Black History Month
Past Events
VERZUZ
Friday, February 26, 7:00 pm
The Miami University Black Student Action Association is collaborating with University of Cincinnati's United Black Student Association to close out black history month with a celebration. VERZUZ will be an event where the two organizations will go head to head to see who can come up with the best list of Black National Anthems as well as share facts about their orgs, their institutions and Black History Month in general.
Panelists
- Nloh Masango-Dibo
- Kish Richardson
- Athena Williams
Sponsored by: Black Student Action Association, Miami University Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, University of Cincinnati African American Cultural and Resource Center
Miami Presents: How Sports Can Move us to a Greater Society, a Conversation with Wayne Embry ’58
Saturday, February 27, 1:00 pm
Join the Miami University Alumni Association for this featured webinar with Miami alumnus Wayne Embry ’58. Wayne has a career spanning nearly 50 years with the NBA. He broke racial barriers as a student-athlete at Miami, as an NBA player and as an NBA executive.
In this upcoming event, Wayne will share his experiences as a player and manager and how sports is a unifying force that brings together people from all walks of life to achieve common goals.
Moderators:
- Breanna Robinson ‘08, MS ‘11, assistant athletic director for leadership & diversity, Miami University Intercollegiate Athletics
- David Sayler, athletic director, Miami University Intercollegiate Athletics
Black Books Matter
February 1–28, 2021
Visit the Black Books Matter display on the second floor of Brick & Ivy located in the Shriver Center.
Presented by: Brick & Ivy has partnered with Black Books Matter to select books that highlight Black authors.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Virtual Celebration: Good Trouble
The NAACP Oxford Ohio Unit is hosting the annual Dr. Martln Luther King Jr. virtual program, with an accompanying Virtual Creative Arts Exposition, curated by members of the Oxford Unit of the NAACP with contributions from Oxford Community artists and students in the Talawanda School District. The virtual program and art exposition will be available through February 2021.
Dedication of Nellie Craig Walker Hall
Wednesday, February 24, 10:00 am
Join us for the virtual dedication of Nellie Craig Walker Hall, in honor of Miami's first Black graduate. Nellie Craig was a trailblazer who broke new ground both at Miami University and in her community.
Honoring the Legacy of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner
Wednesday, February 24, 10:00 am
Join us for the virtual dedication of the Western Residence Hall Lobbies, in honor of three slain civil rights activists, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. The residence halls are near the grounds where they trained during the Freedom Summer Project in 1964.
Experiences of Black/Indigenous Identity Panel
Recorded on Thursday, February 18, 6:00 pm
Join us for a discussion about what it means to be Black and Indigenous. What does it mean to hold these two identities? Hear from our panelists about their experiences and how their Black and Indigenous identities play out in their lives and in their communities.
Panelists:
- Tony Mayle
- Amber Starks
Remembrance Project's Racial Justice and Interfaith Cooperation Panel
Recorded on Thursday, February 18, 12:00 pm
The "Remembrance Project" at Miami University seeks to create greater awareness and understanding about racial terror lynchings and begin a necessary conversation that advances truth and reconciliation. Sponsored in part by funding from the Interfaith Youth Core's Racial Justice and Interfaith Cooperation grant and the Office of Institutional Diversity, this virtual panel event features six prominent local and national panelists from diverse religious, secular, spiritual worldview who will discuss the present day legacy of racial injustices and inequalities. Panelists share how their religious, secular, spiritual values and beliefs interrupt cycles of injustice today. This event provides attendees an opportunity to consider how people across diverse religious, secular, and spiritual worldviews and racial identities might engage and support truth and reconciliation efforts regarding racial terror lynchings across the United States and in Oxford, Ohio.
Opening Speaker
Dr. Valerie Carmichael, Assistant Dean for Graduate Admission, Miami University
Panelists
- Dr. Gwen Etter-Lewis (Bahai)
- Rev. Dr. Leonard Harding (Christian)
- Ms. Brianna Sukhmani Kaur (Sikh)
- Rev. Connie Simon (Unitarian Universalist)
- Mandisa Thomas (Founding President of Black Non-Believers, Inc.)
- Pastor Lance Woodley (Christian)
Sponsored by: Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclustion, Graduate School, and Department of Family Science and Social Work
"Live, Work, Pose!”: Exploring the Black and LGBTQ Experience at Miami
Recorded on Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 pm
Listen to Black alumni reflect on their experiences navigating their race, sexuality, and gender while attending Miami. From the class of 1975 to the class of 2016, we will explore the history of he Black and LGBTQ experience at Miami.
Panelists
- Ron Clemons, Class of 1975
- Pastor Leslie Jones, Class of 1990
- Dr. Dominique C. Hill, Class of 2008
- Jayvon Howard, Class of 2016
Sponsored by: Regional Office of Diversity and Multicultural Services
Celebration of Soul Food
Wednesday, February 17, Lunch and Dinner
In honor of Black History Month, a special menu planned by the Miami University Black Student Action Association will be served at the International Station at Western Dining Commons during lunch and dinner. All meals will be served to-go.
Presented by: the Miami University Black Student Action Association in partnership with Campus Services
Making A Difference: Student Civic Engagement and Artistic Responses Inspired Training for Freedom
Friday, February 12, 12:00 pm
This presentation traces a collaboration that took place in fall 2020 between a pre-service art educator, university art education professor, and a communication design professor, focused on educating about the events and goals of Freedom Summer through artistic responses as art activism. We maintain our unique voices to reflect on our implementation process for multiple contexts, personal observations and growth.
Presenters
- Dr. Stephanie Danker, Associate Professor of Art Education, Miami University
- Zack Tucker, Assistant Professor of Communication Design, Miami University
- Jasmine Floyd, Undergraduate Student, Miami University
Sponsored by: Miami University Libraries and Art Department
What Would Dr. King & Malcolm X Teach in 2021?
3 Pieces of Generational Changing Advice For Leaders Who Care About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Presented by: Odell A. Bizzell II
Thursday, February 11, 4:00 pm
This energetic and engaging presentation will take the audience through the lives and background of Dr. King & Malcolm X and what they taught while they were alive. Then Odell Bizzell will provide meaningful information and action items that students and leaders can easily implement to activate activism within each individual.
* All students who participate will receive free registration to the March 2021 Student Leadership Activism Conference.
A Nationwide Virtual Tour for College Students & Leaders
Who Have a Dream
Sponsored by: Office of the President, Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion, Association of Black Faculty & Staff, College of Arts and Science, and College of Engineering and Computing
Killing Emmett: The murder of Emmett Till and the white Mississippi Press
Presented by: Dr. Davis Houck, Professor, Florida State
Tuesday, February 9, 6:00 pm
Dr. Houck, worked extensively on how the media shaped the narrative of the kidnap and lynching of Emmett Till, resulting in Emmett Till and the Mississippi Press (2008, with Matthew A. Grindy). That scholarship continues with his work on the Emmett Till Memory Project, a digital app for smart phones designed to tell the story in the 21st century.
Sponsored by: Miami University Libraries and Miami Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion
The Reemergence of Protests and Marches in America
Monday, February 8, 12:00 pm
Congressman John Lewis suggested that activists need to “get into good trouble.” The civil rights movement and the Black Lives Matter Movement have converged. What should be the response to all Americans?
Panelists
- Christopher Miller, Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
- Dr. Anthony James, Interim Vice President Institutional Diversity, Miami University
- Dr. Jarrett Terry, 100 Black Men of America, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Florida State University
Sponsored by: Miami University Libraries and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
African Americans at Miami
Presented by: Seth Seward, Assistant Director, Alumni Groups
Tuesday, February 2, 6:00 pm
Dive into the history of African Americans at Miami University. Starting in the 19th century and following through to present times we will look at the struggles and triumphs of Black people.
All Miami students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are welcome to attend.
Sponsored by: Alumni Association, Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, Office of Institutional Diversity, University Advancement, and University Libraries
Follow us on Instagram for a new Miami Black Alumni spotlight each day in February.
A Conversation with Nikki Giovanni: Anti-Racist Activism Then and Now
Monday, January 18, 1-2:30 p.m.
All Miami students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to attend.
Sponsoring Miami Groups:
- Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion
- Office of Institutional Diversity
- Office of the President
- Black Student Action Association
- Diversity Affairs Council
- Graduate Students of Color Association
- Associated Student Governments
- Alumni Association
Remembering John Lewis
In 2018 Miami's president, Gregory Crawford, awarded Congressman John Lewis with the Freedom Summer Award.