Black History Month

2025 Programs

Black History Month Opening Ceremony & Flag Raising

February 3 | 11 am-12 pm
Hepburn Front Lawn and Gothic Lounge
Join us for a kickoff to Black History Month featuring a flag raising, performances and special remarks.
Sponsored by BAFFSSO

Black History Month Thrift Shop

February 3 | 12-2pm
Axis Game Lounge (GSUB 2nd floor)
Celebrate creativity, and community with a unique thrift shop experience honoring Black culture. This shop features an eclectic collection of vintage and modern fashions each chosen to highlight the rich heritage, artistry, and innovation of Black creators and communities.
Sponsored by the Center for Student Persistence and Engagement.

Bob Marley Bash

February 4 | 6-8 pm
Gilligan Student Union Building Lobby
Join us for a vibrant, multi-disciplinary celebration of the life, music, and enduring legacy of Bob Marley, the global icon of reggae and cultural revolution. This dynamic event brings together art, music, film, and community to honor Marley’s contributions to the world and his message of love, unity, and resistance.
Sponsored by the Student Activities Board and the Center for Student Persistence and Success.

Jerome China: Found and Reclaimed – Opening Reception & Artist Talk

February 12 | 4-7pm
Lemmerman Gallery
NJCU Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to hold an exhibition of the Jersey-City-based sculptor, Jerome China. Found and Reclaimed is an exploration of rediscovery, transformation, and the reclamation of what was once thought to be lost, forgotten, or overlooked. In this exhibition, the artist investigates the idea that what is "found" is often more than just a physical object or a moment in time; it is the reawakening of something deep within us, something that holds meaning, power, or beauty that was hidden in plain sight or lost to time. This work challenges the notion of permanence, suggesting that everything has the potential for reclamation, whether it’s a forgotten memory, a discarded object, or a part of our own identity. The works featured in Found and Reclaimed utilize metal sculpture to tell stories of rediscovery.
Sponsored by the Art Department, Lemmerman Gallery.

Black History Jeopardy

February 13 | 6-8 pm
Gilligan Student Union Building Room
Black History Jeopardy is an interactive and educational celebration dedicated to honoring Black history, culture, and achievements through the fun and engaging format of a Jeopardy-style trivia game. Held throughout Black History Month, this event invites participants to test their knowledge and learn more about significant historical milestones, influential figures, cultural contributions, and groundbreaking achievements of the Black community.
Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity Incorporated, Black Student Union.

Hair We Are Again to E.R.A.S.E. Shame and Stigma

February 18 | 1-3 PM
Gilligan Student Union Building Multipurpose Room B
Hair We Are Again to E.R.A.S.E. Shame and Stigma is a signature event showcasing Education, Resources, Affirmation, Support, and Empowerment related to all forms of curly natural hair textures and coils. We will highlight the Crown Act and the importance of ensuring a community which is free from discrimination against hair textures and styles. There will be vendors, entertainment, and hairspiration stories from women, men, and trans folx.
Sponsored by: Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity, Counseling Center, African Student Association, Haitian Student Association, Student Government Association, Dance Club, PRIDE Center, Black Student Union

Praise and Worship Night

February 19 | 7 PM
GSUB Multipurpose Room A
Join us for an uplifting evening of spiritual connection and celebration at This Praise and Worship event is designed to bring students, faculty, and community members together to experience the power of music, prayer, and fellowship. Whether you're looking to deepen your faith, find encouragement, or simply enjoy an inspiring atmosphere, this program offers something for everyone.

Featuring live performances by talented worship leaders and student musicians, heartfelt messages, and moments of reflection, this event is the perfect opportunity to recharge and connect with others in a meaningful way. Come as you are, and let’s raise our voices together in unity and gratitude.
Sponsored by the Black Student Union, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, The Center for Student Persistence and Success, Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity.

Afro Night

February 20 | 6:30 -9 PM
Gilligan Student Union Building Multipurpose Room B
Afro Night is a lively and immersive event celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of Africa. The evening is filled with captivating dance performances, featuring traditional and contemporary moves that showcase the rhythm, energy, and creativity of the continent.
Sponsored by the African Students Association, Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity

Level Up: Celebrating Black History Month – MOCI Panel on Careers, Leadership, & Life Hacks

February 25 | 12:30 PM
Gilligan Student Union Building Room TBD | 12:30 PM
In honor of Black History Month, the Men of Color Initiative (MOCI) proudly presents Level Up, a special panel featuring accomplished leaders who have excelled in their careers and leadership journeys. Join us for an empowering discussion that blends personal triumphs, professional insights, and life hacks designed to inspire you to reach new heights.

Whether you’re exploring potential career paths, sharpening your leadership style, or redefining your personal goals, this candid conversation will equip you with the tools and motivation to thrive in today’s competitive world. Celebrate Black excellence, honor the stories of trailblazers, and connect with fellow visionaries committed to uplifting one another this Black History Month and beyond.
Sponsored by The Men of Color Initiative.

In Open Contempt Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space: Book Signing with Irvin Weathersby

February 25 | 6pm
NJCU Bookstore, Gilligan Student Union Building
Join us for a reading and talkback with author, Irvin Weathersby Jr, as he sits down to discuss his memoir In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space.

Amid the ongoing reckoning over America’s history of anti-Black racism, scores of monuments to slaveowners and Confederate soldiers still proudly dot the country’s landscape, while schools and street signs continue to bear the names of segregationists. With poignant, lyrical prose, cultural commentator Irvin Weathersby confronts the inescapable specter of white supremacy in our open spaces and contemplates what it means to bear witness to sites of lasting racial trauma.
Sponsored by the Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center and The Center for Student Persistence and Success.

Closing Ceremony

February 27 |12-2pm
Gilligan Student Union Building Lobby
Join us for an afternoon of celebration, motivation and strength as we celebrate the end of the Black History Month. Enjoy performances, powerful remarks, food and more!

Threads of the Diaspora: Caribbean Art and Black Legacy

February 28 |4pm
Latin and Caribbean Center in the Karnoutsos Building | Room 102
This exhibition features the work of Emerging artists, Dee Diaz, Corine Etienne, Grâce Kagne, Tracel Dickerson, and Dimoy Wilson, who explore themes of migration, resilience, cultural identity, and the enduring legacy of the African diaspora across the Americas and the Caribbean. Through painting, photography, and mixed media, their art reflects a tapestry of shared histories and unique perspectives, highlighting the profound influence of African American, Caribbean and Latin American traditions on contemporary art.

The evening will include an artist talk, offering attendees a chance to engage with the creators to hear the stories behind their work.

Hosted at the Latin and Caribbean Center in the Karnoutsos Building at NJCU, Room 102, this event is free and open to the public. It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate art, culture, and community while enjoying some refreshments.
Sponsored by The NJCU Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies.