA, ASU, BSU, SOCA and The Loeb Collaboration presents: Liberation Through Black Expression, A formal evening centered around Black creative expression will be held on February 16 at 6 p.m. at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. Featuring refreshments, food, student and local artwork, poetry and performances.

Mahlia Neely '23 standing center along with Fanta Wague '25 standing to the left and Shyasia Arnold '26 standing to the right greeting the audience at the Liberation Through Black Expression event.
Fanta Wague '25, Mahlia Neely '23 and Shyasia Arnold '26
Attendees standing all throughout the Loeb hallway for the Liberation Through Black Expression reception.
Attendees at Liberation Through Black Expression
Five pieces of artwork displayed at the Liberation Through Black Expression event. From left to right; Two Posters from the ALANA Center, three pieces of artwork from local artist, Destiny Arianna.
Artwork by Destiny Arianna
Five pieces of artwork displayed at the Liberation Through Black Expression event. From left to right; ALANA Center art work in a black frame, two pieces of artwork from student, Mariam Eshetu, IMAGES Cover in a black frame and ALANA Center artwork in a black frame.
Artwork by Mariam Eshetu & from the ALANA Center
Five black and white photos on small wooden easels displayed on the table from photographer Haley Whetstone.
Photography by Haley Whetstone
Nine paint pieces created by students from ASU, BSU, and SOCA orgs. Six paintings are displayed on wooden easels and three are displayed on the table.
Paintings by students from ASU, BSU & SOCA

Ericka Hart on Intersectionality - Keynote Postponed Until Fall 2023

Learn about the ways in which interlocking systems of oppression impact the lives of individuals navigating them. Engage in discourse and an interactive speaking seminar during which you will better understand how to critically analyze how structures and institutions perpetuate mass marginalization under global capitalism.

Black History Month Book Display

This year's Black History Month programming has been a collaboration between the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center, African Students’ Union, Black Students’ Union, Students of Caribbean Ancestry, African American Alumnae/i of Vassar College co-chairs & the Student Life Committee, Student Growth & Engagement, Multicultural & Affinity Engagement, Center for Career Education, Library, The Loeb, Media Resources, Campus Activities, the faculty panelists and student moderators.