By SHEALYN PRATT
This Black History Month, Northwestern’s Black Student Union has remained active, celebrating Black culture and history.
The organization started the month off with a Pop-The-Balloon game night that filled the student center ballroom with campus students.
Their members have continued their community outreach by selling Valentine’s Day Kiss-A-Grams and Soul Food Plates.
They will finish off Black History Month with a Living History Event on campus.
The club’s Living History Event will be showcasing notable Black historians, politicians, artists, scientists, musicians and leaders.
Alongside sharing facts about Black history that are not frequently talked about.
The organization’s members will be hosting this event in the Student Center on Friday, February 27.
February is Black History Month and Northwestern’s Black Student Union is celebrating with a series of campus events honoring the historical significance.
Black History Month is an annual, month-long celebration of African American culture and contributions.
The idea was conceived by historian Carter G. Woodson and other members of his organization, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
In February of 1926 they organized a Negro History Week to adress the lack of representation and acknowledgment of African Americans contributions throughout American history.
February was chosen as the month for this celebration due to it being near the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and abolitionist, Fredrick Douglass.
Over the next 50 years, American cities began initiating their own celebrations of Black history.
Negro History Week grew in popularity, particularly amongst teachers.
Educators began to incorporate African American History and notable contributions made by Black Americans into their lessons.
The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 further contributed to the celebration’s rise.
Negro History Week expanded and became Black History Month in 1976.
That same year, U.S. President Gerald Ford, urged all Americans to begin observing and participating in Black History Month.
It was in the early 2000’s when Black History month started being celebrated with a range of events at universities, public schools and museums through cultural activities and educational events.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University has a Black Student Union that celebrates community and culture everyday, not just during Black History Month.
The organization started in 2022 and has been active since.
As they aim to showcase Northwestern’s campus diversity, they prioritize students’ questions and ideas for future events through a GroupMe available for anyone to join.