Stony Brook Celebrates Black History Month

Throughout February, Stony Brook University celebrates Black History Month, an annual tradition that celebrates the African American/Black experience through educational and cultural activities.
This year’s theme is, Sankofa! Black Creativity, which pays tribute to those who have enriched American life with their invaluable contributions to science, education, economics, political movements and the arts and who have worked and continue to strive to rectify inequality and injustice in our society. 
The concept of Sankofa has its origin in Ghana, West Africa. When translated, it means that “it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.” Sankofa is used throughout the pan-African world to promote the idea that African people must go back to their roots in order to move forward. The annual theme was created to re-ignite awareness, appreciation, passion, and commitment to Black History Month for all people, but especially those whose ancestors are from the African Diaspora.
The celebration will begin with a virtual Opening Program on Wednesday, February 3, at 1 pm, featuring The HistoryMakers Digital Archives, the nation’s largest African American Video Oral History Collection of scholarly materials that provide insight into African American history, culture, and creativity.
Coordinated by the Stony Brook Libraries and celebrating its 20th Anniversary, The HistoryMakers is a rich database that highlights nearly 2,700 historically significant African Americans in education, science, business, politics, arts, entertainment, sports, the military, and other fields. Dr. Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and executive director of The HistoryMakers, a non-profit research and educational institution, will speak to the Stony Brook community about the creation of this extraordinary contribution to American history and education.  
You can find the full schedule of events on Stony Brook’s Black History Month website.
Black History Month is coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Black History Month Committee and the Department of Africana Studies. 
Virtual Black History Month Opening Program
February 3, 1 pm
To register, visit stonybrook.edu/bhm