Black History Month kicked off at Elon University on Feb. 3 with a celebration of this year’s theme, “This Is How We Do It: Honoring Blackness Through Influence, Innovation, and Legacy.” The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education organized the event, placing emphasis on Black individuals that have been at the forefront of shaping culture and leading in fields of innovation, creativity and social progress.
Assistant Director of the CREDE Abdul-Malik Harrison began the event by explaining that the selected theme was an example of how “Black and brown people unite together to make something out of nothing.” Black members of the Elon University community and celebrities, like Louis Armstrong and Serena Williams, were featured in a video created by Elon junior Madison McCrainey.
Director of the Moseley Center, Michael Williams, led participants in prayer before activities commenced. The kickoff also included a fashion show featuring urban street style and traditional African clothing worn by Black students with students cheering as they walked down the catwalk. The Wobble and Cupid Shuffle were performed afterwards by participants.
Harmonies of “World Didn't Give It To Me” by Shirley Caesar were sung out from the crowd following Williams’ prayer. A presenter within the night’s programming sang the song and emphasized the importance of overcoming adversity in the Black community.
“The one thing we know about the Black community, we choose to be happy,” the presenter said. “We have learned over time, you can take away access. The one thing you cannot take away from me is my joy.”
Elon sophomore Jamari Heredia works in the CREDE’s DEEP: Rooted in Social Justice program, which educated students and staff at the Kickoff event about the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street in Durham. As DEI initiatives are removed by the federal government, Heredia said that work is being done within the CREDE to provide students resources and ways to contact local politicians.
“It’s significant for our students, staff, faculty to be educated on Black history,” Heredia said. “Not only to be knowledgeable on Black success, but the trials and triumphs, reparations, recognition and healing that needs to take place for the Black community as well.”
Sophomore Juliette-Elise Hill and sophomore Adrianna Stapleton take a peek at the Black History Month brochure during the Black History Month Kickoff event on Feb. 3.
Black Student Union President senior Maleah Proctor attended the kickoff for her second time, highlighting Black inventors at the BSU table for the event. BSU plans to hold a spirit week for Black History Month, along with communal dinners, a Valentine’s Day party at Tap House and Town Hall, where they will create cards for Black faculty and staff.
“Unity and community building is such a big thing for BSU,” Proctor said. “The social events bring people together, but we wanted to make sure there’s still focus on education and continuing to learn and highlight these prominent figures that made a lasting impact. We’re going to continue our part to educate, even if things don’t necessarily play out where that is instilled in our country’s values, that will be something that’s important and holds true to us.”
According to Elon University’s Diversity Dashboard, only 5.3% of undergraduate students, 8.6% of graduate students, 7.6% of faculty and 19.5% of staff identify themselves as Black on Elon’s campuses in 2023. However, the class of 2028 was the most diverse in the university’s history, even though the school remains a predominantly white institution.
Students check out booths at the Black History Month Kickoff event in McKinnon Hall on Feb. 3.
The CREDE will hold events all throughout Black History Month, ending with the Black Solidarity Conference at noon Feb. 28. All events are free to the Elon University Community, including alumni, but off-campus attendees will have to pay $20 for the conference.
“Let us celebrate the diversity that enriched our lives and work together towards a future of equality and justice for all,” Williams said in prayer.