When the month of February rolls around, many members of Skidmore’s black community look to the college’s clubs and members of the black diaspora, such as UJIMA, The African Heritage Awareness Club (AHA), and The West Indian Student Association Club (WISA), to make ample effort to empower their voices. The lack of events planned by Skidmore as an institution undermines the month’s importance to the black community. Because of the lack of acknowledgment from the administration of this month, the priority of Black History and its celebration feels forgotten.
Black History Month originated from the mind of Carter G. Woodson. This black historian challenged systemic racism through a celebration of black history and ability with Negro History Week. Time has passed, things have changed, and the week has evolved into a month. Black History encompasses minor victories, moments of joy, ancestry, legitimization, and stands as a global movement of protest against any institution that denies our worth. Marvel at this curious idea: a struggle up a never-ending stair. As racism endures, Black celebration proves itself to be essential.
UJIMA’s president, Anissa Joseph ‘22, said, "Black history is fundamental to the American and global experience, as the Black Diaspora is tied to the economic, social, and cultural systems of almost every country in the world."
Skidmore College’s black community worked hard to do justice to the month and to themselves — albeit alone. UJIMA programmed weekly events for students to engage in discussions of the black identity, such as, “What does Black History Month mean to you?,” “I Affirm,” and “Discussion on Afro-Caribbean identity.” WISA partnered with UJIMA to explore the intersectionality between black identities. AHA celebrated the various roots of their club members.
It's “an evolution of programming," according to Mariel Martin, the interim director for the Office of Student Diversity Programs. “Community” remains the biggest concern for college administration, and they find students’ voices to be its solution. Ideally, college staff “steps back” as pillars of support, so students feel welcomed, heard, and empowered to participate.
Ideally, the community’s best work comes from students who are left to lead. Yet, the reality is that these 29 days for celebration passed with some discordance. The college has made itself too distant by not taking the time to comprehensively advertise and celebrate black history. Consequently, disadvantaged students feel slightly abandoned; their efforts receive no pause, emphasis, or priority by the institution. The college seems to favor what time, circumstance, history, have made, only caught up in a national and historic precedent of apathy. Black students must do all the work to celebrate and teach. OSDP is not the only office that needs to support their cause.
Worse so, many students react unsurprised, although upset. Joseph continued to say, “I witnessed the school acknowledge the atrocities for various groups by emails from the president or school moments of silence, but when the Black community is targeted, another innocent person dies, or confederate flags are flown as we walk down Broadway, the institution remains silent. For Skidmore not to acknowledge this month is consistent with how Skidmore has treated the Black community.”
How can we all move forward with enacting ways to value this month and its people? First, February can start with an official email from the office of the president to show the importance of black celebration. Also, some students have ideas about what can be done, and should become vital communicators between the administration and student body. One anonymous student said, "I have noticed the Skidmore library had a weekly issue of books for Valentine’s Day and fashion week… there could have been a way to mix books about black history, romance, and fashion in their displays” — simply paying attention to black narratives and histories beyond the designated month.
Another anonymous student said, "Skidmore as a campus has to do a better job at tapping into these discussions with black faculty, events, gatherings when riots and movements happen that are centered around the black community." Another student desires more room and space provided by professors and faculty to process black identity and pride. Professor Winston Grady-Willis encourages the college to comprehensively “embrace the global African world in academia." Thus, when black students organize their own events, they will feel the support of their institution.
With the 29 days of February over and the pandemic disrupting regularly scheduled club meetings, it’s currently a bit up in the air as to how students can continue to celebrate diversity on campus. Any student can join AHA, UJIMA, or WISA and partake in their amazing discussions held to talk about various cultures and people, so reach out to their leaders through SkidSync to see what, if anything, they are doing during the quarantine.
The work of Black History Month is mightier when we all pause and acknowledge what it fights for and against. For those fighting for legitimacy, it communicates that black people matter.