The month of February is frequently referred to as African American History Month. This is a month in which culture and history is reflected upon. This year, the Kean community came together by way of several events dedicated to honoring influential individuals of the community. Spanning the month of February, events were hosted by Student Organization, Student Government, Graduate and Part-time Student Council (GPSC), Office of Africana Studies, Pan-African Student Union (PASU) and Haitian Student Association (HSA).

The first day of African American History Month had a strong start in remembrance as the African flag was raised by PASU while onlookers gathered around. The flag was raised outside the Miron Student Center (MSC). During the African History Month Kickoff, the Kean community was invited to experience some of the culture. PASU, HSA and Student Organization offered students food as they witnessed some traditional African music and dance.

The festivities continued with an African History Month Comedy Show at Wilkins Theatre. The comedians that brought laughs to the Kean community were Lil Duval and DeRay Davis. Their acts that night focused on the road to becoming successful in their careers and what they have learned along the way.

Students were able to learn the history and about the affluent individuals who helped shape history by visiting the Black History: Mobile Museum and a trip to Philadelphia’s African American Museum. The museum on wheels took up shop in the MSC Atrium and included a memorabilia that covered slavery and hip-hop and everything in between. The day trip to the museum led to students gaining a better understanding of what it took to have African American History Month be nationally recognized.

Over the course of the month students were invited to showings of films 500 Years Later by M.K. Asante’ and King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Both events included a discussion after the film in which attendees were encouraged to share their thoughts.

Students were presented with several opportunities to pay homage to African American History Month in an art outlet. Wilkins Theatre held MLK: The Nightmare After the Dream, which was performed by the United Youth of New Jersey. Members of the Kean community were also invited on two occasions during African American History Month to see a story unfold before them on Broadway. The Color Purple was recently adapted to the Broadway stage of Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City and GPSC hosted bus trips to see the musical. The musical focuses on the difficulty of being an African American woman in the South in mid-nineteenth century.

Another art form that celebrated history was For The Love of Music. Attendees swayed back and forth to the sounds of rhythm and blues performed by Marsha Ambrosius, Chrisette Michele and Musiq Soulchild. On another night, students were also able to hear Meshell Ndegeocello, who is a singer/songwriter and bassist with a wide taste in music, including funk, jazz, hip-hop and rock.

A bright spot in Kean University’s past is when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at D’Angola Gym. This year, the individuals of community came together for Remembering the Dream: MLK at Kean, 1961 to commemorate the speech King gave along with the legacy he left behind.

On Friday, February 19, 2016, Downs Hall evolved into a formal setting befitting to the event Black Love Affair. “The message behind Black Love is to promote that black love is just not between lovers, but it is towards all people of African descent and appreciating their skills and works,” said Aleeyah Oliphant, PASU Secretary and sophomore elementary education major. PASU, the host of the formal, continues the annual event as a way to celebrate its culture in a fun atmosphere. The formal included “singing [of] the Black National Anthem, watching performers dance and sing genres like Gospel, Jazz, R&B, etc,” said Oliphant.

As the halfway mark of February is rounding the corner, majority of the events have already passed. However, there are still upcoming events to take place in the remaining days of African American History Month.

One event marked on the calendar is MLK Week of Service ; it takes place from Saturday, February 20, 2016, through Saturday, February 27, 2016. There are a handful of community service outings that are offered on a regular basis over the course of the semester. This one week in particular, though, all volunteer opportunities are in honor of African American History Month and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For a list of community service events, visit the MLK Week of Service Cougar Link page.

The tribute continues with the lecture Illuminations: Africa’s Past and Present on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, brought to the university by the Office of Africana Studies and School of Global Education. It will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end around 4:00 p.m. in Downs Hall. The hope of the event is to celebrate the rich history and culture. Audience members will hear speeches from TeTe Antonio, who is the United Nations Ambassador of the African Union, and Dr. Adao do Nascimento, the Angola Minister of Higher Education.

A unique African American History Month experience will be Bridging the Digital Divide. The Kean community can partake in a teleconference from Ghana with Oiada International CEO Eric Jones. Don’t miss this opportunity taking place on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 9 a.m. in Green Lane Academic Building (GLAB) room 607. Those who wish to attend are to reserve a spot with Office of Academic Affairs via email at vpaa@kean.edu by Friday, February 19, 2016.

Concert for Understanding will take place on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the MSC Little Theatre. Attendees will be able to enter the theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Concert for Understanding will include performer Rene McLean alongside Urban Djaliya. Students are also encouraged to take the stage during the Student Poetry Showcase portion of the night.

Make sure to stop by to see a showing of Emmanuel’s Gift on Sunday, February 28, 2016, in the Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) Building Auditorium at 3 p.m. The viewing of the 2005 documentary narrated by Oprah Winfrey tells the story of a handicapped man in growing up in Africa. Tickets at $5 and can be purchased at Wilkins Theatre Box Office.

The Smithsonian Channel Presents: Major League Legends: The Hammer of Hank Aaron will be featured in the STEM Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 29, 2016. The film shows the former baseball player as he fights for civil rights. Attendance is free.

African American History Month generates conversation, which ultimately leads to understanding. PASU, along with the entirety of the Kean community, learned firsthand this month “that although we are different, it doesn’t mean a bad thing, it’s an amazing thing,” said Oliphant.