UMD names building after former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

By Marissa Yelenik The University of Maryland School of Public Policy building was named after civil rights lawyer and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall almost a century after he was denied admission to the university. The change was made official in a ceremony on Tuesday — the last day of Black History Month. The building’s new name, Thurgood Marshall Hall, was announced in an … Continue reading UMD names building after former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

Joy on display at inaugural Black Prom

by James Matheson The Office of Multicultural Involvement Community Advocacy hosted its inaugural Black Prom Sunday in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Grand Ballroom to celebrate the final days of Black History Month.  Students got to dine on beef wellington, dance in flowing ball gowns, and step on a circle that rotated a camera around them, all in the spirit of joyful resistance.  Existence … Continue reading Joy on display at inaugural Black Prom

Walking tour examines Black history at the University of Maryland

By Mahelate Solomon The University of Maryland’s campus is rich in history — both the good and the bad. The African American History Landmarks Walking Tour is dedicated to telling the whole story, according to tour developer Kim Nickerson.  Nickerson, who serves as the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, created the tour in 2018 as … Continue reading Walking tour examines Black history at the University of Maryland

Black History Month Read-a-Thon delivers powerful passages

by Abigail Olear Existence is resistance. Being Black in America is an act of resistance to previous and current oppression. That was the message of the fourth annual Black History Month Read-a-Thon on Tuesday at McKeldin Library.  Performing Arts Librarian Drew Barker read two speeches by Frederick Douglass that refute a white supremecist view of American history. He explores the duality of celebrating freedom while … Continue reading Black History Month Read-a-Thon delivers powerful passages

‘Something we should be proud of’: Professor champions Black classical music in guest talk 

By Anuoluwapo Adefiwitan The lights dimmed as University of Michigan professor Louise Toppin walked to the stage in her mustard-yellow turtleneck sweater. Toppin smiled as she leaned into the small wooden podium and introduced her presentation topic: Black vocal music. Toppin held a lecture in The Joseph & Alma Gildenhorn Recital Hall Monday as a part of Guest Artist Series for Black History Month at … Continue reading ‘Something we should be proud of’: Professor champions Black classical music in guest talk 

Virtual read-a-thon teaches new definitions of Black joy

By Jade Barton Members of the University of Maryland community read poems, excerpts from books and radio transcripts at the second annual Black History Month Read-a-Thon, held virtually on Feb. 16. The UMD Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility committee joined the Office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy to hold the event for Black History Month. Students and faculty joined through Zoom or on … Continue reading Virtual read-a-thon teaches new definitions of Black joy

MICA presents the Women of Color Artists Panel as part of Black History Month

by Julia Rosier The Office of Multicultural Involvement Community Advocacy (MICA) hosted the Women of Color Artists Panel Wednesday night as part of their Black History Month program. The event gave women of color in the art world the opportunity to discuss the ways in which they enact change through their art.  The panel, which took place in the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching … Continue reading MICA presents the Women of Color Artists Panel as part of Black History Month

A History of Black History Month: pride, prejudice and persisting racial tensions on campus

By James Cirrone Forty-three years ago, a student columnist named Otis Williams wrote a letter to the editor in the Black Explosion, the University of Maryland’s only black newspaper. It read: “Hello sisters and brothers! My name is Otis. I’m concerned about Black survival on campus. How about you?” As Black History Month 2020 comes to a close, students of color are still questioning how … Continue reading A History of Black History Month: pride, prejudice and persisting racial tensions on campus

African American History and Landmark tours reveal little-known facts about UMD’s past

By Sahana Jayaraman There is a an entire side of the University of Maryland’s history that much of the school’s student and faculty population may not be aware of. One man — Dr. Kim Nickerson, assistant dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UMD’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences — is determined to change that. Nickerson stood at the base of the historic Rossborough … Continue reading African American History and Landmark tours reveal little-known facts about UMD’s past