14 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month at the College of Charleston

Black History Month, celebrated during the month of February, is a time to recognize the accomplishments and reflect on the struggles of African Americans. And, as we look back on history, it’s an opportunity for us all to better understand our present culture and improve upon our future as a country.

The College of Charleston kicked off Black History Month with the White House Initiative for Black Americans ‘Power Up’ event series on Feb. 1, and it will continue to celebrate with programming and events throughout February. With campus visits from state senators, celebrity footwear designers and Grammy Award–winning music producers, and everything from fashion shows to haircuts to walking tours, the month is jam-packed with events for everyone.

Here are some of the events the College is hosting in honor of Black History Month:

Higher Education Roundtable
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture

This event is part of the White House Initiative for Black Americans ‘Power Up’ event series at the College of Charleston.

Cuts and Conversations
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
6–8 p.m.
Stern Student Center, Room 205

This event features barbers providing free haircuts, entertainment by DJ SCrib (James Vickers ’15), refreshments and impactful conversations. Since 2019, the College has held a program that builds on the historical tradition of the barbershop that allows Black men to communicate freely about topics relevant to them, with moderators who help guide the conversation and provide culturally relevant solutions. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services, the Student Ambassadors and the Office of Admissions.

Google DEI Data Center Summer Internship Program Information Session
Monday, Feb. 5, 2024
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
School of Education Alumni Center

Join Google employees and the Office of Institutional Diversity to learn more about the paid 10-week summer experience where students explore various career opportunities at the Google Data Center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Learn what a data center is and how you can apply for the internship. Thirty-minute presentations will be offered at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Open to all students and all majors (even undecided), and especially first- and second-year, AALANA and first-generation students. Lunch will be provided. Registration is encouraged.

“Showing Up for Our Sisters” Women’s Basketball Game
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
6:30 p.m.
TD Arena

Calling all College of Charleston alumni, employees, students and friends: Come enjoy food, fun swag and great basketball as the women’s basketball team takes on North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University! The first 75 students will receive a free food voucher! There is no admission fee. Clear bags only. Sponsored by the Office Institutional Diversity, the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture and the Black Alumni Council.

OID Signature Speaker Series: S.C. Senator Deon Tedder
Monday, Feb. 12, 2024
5:30 p.m.
School of Sciences and Mathematics Building, Room 129

The recently elected youngest member of the S.C. Senate, Sen. Deon Tedder, will address civic engagement and diversity in higher education. After his presentation, the Office of Institutional Diversity will host a one-hour private dinner with the senator and seven students, chosen from the pool of students who submit one-page double-spaced essays to oid@cofc.edu regarding: 1) their future career goals; 2) what they know about Sen. Tedder; and 3) why they would like to have dinner with him, specifically, the questions or advice they’re seeking. Students interested in politics, human rights, civil rights, social change or becoming a court-appointed guardian ad litem and are seeking personal insight from an expert regarding their careers should apply by Monday, Feb. 5. Selected students will be notified Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Untold Stories Campus Guided Walking Tour
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024
3–4:30 p.m.
Porter’s Lodge

Launched in October 2023, the Untold Stories interpreter-led walking tours shed light on the diverse stories and evolution of Charleston, as reflected in the history of the College of Charleston, and honors the contributions of women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of African, Indigenous and Jewish descent. The event is free for College of Charleston faculty and staff and sponsored by the Committee for Commemoration and Landscapes’s Interpretation Subcommittee. Register here.

OID Signature Speaker Series: Dante Pelzer
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
5:30 p.m.
School of Sciences and Mathematics Building, Room 129

Dante Pelzer, associate director of diversity at MUSC, will talk about diversity and underrepresentation in health careers. Pelzer obtained his bachelor’s degree in mass communications and his master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Florida State University. As a scholar-practitioner, Pelzer’s research interests include the study Black male identity development among college men and the broad examination of underrepresented students’ college experiences. After his presentation, the Office of Institutional Diversity will host a one-hour private dinner with him and a small group of students, chosen from the pool of students who submit one-page double-spaced essays to oid@cofc.edu regarding: 1) their future career goals; 2) why they would like to have dinner with him; and 3) what they hope to learn. Students should apply by Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Antron Mahoney

African American Studies New Faculty Lecture: “re/Defining Black Fraternalism: Toward a More Trans/gressive Reading Practice”
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
4 p.m.
Septima Clark Memorial Auditorium, Education Center

Antron Mahoney, assistant professor of African American studies at the College of Charleston, will speak about redefining Black fraternalism. The history and development of Black Greek-lettered organizations is often read or understood in ways that construct a limited black political imagination – specifically, relegating or excluding queer experiences. In this lecture, Mahoney will explore an alternative reading of Black fraternity as always already complex and capable of a more expansive Black politic. Presented by the African American Studies Program.

Cherisse Branch-Jones ’94 (M.A. ’97)

1967 Legacy Scholars Signature Series: “Charleston and Rurality”
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
3:15 p.m.
School of Education Alumni Center

Cherisse Jones-Branch ’94 (M.A. ’97), professor of history and dean of the graduate school at Arkansas State University, will talk about Charleston and rurality. During her time as a graduate student at the University of Charleston, Jones-Branch worked at the Avery Research Center. She left to pursue her Ph.D. at The Ohio State University. Her dissertation, which also became her award-winning first book, was on Black and white women’s interracial activism in South Carolina. In 2017, she became one of the first three James and Wanda Lee Vaughn Endowed Professors at the university and the first and only African American in Arkansas State University’s history. Sponsored by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, the African American Studies Program, the Program in the Carolina Lowcountry and the Atlantic World, the Department of History, the Black Alumni Council and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

OID Signature Speaker Series: Etu Evans
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
5:30 p.m.
School of Sciences and Mathematics Building, Room 129

Etu Evans is a celebrity footwear and accessories designer, media guru, humanitarian, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He also founded the Solesville Foundation. His presentation, “The Power of a Footprint,” will focus on how he stepped into his purpose as a leader of industry and how he has inspired countless individuals to put their best foot forward through the creation of the Solesville Foundation. After his presentation, the Office of Institutional Diversity will host a one-hour private dinner with him and a small group of students, chosen from the pool of students who submit one-page double-spaced essays to oid@cofc.edu regarding: 1) their future career goals; 2) why they would like to have dinner with him; and 3) what they hope to learn. Students should apply by Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Black Student Union Fashion Show
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
5 p.m.
Stern Center Ballroom

This year’s theme for this popular event is “Hip-Hop Fashion Across the Decades.” Sponsored by the Black Student Union and the African American Studies Program.

Black History Trivia
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024
6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Stern Student Center, Room 205

Join Multicultural Student Programs and Services, the Pride Center, Student Life, CAB and CofC faculty for a fun night of trivia! Trivia questions will consist of topics related to Black history locally and globally. Be sure to follow our host offices on social media as they will be posting trivia clues throughout February.

A Conversation with Grammy Award–Winning Producer 9th Wonder: “50 Years of Hip-Hop, 38 Years of Friendship”
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024
6 p.m.
Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center, Room 101

The African American Studies Program presents a talk with hip-hop scholar and a Grammy Award–winning music producer Patrick Douthit, aka 9th Wonder. Sponsored by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, the African American Studies Program, the School of the Arts, the Arts Management Program and the Office of Institutional Diversity.

Alaina Roberts

Department of History Annual Black History Month Lecture: “Black and Indigenous Solidarities and Antagonisms”
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
5 p.m.
Septima Clark Memorial Auditorium, Education Center

This year’s Department of History at the College of Charleston’s Annual Black History Month Lecture will be presented by Alaina Roberts, associate professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh. Roberts will speak about Black and Native American life from the Civil War to the modern day. Roberts is the author of I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land, which was awarded the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize and the Western History Association’s John C. Ewers Award and W. Turrentine Jackson Book Prize. She has also written multiple academic essays as well as op-eds and profiles for The Washington Post, TIME magazine and High Country News. Her research has been featured in CNN, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker and The Atlantic. Sponsored by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, the African American Studies Program, the Program in the Carolina Lowcountry and the Atlantic World, the Department of History, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, the Center for Public Choice and Market Process, the Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston, the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Department of Religious Studies.