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Carlie Pierre
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About Black History Month
As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization were realized when he conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925.
By the time of Woodson's death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life. The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial, fifty years after the first celebration. Since then, each American president has issued Black History Month proclamations. Source: blackhistorymonth.gov
The Black History Month 2025 events are open to the SSU community, celebrate and bring awareness to the histories, cultures, experiences, contributions, and futures of people of African descent across the diaspora.
2025 Event List
Intergenerational Hip Hop Dance Symposium | January 30-February 2
Reserve your spot for this electrifying weekend of battles, films, workshops, and performances as we celebrate the legacy and cultural influence of hip-hop across generations!
- Hip Hop Dance Workshop | Thursday, January 30, 1:40-2:55 pm | O'Keefe 303
- Battle with DJ Will B | Thursday, January 30, 4:30-8 pm | Veterans Hall
- Hip Hop Dance Workshop with Bboy El Nino | Friday, January 31, 12:15 -1:30 pm | O'Keefe 303
- Hip Hop Dance Film Festival | Friday, January 31, 7:30 pm | Sophia Gordon Center
- Hip Hop Dance Showcase ft. The Floor Lords | Saturday, February 1, 7:30 pm | Sophia Gordon Center
Honoring bell hooks: Exploring Critical Love and Justice for Transforming Higher Education Discussion and Reception
Tuesday, February 4; 4-6 pm | Veterans Hall
Hosted by: Inclusive Excellence, JEDI Community of Practice
Karaoke Night
Thursday, February 6; 6 pm | Starbucks
Hosted by: Black Student Union
Community Conversation Ft. Jamie Wilson, PhD
Thursday, February 10; 11:30 am-1 pm | ECC MLK Room
Join us for a community conversation led by Dr. Jamie Wilson from Salem State's history department over lunch on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., poverty, race, and war in the 1960s.
Hosted by: Inclusive Excellence
Sweet Treats and Beats
Thursday, February 13; 6 pm | ECC MLK Room
Hosted by: Black Student Union
Jeopardy Night
Thursday, February 20; 6 pm | ECC Metro
Hosted by: Black Student Union
Annual Black History Month Dinner
Friday, February 21; 6 pm | ECC Vets Hall
Hosted by: Black Student Union
Fashioning for Freedom: Layers of Liberty
Friday, February 21; 7 pm | Salem's Historic Old Town Hall
Join us for a celebratory, historical runway of Black creativity and activism from New England's past three centuries. Reserve your ticket today.
Hosted by: History Alive, Inc.
In Open Rebellion
Sunday, February 23; 3 pm and 4:15pm | Salem's Historic Old Town Hall
Reserve your free ticket for a chance to imagine yourself amidst Salem's Patriots, Loyalists, and enslaved Africans as the seaside town prepares for a secret Provincial Congress. Learn what Africans may have been thinking about the impending revolution, hear songs from the time period and be surrounded by the Revolutionary energy of Salem's liberty-aspiring inhabitants.
Hosted by: History Alive, Inc.
BHM Keynote featuring Keith Knight
Monday, February 24; 11:30 am | Veterans Hall
Join us for a luncheon and discussion with Cartoonist, Social Activist and SSU alumnus Keith Knight, followed by a meet & greet and print signing!
Keith Knight is a critically acclaimed comics creator and cartoonist. He has received the Comic-Con Inkpot, a CXC Master Cartoonist Award, several Glyph Awards for best comic strip, a Harvey Award and has been nominated for an Eisner,, and an NAACP Image Award. Knight is the creator of the long-running autobio comic strip, the K Chronicles.
One of the most widely distributed alt-weekly comic strips since its launch in the early nineties. His socio-political single-panel cartoon, (th)ink, has graced the pages of both Black newspapers/websites, and alt-weeklies. And he drew the daily syndicated strip, the Knight Life for over a decade until 2019. In 2020, Knight's life and comics were the inspiration for the comedy series, Woke, on Hulu.
Knight served as co-creator, writer, and executive producer on the show. It ran for two seasons. Knight is a graduate of Malden High School and Salem State University, where he received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2022.
Hosted by: Inclusive Excellence
Let's Talk About It: Hair and Skin Care
Thursday, February 27; 6 pm | ECC MLK
Hosted by: Black Student Union and Bold Empowered and Educated Sisters (BEES)
Celebrate Black History Month with Viking Dining!
Join us for lunch at North Campus Cafe and Dinner at Marsh Dining Hall every Wednesday of February.
Curated by: Black Student Union, Haitian Cultural Club, The Brotherhood, and Bold, Educated, Empowered Sisters (BEES)