20th Annual Black Heritage Celebration Honors Past, Present and Future at GW

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Even before they arrived at the George Washington University, Rhea Turner and Devin Tennant knew that finding a sense of belonging and home with the vibrant Black community on campus would be important to their college experience. In fact, the duo started making those bonds before setting foot on campus: they became friends as high school seniors through a mutual friend in their shared area of Northern Virginia, when Turner invited Tennant to her graduation party.

So a defining moment for both their friendship and their GW experience was taking the stage together at GW's Black Heritage Celebration(BHC) their first year. The two participated in the beloved yearly showcase Soul Revue, a blend of comedy, game show competition, runway and showstopping performance.

The experience was "life-changing" for Turner, who graduated from the Milken Institute School of Public Health in December with a B.S. in public health and health data science and is now continuing to pursue her M.P.H. with a concentration in biostatistics. "It was probably the highlight of my freshman year."

Now, Tennant and Turner are bringing the traditions they love to a new generation of students as co-chairs of this year's BHC, the landmark 20th year of the celebration.

"We realized it was the 20th year looking back through the archives and thought 'Oh my gosh, that is big,'" Turner said. "BHC meant so much my first year and now, our senior year, it's the 20th anniversary-it feels like coming full circle."

Cast members of Soul Revue during the 2022 BHC, Turner and Tennant's first year. (Courtesy Rhea Turner)

"This country and world as we know it wouldn't be the same without Black people in it and without that culture that we've all brought," said Tennant, a senior in the Milken Institute SPH B.S./M.P.H. program who is double majoring in health policy and criminal justice. "So it's important to embrace that and recognize that it's still here, still present and still essential to our day-to-day lives."

The country celebrates Black history and culture in February, a commemoration initiated by the efforts of author and historian Carter G. Woodsonand formally recognized by President Gerald Fordin 1976. In fact, 2026 marks exactly a century since Woodson established "Negro History Week,"the forerunner of Black History Month, in the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

In 2006, Black student leaders transformed Black History Month at GW into BHC, an opportunity to recognize and honor African-American, Caribbean, African and Afro-Latino cultures. BHC features performances and showcases, lectures, seminars, educational events and celebrations of all kinds, often featuring guests from beyond the university but always developed and organized by GW students.

"The Black Heritage Celebration offers us the opportunity to recognize the rich history, contributions and influence of the Black community on this nation's culture and democracy," GW President Ellen M. Granberg said. "At GW, this recognition takes shape through learning, dialogue and action that honors Black history in all its complexity and through building a supportive environment where all members of the GW community can thrive. This February-and throughout the year-I honor the legacy and courage of generations of Black American trailblazers, including our very own GW Revolutionaries, who are foundational and integral in shaping and making history."

At GW, this year's BHC themeis "The Empire: We Were, We Are, We Will Be." Tennant and Turner said it celebrates the present accomplishments of the Black community, the power of Black culture and the expansion of future possibilities.

"We want to celebrate and acknowledge all the phases we've been through as a Black community here at GW and beyond," Tennant said. "The word 'empire' is about the impact that Black people have had on society as a whole. Our culture influences everyone, whether people know it or not-even whether we know it or not. To me, that's an empire: Something that can't be taken down."

Both Turner and Tennant said they hope to pass on the sense of belonging that BHC gave them to younger GW Revs. Much of that sense, they said, comes from the Multicultural Student Services Center(MSSC), where many BHC events-along with other community, culture and inclusion programming-are held and supported.

"It's a space where a lot of different cultures and people come to relax, to celebrate, to cry, to laugh, and I feel like many of those spaces are being threatened at the moment," Turner said. "Keeping that community alive and thriving is so important. BHC is so important because it's a reminder that you're not alone, you're supported and that gives you the ability to support others."

#GWToDo: Celebrating Black History

The calendar is packed. Find a partial selection of BHC events on campus below and follow @gwubhc on Instagram for updates and more.

Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. BHC Keynote: Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott
Betts Theatre
800 21st St. NW

Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. National Pan-Hellenic Council Stroll-Off
Betts Theatre

Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Soul Revue
Betts Theatre

Feb. 8 at noon Black Queer Alliance Drag Brunch
Betts Theatre

Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. 117 Years of the NAACP
MSSC Multipurpose Room
University Student Center, fifth floor
800 21st St. NW

Feb. 28 BHC Finale
Proper 21
2033 K St. NW

GW Celebrates 'The Blackprint' This February