February 1st marks the start of Black History Month, but at Albertus, we want to celebrate Black Brilliance all 365 days of the year. Today, we want to explore why we celebrate Black History Month and Black History at Albertus.
Why do we Celebrate Black History Month?
In the United States of America, there is a longstanding reputation of ignoring Black culture and history; in 1926, Carter G. Woodson decided that it was time to change that. Woodson created Negro History Week in the second week of February as an homage to Abraham Lincoln— the president behind the Emancipation Proclamation— and Fredrick Douglass, a driving force behind the abolition movement. In Woodson’s hometown of West Virginia, ‘Negro Week’ gained popularity and was celebrated mostly by Black students. In 1976, long after Woodson died, President Gerald Ford recognized February as Black History Month in his bicentennial Independence address. President Ford stated that we must “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Nearly 50 years later, Black History Month is celebrated nationally and allows for Black voices to be heard. This month is a time when people who were once censored and suppressed are put in the spotlight to share their stories.
Black History at Albertus Magnus College.
Since the college’s establishment, the Dominican Sisters have said that it was open to “all races and creeds.” According to our college’s Archivist, Catie White, despite always being open to Black Students, the College’s first known record of a matriculated Black Student is 1938; however, this student never got to attend class. However, in 1955, Janet Rose B. Gibson graduated from Albertus Magnus with a B.A. in Sociology and minors in Business and Economics; she was the first Black Graduate from the College. Janet went on to get an M.A. from Suffolk University and have a career as a counselor for the Alternative Individual Development program at Salem State University.
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On July 31st, 1964, Sr. Marie Louise O.P., to Harold Coleman wrote a letter stating:
“..we at Albertus are committed to the philosophy that all men, regardless of race, creed, or color, are our brothers since we are all children of one God, and that we are all bound to respect man’s fundamental rights as a human being: the right to decent housing, education, employment, and the exercise of man’s rights as a citizen.”
Sr. Marie Louise reaffirmed the mission of the College to provide men and women with an education that promotes the search for truth in all its dimensions and is practical in its application. The sisters were aware of the political climate of the United States and pushed to increase enrollment of Black Students.
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In 1985, the College became co-ed, and in 1991, Duwane Means became the first Black Male Graduate with a degree in Business and Economics. Another shattered glass ceiling for the College.
Presently, the College has grown increasingly more diverse. The founding of the Black Student Union by Albertus Alum Kiyomi Bowen ‘21 has created a safe space for students on campus and spearheaded important events like the Black Solidarity Walk of 2022. Faculty and staff also saw the need to promote diversity, and the Inclusion Diversity Equity in Action (IDEA) committee was founded in February 2023 to create agents of change on campus.
The Black experience is one filled with joy but has a history of suffering. At Albertus, we strive to continue to promote a space for the Black Students to not only receive an education but also build community. February might be Black History Month, but we must celebrate Black history, culture, brilliance, and experiences all year around.
Student Perspective:
Ayana McDuffie-Young ‘25, President of The Albertus Magnus College Black Student Union:
“To me, Black History Month is an opportunity to deepen the understanding of Black history, culture, and contributions we have made to society across the African diaspora. We are constantly challenging stereotypes and beating the odds that were placed against us! This month, we will celebrate diversity, success and create a more informed society during this time. Despite the challenge that is planning a month of events, I have been getting support by Dr. Huckaby, Dr. Morganna Payne, Miriam Randall ( Coordinator for International Student Services and Engagement), and my Black Student Union team. Together, this powerful team has gotten a feeling of empowerment and community within an academic setting at Albertus!
I must express gratitude to the Black pioneers before me who have had the courage and resilience to pave the way for opportunities that I have today. Their sacrifices created a path toward my success; there is no amount of gratitude that can equate to what they’ve done for me and my black peers!”
Diversity Statement
*As a Catholic College in the Dominican tradition, Albertus Magnus College respects and honors the dignity of each person regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, country of origin, disability, and other expressions of human individuality. Core to the Albertus Magnus College mission is its commitment to provide an education that empowers all members of the College community to respond to “the ethical challenges of its student body and society.” (Albertus Magnus College Mission Statement.) The College strives to live out this commitment by:
Promoting a richly diverse and inclusive college community;
Cultivating an atmosphere of mutual respect and ethical behavior in the most robust manner possible, with particular attention to the underserved and historically marginalized members of the Albertus community whether they be students, staff or faculty;
Being an agent of change and discourse “…oriented toward eliminating inequity and injustice, working toward a campus, a neighborhood, a city, a nation, a world where the future is marked by love and respect, by fairness and justice, and by peace versus violence.” (Marc M. Camille, Ed.D., President, Albertus Magnus College.)*
References
Carter G. Woodson. NAACP. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/carter-g-woodson
President Gerald R. Ford’s message on the observance of black history month. February 10, 1976. https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/speeches/760074.htm
For more information about Black and Multicultural History at Albertus, please visit Multicultural history page curated by the college’s Archivist and Librarian, Catie White.