Black History Month kicked off at Hopkins
For Amanda Holder, black is more than just a box she checks to describe her ethnicity.
"We want to educate people that 'black' is a culture, one that is developed from a mix of several other cultures. 'Black' is a history filled with struggle, accomplishment, revolution and hope for the future," Holder said.
With that in mind, Holder and Co-Chair Rachel Tolbert decided that "Black is More Than a Color" would be the perfect theme for this year's Black History Month programs.
Sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), the series of events kicked off on Friday with a commencement speech by Interfaith Center Chaplain Albert Mosley in the Glass Pavillion.
"For a great portion of our society and a great portion of the world, black is not more than a color," Mosley said.
He pointed out how President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address spurred MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews to say he "forgot [Obama] was black."
Matthews "basically suggested that if he remembered Obama's blackness, that would have been a barrier to seeing him as a competent or able leader," Mosley said.
"For me black is a story, and it's a story of resilience, a story of survival, a story of greatness, a story of heartache and pain, a story of trials and triumphs," he added.
In his closing, Mosley reminded his listeners of the importance of Black History Month.
"Very often, one side of history is never told. This is particularly true in the American educational system. There's a
See BHM, page A4
fairly high probability that the history most of us received…was the history that only told the white side of this nation's story," he said.
Mosley urged the audience to work to correct this.
"We have to know the story, tell the story and live the story. It is left up to us to learn it and to know it," he said.
After Mosley gave his remarks the audience spent the rest of the event playing Black History Jeopardy, which covered history, renaissance, achievement and revolution.
"We want to educate people that 'black' is a culture, one that is developed from a mix of several other cultures. 'Black' is a history filled with struggle, accomplishment, revolution and hope for the future," Holder said.
With that in mind, Holder and Co-Chair Rachel Tolbert decided that "Black is More Than a Color" would be the perfect theme for this year's Black History Month programs.
Sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), the series of events kicked off on Friday with a commencement speech by Interfaith Center Chaplain Albert Mosley in the Glass Pavillion.
"For a great portion of our society and a great portion of the world, black is not more than a color," Mosley said.
He pointed out how President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address spurred MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews to say he "forgot [Obama] was black."
Matthews "basically suggested that if he remembered Obama's blackness, that would have been a barrier to seeing him as a competent or able leader," Mosley said.
"For me black is a story, and it's a story of resilience, a story of survival, a story of greatness, a story of heartache and pain, a story of trials and triumphs," he added.
In his closing, Mosley reminded his listeners of the importance of Black History Month.
"Very often, one side of history is never told. This is particularly true in the American educational system. There's a
See BHM, page A4
fairly high probability that the history most of us received…was the history that only told the white side of this nation's story," he said.
Mosley urged the audience to work to correct this.
"We have to know the story, tell the story and live the story. It is left up to us to learn it and to know it," he said.
After Mosley gave his remarks the audience spent the rest of the event playing Black History Jeopardy, which covered history, renaissance, achievement and revolution.
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