01/28/2025
SUNY Cortland will continue to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) throughout February with a series of events that includes historical and cultural lectures, panel presentations, a Gospel Choir performance, a black-tie social event and a kick-off event featuring noted educator and graduate Althea "Faith" Shaw-Hester ’88.
SUNY Cortland will open BHM month on Feb. 1 by celebrating the university’s third annual Abraham Lincoln DeMond 1889 Day, honoring a groundbreaking graduate and enshrining his legacy.
For the remainder of February, BHM campus events will be posted online on the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office webpage. Events are open to the public and free unless otherwise noted.
Still to come include:
- Shaw-Hester, whose do-what-it-takes approach to teaching New York’s most disadvantaged youth was highlighted in a 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times article and subsequent book, will deliver the keynote address at SUNY Cortland’s third annual Abraham Lincoln DeMond 1889 Day at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.
- Also earlier on Feb. 1, Tracy Hudson ’89, M ’93, a SUNY Cortland diversity faculty fellow and assistant professor of physical education, will address “Black Sororities: Legacy and Impact At Predominantly White Institutions” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge.
- On Thursday, Feb. 6, Bekeh Ukelina, SUNY Cortland professor of history, will present a sandwich seminar on “From TVA to Kainji? Damming Nigeria’s New Deal Vision for National Transformation” from noon to 1 p.m. in Old Main Colloquium.
- Sim Covington Jr., the chief diversity officer and dean of student athlete development at the Finger Lakes Community College, will discuss “Mental Health and Men of Color” from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge.
- Also on Feb. 7, from 6 to 7 p.m., SUNY Cortland junior adolescence education: social studies and history major Josiah Carnegie will address “The Free Huey Movement and Its Effect on Black Nationalism” in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge. The “Free Huey” Movement lasted from Oct. 28, 1967, until August 5, 1970, which is the day Huey P. Newton was released from jail. He co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (BPP).
- At 7 p.m. on Feb. 7, the Gospel Choir will hold its annual concert in collaboration with The Blues Ensemble as well as the Africana dance group, in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge.
Events in BHM will be continued in the next Bulletin.
Events during BHM are sponsored by the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office, President's Office, Student Government Association, SUNY Cortland Alumni Association, Multicultural Life and Diversity Office, Multicultural Male Initiative, Black Student Union, Women of Color, NAACP and Africana Studies Department, Conley Wellness Center, Health Promotion, Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies, Men of Value and Respect, Caribbean Student Association, and Pride.