Published: February 22, 2022 by Guadalupe Martinez

At San José State University, our ongoing and upcoming calendar events and resources aim to uplift and honor the legacies of our diverse communities. Join us in celebrating Black History Month, highlighting the historic contributions and movements within the Black Diaspora.

Earlier this semester, the SJSU News Center interviewed historian and author Travis Boyce to illuminate the significance of Black History Month within the United States and globally. Through traditional Q&A format, Boyce engages SJSU’s Black student life and walks readers through our slate of commemorative events throughout February.

You can read the edited transcript between Julia Halprin Jackson and Travis Boyce via SJSU News Center: How to Contextualize Black History (Month): A Q&A With Travis Boyce

SJSU iSchool EDI Symposium

On Wednesday, February 23, you’re invited to join the iSchool’s Black History Month Free Symposium titled “Shaping the Future Together: How Libraries Can Support Communities of Color.” Co-keynote speakers Julius Jefferson, past president of the American Library Association, and Jené D. Brown, president of the California Library Association and director of emerging technologies and collections at Los Angeles Public Library, will lead the rich discussion.

Register to Attend: https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eMISGxKBRW23VUrFX4TGXQ

Arts and Culture

The SJSU King Library hosts Black Spartans [1907 - 1948], an arts exhibition representing ongoing research in San José State University Special Collections & Archives identifying documentation of Black experiences throughout SJSU history. Curated by University Librarian Carli Lowe and Special Collections Librarian Kate Steffens.

Artist Spotlight

Yeab Kebede, ‘22 Digital Media Arts: “I saw a reflection of myself and my community throughout the process of making these 19 mixed media portraits and came to realize how important it is to know your history because it becomes a catalyst for knowing who you are…As a Black Spartan myself, I was deeply connected to these individuals that started out just like me. These portraits are embodiments of our Black Spartans, they are visual representations of the colorful and captivating lives they led. Our history is beyond our struggle. We are the blueprint.”

Upcoming and Ongoing

The MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center continues to host in-person and virtual events dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month and explore this year’s theme: Black Health and Wellness. Check out their Black History Month 2022 program calendar for more details.