February is Black History Month, and the University of Delaware community will recognize, engage and discuss achievements and continuing challenges through a series of events. Lectures, book discussions, performances, volunteer opportunities and more will celebrate the critical contributions and activism of Black Americans.

Attend a lecture

Who: Center for Black Culture.

What: Award-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones will speak at UD in recognition of Black History Month. Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark The 1619 Project, now a Hulu original docuseries.

When: Thursday, Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Trabant University Center Multipurpose Rooms.

More info: Registration is required.

Attend an event

Who: Student Diversity and Inclusion.

What: Black Hair + Storytelling as a Form of Social Activism.

When: Monday, Feb. 19, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Center for Intercultural Engagement.

Know this: The event will feature free Black hair products and journals. Keynote Speaker, St. Clair Detrick-Jules, will discuss the struggles, beauty and joy of Black hair. UD students and local Black-owned businesses that specialize in Black hair products and services will provide free hair products and services to event attendees. Food will be provided that features cupcakes from Dana’s Desserts, a local Black-owned restaurant.

View art exhibits

Who: Library, Museums and Press.

What: Several exhibitions focused on Black history or Black historical figures.

When: Beginning Feb. 6.

Where: Mechanical Hall Gallery, Morris Library’s Information Room, Special Collections Gallery in Morris Library and the Lincoln Exhibition Case (located outside the Special Collections Gallery in Morris Library).

Know this: This semester, several exhibitions at UD focus on Black history or Black historical figures. Two highlight the artistic legacy of the late UD Professor James E. Newton. Others focus on author and activist Alice Dunbar-Nelson and the women who helped bring her story into the public view, and another speaks to Black print culture. 

More info: In addition to these exhibitions, there will be programming related to several of these Black-history-focused exhibitions. These include:

• Feb. 14: The Artistic Legacy of James. E. Newton: Curating an Exhibition in Morris Library
  

• Feb. 21: Exhibition Reception for Alice Dunbar-Nelson and the Legacy of Black Women's Archives in the Special Collections Gallery in Morris Library
  

• Feb. 22: Gallery Talk: The Artistic Legacy of James E. Newton: Heritage and Character Portraits in Mechanical Hall Gallery

Attend a unity basketball game

Who: UD men’s and women’s basketball teams.

What: Black History Month legacy games and unity nights.

When:

Women’s game: Friday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.

Men’s game: Thursday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m.

Where: Bob Carpenter Center.

Know this: The events are blackout games where fans are asked to wear black. 

More info: Purchase tickets at bluehens.com.

Participate in a day of service

Who: Residence Life and Housing.

What: MLK Day of Service for students.

When: Sunday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Perkins Student Center.

Know this: The day is centered around the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his belief that the community has to help to continue to make change. Continue the legacy by stopping in Perkins Student Center to help make hygiene kits for people experiencing homelessness. 

Attend the Center for Intercultural Engagement Brunch

Who: Student Diversity and Inclusion.

What: A welcome event for all new and returning UD first-generation students, LGBTQ+ students and students of color — but all are invited to attend.

When: Friday, Feb. 9, 3-5 p.m.

Where: Center for Intercultural Engagement.

Know this: This will be an opportunity to mix and mingle with registered student organizations, enjoy food and win prizes. 

Attend a book discussion

Who: Library, Museums and Press and the Wilmington Public Library.

What: A book discussion featuring author Jesmyn Ward and moderated by UD professor Roderick Carey.

When: Thursday, Feb. 1, 6-7 p.m.

Where: Wilmington Public Library.

Know this: The event is part of Wilmington Public Library’s Black History Month speaker series, "Still I Rise." It is free and open to the public. No registration or tickets are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Roderick Carey is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. His current interdisciplinary research serves to make sense of the school experiences of Black and Latino adolescent boys and young men in urban contexts, drawing upon critical theories, sociological tools and constructs from developmental psychology.

Attend a performance

Who: Resident Ensemble Players.

What: “Pass Over” by Antoinette Nwandu.

When: Feb. 8-18.

Where: Roselle Center for the Arts (110 Orchard Road, Newark, DE 19716).

Know this: Two young Black men, Moses and Kitch, stand on the corner — talking trash, killing time and dreaming of the promised land. Emotionally charged with poetic and humorous riffs, this play asks, “What is the value of a young Black man’s life?”​

More info: Learn more and purchase tickets online.

Participate in a book giveaway

Who: Student Diversity and Inclusion.

What: In celebration of Black History Month, Student Diversity and Inclusion will give away Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts and The Deep by Rivers Solomon. 

When: All month.

Know this: These books highlight the joy experienced by Black communities as well as provide historical context of Black experiences. 

More info: Participate in the Black History Month book giveaway online or visit the physical entry locations at the Center for Intercultural Engagement (Perkins 261) or the Morris Library to enter to win a free book.

Attend a cooking class

Who: Student Diversity and Inclusion and Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences.

What: Cooking with SDI: Black History Month edition.

When: Monday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7 p.m.

Where: Willard Hall Education Building, room 204.

Know this: Students will be able to practice preparing meals, develop comfort with basic cooking, and collect recipes they can try themselves. The meal will be announced closer to the date and will be related to Black History Month. 

More info: Spots are limited. RSVP by Friday, Feb. 23. 

Attend a discussion

Who: Student Diversity and Inclusion.

What: Hot Takes Over Hot Plates: Black Men in Living Color: The Beauty of Black Masculinity.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Center for Intercultural Engagement.

Know this: Join Student Diversity and Inclusion and the University Student Centers for the next “Hot Takes Over Hot Plates” series for a conversation around Black men and masculinity, getting to the core of what masculinity means in the Black community, and discussing ways that Black men can build their sense of masculinity as individuals to relieve themselves of the social burdens of Western ideas of manhood. 

More info: RSVPs are highly encouraged.

Attend a read-in

Who: Department of English and Center for Black Culture.

What: UD's 9th Annual African American Read-In.

When: Monday, Feb. 19, 4-5:30 p.m.

Where: Morris Library 114 and via Zoom.

Know this: All are welcome to celebrate the writing of Black authors at our 9th annual African American Read-In. You are invited to participate however you feel most comfortable: by listening to other readers and performers, by reading prose or poetry by Black writers, or by sharing your own work. Shared/multivoice readings (readings by two or more participants together) are especially welcome.

More info: Learn more and register.

Attend a fireside chat

Who: College of Engineering.

What: Join Dean Levi Thompson and guests Ayanna Khan, president of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, and Julius Korley, assistant vice president of UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships, as they share how personal experiences have shaped their careers.

When: Monday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m.

Where: Mitchell Hall.