Kent State celebrates its 55th anniversary of Black History Month this February and is holding multiple events throughout the month. One program held on Feb. 18, titled Black Brilliance, celebrated the history of Black artists’ different ways of expression.
Marquis Davis, director of access, belonging and engagement in the College of the Arts, and Janice Johnson, a therapist from Counseling and Psychological Services, organized the event and gave a presentation.
“We just want to make sure we shine a light on black history,” Davis said. “We wanted to make sure it’s a creative process and not like it’s laboring or hammering down old history, but making it more refreshing. We always want to incorporate participation from students to integrate what they like.”
Resiliency, reclamation and recovery are the themes of the anniversary. Davis and Johnson used examples from Black artists to connect the process of expression to the overall theme of the month. They emphasized the importance of community for artists and continued to ask students’ thoughts about how the theme impacted underrepresented communities.
Davis focused on the history of Black History Month and what resiliency, reclamation and recovery mean for both present and past Black artists.
“It’s awareness of history, but then also it’s present day, so once you figure out what has been done, it can give you guidance as to what you could do,” Davis said.
The beginning of recognizing and celebrating Black history at KSU started in 1926 when Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, which took place during the second week of February.
The student organization Black United Students (BUS) pushed KSU to recognize the entire month of February as Black History Month in 1969 but had to wait until 1970 for KSU to first observe the holiday.
“Kent has a rich history around activism,” Davis said. “Kent State and students and activism are synonymous with each other. So even with what might be happening now in the country or happening here locally at the state level, students are leading that charge when it comes to expressing their voice.”
The anniversary takes place during a significant period of political and social change. Davis said the continuous stream of information can be overwhelming and students should lean on their community for support.
“I think you just got to find your circle, know your people, and once you find that group of individuals, then that will be it for you,” Davis said. “If you take on a lot of the information, especially at a fast pace, you get tired. Have people around you where you can express your frustration and express tension that you might feel. Try to find a balance, a really nice, healthy balance.”
Aryn Kauble is a reporter. Contact him at akauble2@kent.edu.
