St. John's Celebrates Black History
Month
BHM KICK-OFF 2013
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HERE FOR A LISTING OF ALL BHM EVENTS!
Monday, January 28th, 2013
5:00 pm, DAC 128
The campus community kick-off celebration for Black History Month
2013 features educational and interactive displays from all of the
African American student organizations on St. John’s campus. Join
the Black History Month Committee as we look back to our roots in
order to move forward. There will be student organization display
tables on topics such as the history of African American music,
fashion, and unsung heroes, etc. Not only will we be feeding your
soul with the richness of African American culture, but we will
also have some soul food available for tasting. Free admission. All
interested students, faculty, and staff are invited to
attend.
This year's theme, At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The
Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington reminds us
that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. The
year 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation
Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington:
Two major anniversaries in the road toward freedom, justice, and
equality for African Americans. In 1863 the proclamation, a wartime
measure issued by President Abraham Lincoln, freed few slaves, but
initiated a fire in the enslaved to strike for their freedom. The
end result was that the war for the union became a war against
slavery. A century later, in 1963 America once again stood at the
crossroads. The U.S. Supreme Court had outlawed racial segregation
in public schools, but the nation had not yet committed itself to
equality for all. On August 28, 1963, hundreds of thousands of
Americans, blacks and whites, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and
Catholics, marched to the memorial of Abraham Lincoln, the author
of the Emancipation Proclamation, in the continuing pursuit of
equality of citizenship and self-determination. It was on this day
that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream”
speech. Just as the Emancipation Proclamation had recognized the
coming end of slavery, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
announced that the days of legal segregation in the United States
were quickly coming to an end.
As we begin 2013, we continue to reflect on the progression of
civil rights in America and strive to build on the dream of Martin
Luther King, Jr. St.John’s University’s racial diversity,
Vincentian mission, and scholarly excellence puts us in an
outstanding position to celebrate these achievements and
acknowledge the struggles of African Americans. The Office of
Multicultural Affairs recognizes this is a year-round
responsibility. With the Association for the Study of African
American Life and History, we believe that "Black history, like
American history, should be studied 365 days a year. Yet [we]
continue to view February as the critical month for carrying forth
the mission."
*Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Online at: www.asalh.org
Co-sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, Office of
Multicultural Affairs (Queens Campus, Staten Island Campus),
Department of Africana Studies, Career Center, Campus Ministry,
Campus Activities, Residence Life, Haraya, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa
Alpha Psi, NAACP, Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Iota Alpha,
Zeta Phi Beta, LASO, ALFSA, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, RSA,
Muslim Students’ Association, Food 4 Thought, African Students’
Association, Omega Phi Beta, Diversity Peer Educators, Sinai’s
Radiant Liturgical Praise Dance Team, SGI, Campus Activities Board,
Fashion Club.
For more information, contact the Chair of BHM, Natalie Munoz,
Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at munozn@stjohns.edu ,
(718)990-6887, or visit the office located in the D’Angelo Center
Room 124.