UW students embrace the many identities of the Black community during Black History Month

Submitted by University of W... on Fri, 02/28/2025 - 19:33
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This year’s Black History Month theme celebrated the many vibrant and dynamic facets that make up Black identity.

This year’s Black History Month theme celebrated the many vibrant and dynamic facets that make up Black identity. “ Embracing Intersectionality: Celebrating the Rich Tapestry of Black Identity ” honored the collective and individual experiences within the Black community and invited campus to learn about and reflect on the concept of intersectionality, which was first introduced by UW alumna and legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw.

The Black History Month Planning Committee (BHMPC) and the Black Cultural Center organized and led this year’s programming.

Related: Voices: Black UW–Madison faculty and staff share their perspectives on Black History Month

On Feb. 1, students gathered for two events to kick off Black History Month. The “DIY Fair  (Diaspora, Intersectionality, & You)” event included creative stations and activities that explored the richness of Black culture, heritage, and artistry through an intersectional lens. Participants connected over crafts, games and food before UW Alum DJ Chief Boima (’03) led a listening and dance session that featured music from Lusophone Africa. The second event, hosted by African Studies Program & Department of African Cultural Studies recognized 50 years of independence in Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Three students smile and pose from the camera.

Here, three students take a moment from their dinner to share in a smile. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Two students look at a board filled with woven bracelets.

BHMPC Member Jordan Edwards (left) helps student attendee Antoine Westbrook (right) chose from various weaving patterns to make a bracelet. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

In a dimly-lit room, students dance and wave glow sticks to the bea.

The sounds of Lusophone Africa filled the room as students danced to the beat. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Students sit around a table talking to each other while drawing designs on blank tote bags.

Markers, stencils and other decorations fill a table where students decorate canvas tote bags. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Two students sit across from each other with a Connect Four game board between them.

BHMPC Member, Eric "EJ" Mainu challenges a fellow student to a game of Connect Four. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Three students smile and pose from the camera.

Here, three students take a moment from their dinner to share in a smile. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Two students look at a board filled with woven bracelets.

BHMPC Member Jordan Edwards (left) helps student attendee Antoine Westbrook (right) chose from various weaving patterns to make a bracelet. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

In a dimly-lit room, students dance and wave glow sticks to the bea.

The sounds of Lusophone Africa filled the room as students danced to the beat. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Students sit around a table talking to each other while drawing designs on blank tote bags.

Markers, stencils and other decorations fill a table where students decorate canvas tote bags. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Two students sit across from each other with a Connect Four game board between them.

BHMPC Member, Eric "EJ" Mainu challenges a fellow student to a game of Connect Four. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Three students smile and pose from the camera.

Here, three students take a moment from their dinner to share in a smile. PHOTO BY: ROBERT SAN JUAN

Marissa Bode, a Wisconsin native and actress in the movie “Wicked,” was this year’s Black History Month keynote speaker. She chatted with Kamyia Denson, a student journalist from The Black Voice, during a moderated Q&A. Bode responded to a variety of questions that touched on everything from her experience in the hit movie to the topic of

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