AMELIE SEDLACK / FEATURE EDITOR

February marks Black History Month, a time to remember Black history within the United States and to highlight the accomplishments of Black people both from the past and in the present. 

A Black History Month banner in the SLP honors all those who participated in the fight for rights. Amelie Sedlack/The USD Vista

At the start of this month, a “Reserved for Rosa” poster was placed on a seat in one of the East Campus Loop trams by Tram Services. The tram driver, Armis Hutton was born in Alabama and grew up during the ’50s and ’60s. When Rosa Parks protested bus seating, she was only about 100 miles away from him.  Hutton  responded  to  finding  the  posters  up  in  his  tram when he started work.

“It’s okay whenever they put posters up,” Hutton admitted. “When you see those posters put up it’s okay for history and it reminds people that they lived through that time period. If you didn’t live during that time you just want to forget.” 

Hutton  continued  to  share  his experience with education about Black history in the United States. 

“When it comes to the South, they want it out of the schools,” Hutton stated. “To me that is mean. I think everyone should learn about what happened in the world. Even though time has changed I see a lot of things repeating itself.” 

USD Professor T.J. Tallie, PhD, whose specialties include Southern African history and settler colonialism in the nineteenth century provided the history of Black History Month in the United States. 

“What I  find  amazing  is  this  is  100  years  of  Black History Month so it’s our centennial,” Tallie explained. “When Carter G. Woodsen first came out with Black history month in 1926 it was N—- History Week … It’s founded specifically because it’s about the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln so there was a reason. The week of February 12 and 14 was meant to center, in the 1920s, a reminder of emancipation, which is Black people being free, which is a relatively new concept in this country.”

It started as a week to mark the freedom of Black people from slavery and expanded to take part throughout the month.

USD senior Abigail Daniel shared why she thinks it is so important to have a month to honor Black history. 

“I think it’s definitely an opportunity to take a second to recognize individuals that especially have allowed us to move into these places and have progressed us to where we are now,” Daniel said. “It also takes some time to recognize how much work needs to be done. Obviously it’s something that needs to be reflected on all of the time, but having a time specifically like this, it’s nice.” 

Daniel also added that she usually only hears about events for  Black  History Month through the Black Student Union (BSU) organization and her own circle of faculty and friends. 

“I don’t know if in the past I’ve seen as much around USD or promoted by USD ever,” Daniel said. “I think it’s usually the people I surround myself with that are doing the work to advocate for those things that are really pulling the weight on that. So I’m really appreciative of those classes, professors, friends and the resources specifically   for   Black   students  that  have  done  the job. For USD itself, there’s always room for improvement with those types of things, I feel like.” 

Many  students  recognized  the need for Black History Month and admitted where they view society  falls  short  in  fully  honoring  all that the month stands for. 

USD   junior   John   Sanseverino discussed why he thinks the month is important, but also why it may feel as if some do not take advantage of the opportunity to learn their country’s history and act on working toward equality. 

“I think it’s important that we take the time to recognize and look back on the history of our  country  and  people  who have been  through  a  lot  in  our  country,” Sanseverino shared. “I’m in a class right now that’s ‘Jesus and Justice,’ and it speaks a lot about how we often sanitize our history and pacify it. So I think it’s important  that we spend the time to look back and recognize it.”  

USD senior Victoria Garcia explained a new way in which she views Black History Month this year.  

“I  love  highlighting everything  that  happens during Black History Month,” Garcia shared. “I just saw a recent reel from the USD School of Engineering and one of  the  professors  there.  She highlighted how Black History Month isn’t just a remembrance month, but it’s also a continuation of the new innovations that are constantly occurring within society. I just think that kind of beautifully explains how we are meant to not only look into the past, but also look at the new innovations that are happening now within Black culture, within society and Black leaders.” 

Daniel concluded, adding ways in which students could educate themselves and truly take advantage of the purpose of the month. 

“I think the best thing to do this month, and year round, is to continue to put yourself in spaces where Black leaders, Black students, are taking the time to share their experiences and talking about the ways they can encourage and uplift the Black community as a whole,” Daniel stated. “Especially on our campus  where  the  Black  student body isn’t exactly the majority, so I think it’s great to sit in these spaces and to allow  yourself  to  humbly   learn  or  educate yourself. And obviously, it’s not something that Black students in general  should  be  leading  all  these  conversations  and  doing  the heavy lifting, and so obviously, that’s the big thing as well.”

Tallie explained that a powerful way to honor Black History is to allow for Black community members to rest. 

“Historically, Black people have felt constantly like we have to  work so  hard  to  save  all  of  this,” Tallie shared. “So what might a university-wide moment of actually rest, reflection and honor  look like? It could be a day of meditation … There’s a movement called the Nap Ministry, and it’s run by a  Black  woman,  which  really thinks  about  what  would it  mean  to  honor  the  work that has been done and give ourselves the permission to  rest.  And  that  might  be  a good legacy of Black History.” 

Tallie continued to question how this month is celebrated. 

“Black people have built so much and their legacy in this country has been constantly working, everything from enslavement to Civil Rights,” Tallie described. “What would it reframe, if this time, it was about rest?”

USD sophomore Mariana Navarro shared her positive feelings toward the month as an opportunity for education, growth and acceptance. 

“I think it’s really cool how, as a community here, we have multiple events, even like food events that we have happening this  month  that  just  kind  of bring  that  community  together to uplift and support them,” Navarro explained. “I think it’s awesome … I think the best way to honor Black History Month is  maybe   doing   a   little   less  speaking and a little more listening to fellow Black peers or professors, faculty …  I  think  that  could  fill in the gap of what even is the month, how do we celebrate it.”

Even though Black History Month is namely a time to remember Black history within this country, students recognize that  it  could  also  be  a  time to uplift Black community members and continue to learn about shared history. Buying  from  Black-owned  businesses, learning to be more accepting, working  to  be  more  educated  and  even  allowing  time  for  rest,  are all  steps  Toreros  are  making  year-round and promoting this month. 

‘Reserved for Rosa’ signs urge students to remember Civil Rights. Caden Haynor/The USD Vista