By: D’ana Downing, MSA Graduate Assistant
Hey, Family —
I have the distinct privilege of sharing our 2021 Black History Month theme. First, I’d like to provide some context to frame our thought process for this year’s theme. We started by considering the events of last year.
COVID-19 seemed to steal moments of our lives as we shifted to a virtual context in our classrooms and communities. We lost Black celebrities and dignitaries who were integral pieces of the quilted fabric of the Culture and Black experience: Kobe Bryant (and his daughter Gianna), Chadwick Boseman, and John Lewis. And it seemed like all of this was happening at the same time. It was hit after hit, and our spring and summer “vacations” were not times of respite and restoration but were unsettled in unrest. Many called this a “racial reckoning,” and a “Revolution” in the Black Lives Matter movement.
We grieved. We counted hashtag after hashtag after hashtag #SAYHERNAME Breonna Taylor, Dominique Fells, Riah Melton; #SAYHISNAME George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Jacob Blake. We remembered. We called for the defunding of the police. We protested. We called for the dismantling of systems rooted in white supremacy and racism. We voted.
No one expected to start this year with an insurrection at our Nation’s Capitol. I know I was not expecting to see that type of destruction and disrespect happen in MY CITY.
Now, I hold onto the glimpses of hope that I saw last week at Inauguration. I also hold onto the idea that Black communities have both power and agency to reclaim and reimagine Blackness – in leadership, in policies, and in the public sphere.
This is an invitation to the entire Northwestern University community to celebrate our Black History Month theme: Reclaim and Reimagine. This year, we are seeking to reclaim and reimagine Blackness – embracing a thoughtful, intentional, and inclusive framework; we consider new ways of knowing, being, and doing. We believe Black and Pan African people across the globe are beautiful, creative, innovative and unrelenting. Join us this Black History Month as we celebrate and honor the reclamation and reimagining of liberation.
We have already started reimagining a more just future with a collaborative Book Club with the University of Chicago’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Last week, NU and UChicago participants hosted a Meet & Greet in preparation for reading the book, Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements, edited by adrienne maree brown and Walidah Imarisha. This text is an anthology that uses science fiction to bridge connections between social justice and science fiction. Although the Book Club is now closed to registrants, we invite you to enjoy the journey of this rich text with online access via NU Libraries (you must log-in with your netID and password).
I am also really excited that our Black History Month closing event on Friday, February 26th will be in collaboration with our UChicago partners with “An Evening with adrienne maree brown.” This is a conversation that you will not want to miss! More details forthcoming.
What would you like to reclaim or reimagine this month or this year? This is an invitation to speak life, light, and love with those intentions in the comments.