Join us as we celebrate Black History Month!
Check out the calendar of events, and take look at our selection of Books and Films.

In collaboration with the Student Club
Black and Abroad.

Table of contents:

Black & Abroad Introduction to Black History Month:

Black History Month is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black diaspora throughout history. Originating in the United States, it has been adopted by other countries around the world to honor the significant role that black individuals have played in shaping society. The inception of Black History Month can be traced back to 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week.” This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the history of African Americans. Over time, this week evolved into a full month of events and activities, officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1976.

The goal of Black History Month is multifaceted. It’s an opportunity to educate the public about the richness of black history and culture, moving beyond the often narrow focus on slavery and oppression to highlight the many ways in which the Black diaspora has enriched humanity.

This year, Black and Abroad is emphasizing the theme of “Black Joy.” This theme is a powerful reminder that black history and culture are not solely defined by adversity but are also characterized by immense joy, resilience, and creativity. By focusing on “Black Joy,” Black and Abroad aims to showcase the vibrancy, diversity, and dynamism of black cultures around the globe. It’s a call to celebrate the everyday moments of happiness, the achievements, and the cultural expressions that exemplify the strength and spirit of black communities.

Black History Month is not only for the black community but is crucially about education for others. It offers a vital opportunity for people of all backgrounds to learn about the history, achievements, and challenges of the Black diaspora. Through education, Black History Month aims to promote a greater understanding and respect for the diversity of the human experience. It’s a call to action for everyone to engage in meaningful conversations, to challenge stereotypes, and to recognize the common humanity that binds us all.

Black History Month is a time for reflection, celebration, and education. It honors the past while also looking forward to a future where the contributions and achievements of the Black diaspora is fully integrated into the fabric of global history. Through themes like “Black Joy,” it invites everyone to explore the richness of black culture, moving beyond the shadows of adversity to celebrate the light of creativity, resilience, and human spirit.

Events

All events taking place in February during the Black History Month are open to all AUP community.

Sketch & Sip – February 1, 2024
Where: Combes Lobby
“This event, scheduled to take place alongside the Combes Art Gallery exhibition, is a creative twist on the popular paint and sip format that we often host. Instead of painting, participants will sketch a chosen painting/photograph from the exhibition. The evening will be a rich exploration of black art, allowing attendees to create their own sketches while enjoying a relaxing and social atmosphere. A special prize will be awarded for the best sketch, encouraging a friendly and artistic competition among participants.”

African World Cup Watch Party - February 7th
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Amex
“This event is planned as a lively gathering to watch a game (the quarter final) from the African World Cup. The potential venue, subject to confirmation, is the Amex café. The watch party aims to bring students together to enjoy the excitement of football and celebrate African teams.”

Documentary Screening of “Madan Sara” – February 8th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Combes 103
“This event features the screening of the documentary ‘Madan Sara,’ which focuses on the vital role of women street vendors in Haitian society, particularly as entrepreneurs and in the informal economy. The event will include a discussion with the film’s director, Etant (he will join on Teams), providing an opportunity to delve deeper into the themes of the film, the challenges faced by women street vendors in Haiti, and broader social issues. Haitian cuisine and drinks will be incorporated to enhance the cultural experience.”

American Soul Food Luncheon Potluck - February 8th
Time 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Quai 801
“This event is a celebration of American soul food, featuring a potluck where attendees can bring and share dishes that are staples of this rich culinary tradition. Accompanied by soul music, this luncheon aims to create an atmosphere of communal dining and Black American cultural appreciation.”

Nollywood (Nigerian Hollywood) Movie Night – February 22nd
From 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Quai A101
“This evening event will showcase a film from Nigeria’s film industry, often referred to as Nollywood. The movie night will be complemented with different African cuisine, offering a taste of the continent’s diverse culinary landscape while enjoying cinematic storytelling from Nigeria.”

Trivia Night on the Black Diaspora – February 29th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: C-102
“This educational and entertaining evening will feature a trivia competition with questions about the history, culture, and significant contributions of the black diaspora around the world. The event is designed to be both informative and fun, fostering learning about the global black community to all AUP students in an engaging way.”

Selection of Books

To read and listen on Libby
Log in with your AUP ID.

Available in the Library

The Tradition by Jericho Brown
Winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
“Jericho Brown’s daring new book The Tradition details the normalization of evil and its history at the intersection of the past and the personal. Brown’s poetic concerns are both broad and intimate, and at their very core a distillation of the incredibly human: What is safety? Who is this nation? Where does freedom truly lie? “

Link to the ebook:
https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/1n1ctv/alma992095545506026

Aya de Yopougon by Marguerite Abouet
V1-V7 in French
“The “Aya” series explores the pains and pleasures of everyday life in a working-class neighborhood in West Africa.” [NYT]

Call Number: COMICS ABO 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/1n1ctv/alma992234573106026

Erasure by Percival Everett
“Novelist, college profesor, woodworker, and fly fisherman, Thelonious (Monk) Ellison has never allowed race to define his identity. But he is offended and angered by the success of We’s Lives in Da Ghetto, the exploitive debut novel of a young, middle-class black woman who once visited “some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days.” The book’s success rankles all the more as Monk’s own most recent novel has just notched its seventh rejection.”

Link to the ebook:
https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/1n1ctv/alma992334673806026

Forgotten African American firsts : an encyclopedia of pioneering history by J. David Jr. Macey and Hans A. Ostrom.
“This volume contains entries presented in seventeen categories of scientific, artistic, political, and social innovation. The work will help readers to appreciate the critical but too often unrecognized role that African Americans in every generation have played in transforming the world through their creative work, invention, and leadership in every area of human endeavor”

Link to the ebook:
https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/1n1ctv/alma992336273906026

Sula by Toni Morrison
“As young girls, Nel and Sula shared each other’s secrets and dreams in the poor black mid-West of their childhood. Then Sula ran away to live her dreams and Nel got married.”

Call number: 813.54 M878s
https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/1n1ctv/alma991821503406026

All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks
“A visionary and accessible book, Bell Hooks’s ‘All About Love’ offers radical new ways to think about love. Here, hooks, one of our most acute social critics, takes the themes that put her on the map – the relationship between love and sexuality, and the interconnectedness between the public and the private – and challenges the prevailing notion that romantic love is more important than all other bonds.”

Call number: 306.7 H784a
https://aup.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/33AUP_INST/17t7eaf/alma991842743406026