Black History Month
During Black History Month, Miami University reflects on more than 400 years of Black history and heritage in our country. Black history is American history, and during this month we foreground conversations about Black representation, identity, and diversity in our nation, and state’s and campus’s history. We honor the history and achievements of African Americans past and present. This heritage month is also an opportunity for the Miami community to assess the work we have accomplished and still have to do. At Miami, we stand in solidarity with all who advocate for transformative change and justice and we declare unequivocally that Black Lives Matter, this and every month. We encourage all Miamians to engage in dialogue and allyship with our campus community organizations such as BSAA, ABFAS, ASU, BWE, NPHC, NABA, NSBE, NBLSA.
Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
January 16, 2023, 10 a.m.
Presented by: Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, Office of the President, Oxford NAACP, and the City of Oxford.
On behalf of Miami University and the City of Oxford community members, join us for the MLK Day Celebration with special keynote speaker and Western College alumnae Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins who will present "I Dare You to be the Dream!"
Racial Reconciliation - a panel discussion at the University Libraries
February 1, 2022
Virtual Event
Watch on Facebook LIVE facebook.com/MiamiOHLib
Reconciling past injustices is a central ingredient to healing and progress in human relations and ultimately, the creation and maintenance of a civil society is built on justice. The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and The Butler County, Ohio Truth and Reconciliation Project recently unveiled a historic marker in recognition of the two lynchings that occurred in Oxford, Ohio in the late 1800’s.
Join the University Libraries in a panel discussion with Valerie Carmichael, Anthony James, and Conrad Peques for a talk about what has to be done to educate and bring light to past racial trauma.
#BlackHistoryMonth22
White on Black in Camelot
Beau Grosscup and Laverne Merritt-Gordon, Co-authors of “Tell Them What You Want”
Registration requiredThe lecture is based on Laverne Merritt-Gordon’s creative memoir, Tell Them What You Want, in which an African-American girl ‘Bernie’ grows up in southwest Ohio amidst the 1950s-mid-1970s socio-political turmoil. The focus is on Merritt-Gordon’s confrontations with the complexities of racism, (as well as socio-economic class and gender) that challenge the popular image of Oxford, as an idyllic ‘Camelot,’ and Miami University as it’s enlightened intellectual and social hub. Merritt-Gordon’s historical experiences, as well as those of others in Oxford and at Miami offer a unique link to the race, (class and gender) issues in which the alleged North American ‘post-racial’ society is currently embroiled.
Miami Presents: 40 Years of the Bridges Program
February 8, 2022
Virtual Event
Join us for part two of our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Bridges Program at Miami University. The presenters, alumnae Dr. Monica Adkins ‘89 and Jonika Moore ‘98, both play a vital role in the current program’s success through the admissions department and the student success center.
Miami Presents: Black Firsts; Navigating Successes & Challenges of Being the First in a Field
February 9, 2022
Virtual Event
Join the Miami University Alumni Association and the Center of Student Diversity and Inclusion on Wednesday, Feb. 9 for a discussion in celebration of Black History. During this presentation, four alumni panelists will share their experiences about being the first in their career fields. Alumnus Dr. Ron Crutcher will start the hour with a special message to kick off the conversation.
College of Arts and Science Distinguished Educator Lecture
Critical Race Theory and the Search for Truth by Rodney Coates
February 10, 2022
212 MacMillan Hall, 5 - 8 p.m.
Professor of Global and Intercultural Studies Rodney D. Coates, one of the 2021 Distinguished Educators from the College of Arts and Science, gives his lecture on "Critical Race Theory and the Search for Truth." Sponsored by the Department of Global and Intercultural Studies and the College of Arts and Science.
Photo Credit: Ted Polumbaum at Newseum
Training For Freedom
February 14, 2022
Virtual Event
Premiering exclusively on PBS Western Reserve, TRAINING FOR FREEDOM weaves intimate personal stories from participants and local residents with critical historical analysis from noted historians and scholars. It explores how people from dramatically different worlds broke down barriers of race, class, and gender to organize the most comprehensive campaign of the civil rights movement.
Visit PBSWesternReserve.org after 9:30 pm on Feb 14 to view the documentary.
- The panel will be moderated by Ben Holbert, mayor of Woodmere Village. Confirmed panelists include Bruce Watson, author of Freedom Summer, and Dr. Nishani Frazier, Associate Professor, Department of American Studies and History, University of Kansas. We have one final panelist that has not officially been confirmed.
- This event can be accessed by anyone outside of our broadcast viewing area.
We will also have educational resources related to the program available on PBSWesternReserve.org prior to the first air date of the program, most likely sometime the week of February 7.
Mississippi Burning
Tuesday, February 15 at noon-1:00 pm
Mississippi Burning: Freedom Summer at the Historic Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Mississippi
A talk with Rev. Lydia Michelle Cummings Dailey
When arsonists set Mt. Zion Methodist Church ablaze in Philadelphia, Mississippi during Freedom Summer of 1964, civil rights activists Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner began investigating. They were kidnapped and murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan and local law enforcement for their efforts.
Co-Sponsors: The Historic Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Philadelphia, MS, and the Miami University Libraries.
Equal Justice Initiative Racial Justice Essay Contest
February 15, 2022
Virtual Event
Join Miami University's Community Remembrance Project as we host the Equal Justice Initiatives Racial Justice Essay Contest Award Ceremony. This ceremony recognizes students from Butler County Public High Schools awarded scholarships by EJI.
Breath Better Spent: Living Black Girlhood by DaMaris Hill
February 16, 2022, 5 p.m.
Virtual Event
Truth and Reconciliation Community Remembrance Project Webinar
Recorded on February 21, 2022, 12 p.m.
Register to attend this webinar event where Miami faculty, staff, and alumni discuss the broader vision for Miami's "Truth and Reconciliation Project" and its continued focus on the work that remains left to be done in advancing truth and reconciliation around race in America and honestly confronting the legacy of slavery, lynching, and segregation.
Panelists:
- Anthony James Jr.
- Valerie Carmichael
Facilitated by Cristina Alcalde
African-American Experiences in 21st Century Higher Ed
Recorded Wednesday, February 23, 2022 noon-1pm
Sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
This is My Story, This is My Song: Black Music, Black Sound, and the Unmasking of Post-Racial America
February 23, 2022
Armstrong Student Center Pavillion, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Tammy Kernodle is University Distinguished Professor of Musicology at Miami University. She has published widely on African American music, jazz, gender, and popular music and is the author of Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams. In 2018 Professor Kernodle received Miami University’s Benjamin Harrison Medallion, the highest award given to a faculty member in recognition of research, teaching, and service. She is currently the President of the Society for American Music.
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
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.
Miami Presents: The Greek Life Experience for Black Alumni and Students
Watch this virtual discussion with members of Miami’s Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities chapters. Nloh Masango-Dibo, (former) Director of Miami University’s Center of Student Diversity and Inclusion, a doctoral student and member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., will moderate the discussion with several members of Miami’s Greek chapters in the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
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.
Donation Collection for TOPPS
Now through January 21st
2030 Armstrong Student Center
We will be collecting items for the Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS). At this time, TOPPS has requested ready-to-eat food/snacks and personal hygiene items. Please drop off your items at the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (Armstrong 2030). We will be collecting items until January 21st.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Honoring the Legacy
January 17, 2022, 10 a.m.
View MLK Creative Arts Exposition
Featuring:
- Talawanda Student Arts Exposition
- Training for Freedom documentary trailer presented by Richard Campbell and Jacky Johnson (full film to air on PBS in February)
- Student Reflections by Myja White and Curtis Harrison
- Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy and remarks on Freedom Summer '64 by Amber Franklin
Sponsored by: Office of the President, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with the City of Oxford and NAACP Oxford Chapter.
Remembering John Lewis
In 2018 Miami's president, Gregory Crawford, awarded Congressman John Lewis with the Freedom Summer Award.