In 1926, Black History Month was founded by Carter G. Woodson to honor Black achievement and heritage. It was officially recognized as a national celebration by President Gerald Ford in 1976. It was established in February to celebrate the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, establishing freedom for slaves in the Confederate states. Douglass was a renowned abolitionist and orator who chose his own birthday after escaping slavery in 1838.
Today, many Black leaders and innovators shape the Black community. Association of African American Students (AAAS) Social Event Chair, Briah O’Neal ‘28 shared, “Many Black leaders played different roles in my life. From Serena Williams and Venus Williams, who were a strong influence on my love for tennis; Maya Angelou, who helped me unleash myself through poetry; Malcolm X for his approach to life. All these people shaped how I carry myself today.”
AAAS President Sadiqah Whittington ‘26 also shared, “Not well-known local community leaders, such as Joseph Harris, who is always there to answer a call to our First Year Chair, who is always diligently doing her job, are also people I look up to. Student athletes who stick to their athletic goals till senior year while balancing DePauw’s coursework are also very inspiring.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, the AAAS kicked off Black History Month with their “In Love with that Cocoa” event in the Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) from 6:45 to 8 p.m. The cozy smell of hot cocoa welcomed students as they entered the building. Students from various cultures joined in on the festivities by drinking steaming hot cocoa, chatting with friends, eating the freshly made sugar and chocolate chip cookies, singing live karaoke and customizing personalized sensory bottles.
Whittington also shared, “When most people think of Black History Month, they think of the Civil Rights Movement and the things we’ve overcome as a people. Truly, for me, Black History Month is about celebrating not just the things we’ve overcome but the things we’ve created: the community, the identity, the culture. We are the first and only Black student union on campus, created during a time when DePauw really needed it. We’ve come such a long way over the years; we’ve adapted to fit the needs of the community.” O’Neal added, “Black History Month is about highlighting the transformative part of ourselves as people and turning pain and anguish into beauty.”
As a closing message, Whittington said, “The true beauty of AAAS comes from the everyday interaction between people. The biggest achievement of this executive team is the intentionality we put into everything we do. We can feel the impact in our community every day. From our Black table talks, which allow students to be vulnerable with each other and talk about important topics, to the basic interaction between students as they walk to class. You can truly understand the meaning behind AAAS when you experience the interaction nobody else will ever have. The feeling of community and family you have when you are with someone in this organization is irreplaceable.”
This celebration illustrates how Black History Month continues to thrive and empower the Black community. An unforgettable experience, the diverse DePauw community and what it stands for will be remembered for years to come.
